Numbers 2:4

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And his host, and those that were numbered of them, [were] threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

Complete Jewish Bible:

Berean Standard Bible:

The leader of the descendants of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab, and his division numbers 74,600.

American Standard Version:

And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And his host^{H6635}, and those that were numbered^{H6485} of them, were threescore and fourteen^{{H7657}{H702}} thousand^{H505} and six^{H8337} hundred^{H3967}.

Cross-References (KJV):

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Commentary for Numbers 2:4

**Numbers 2:4** is part of the second book of the Bible, which details the census of the Israelite tribes and their arrangement in the wilderness encampment as the people of Israel journeyed from Egypt to the Promised Land. The verse specifically mentions the number of soldiers in one of the tribes, which, according to the King James Version, is 74,600 men.

**Themes:**
1. **Divine Order and Organization:** The book of Numbers emphasizes God's detailed instructions for organizing the Israelite camp, reflecting a divine preference for order and structure.
2. **Preparation for Conquest:** The census and military organization were crucial for the upcoming conquest of Canaan, indicating readiness and the military might of the Israelites.
3. **Identity and Unity:** Each tribe had a specific place in the camp layout around the Tabernacle, which fostered a sense of identity and unity among the tribes as the people of God.
4. **Accountability and Responsibility:** The numbering of the fighting men made each tribe accountable for its role in the community and its contribution to the collective objective of entering the Promised Land.

**Historical Context:**
The events described in Numbers occurred during the Israelites' wilderness wanderings, approximately in the 13th century BCE. After their exodus from Egypt, the Israelites spent 40 years in the Sinai Peninsula before entering Canaan. The census recorded in Numbers 1 and 2 was the second one taken; the first was recorded in Exodus 30 and took place before the construction of the Tabernacle.

The purpose of the census was to muster the fighting men who would form the army of Israel, preparing them for the battles ahead as they claimed the land promised to their ancestors by God. The military formation described in these chapters was not only for battle preparedness but also for maintaining order and holiness in the camp, with the Tabernacle at the center, symbolizing God's presence among His people.

The number mentioned in Numbers 2:4 refers to the tribe of Gad, which was one of the ten tribes that were numbered (the tribes of Levi and Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh were numbered separately). The large number of fighting men indicates the tribe's significant contribution to the Israelite military force.

In summary, Numbers 2:4 reflects the themes of divine order, military preparedness, and communal identity as the Israelites transitioned from a liberated slave people to a nation poised to inherit and conquer the land of Canaan under God's guidance and command.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

1. Strong's Number: H6635
   There are 463 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: צָבָא
   Transliteration: tsâbâʼ
   Pronunciation: tsaw-baw'
   Description: or (feminine) צְבָאָה; from צָבָא; a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (specifically, hardship, worship); appointed time, ([phrase]) army, ([phrase]) battle, company, host, service, soldiers, waiting upon, war(-fare).
   
2. Strong's Number: H6485
   There are 270 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: פָּקַד
   Transliteration: pâqad
   Pronunciation: paw-kad'
   Description: a primitive root; to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc.; appoint, [idiom] at all, avenge, bestow, (appoint to have the, give a) charge, commit, count, deliver to keep, be empty, enjoin, go see, hurt, do judgment, lack, lay up, look, make, [idiom] by any means, miss, number, officer, (make) overseer, have (the) oversight, punish, reckon, (call to) remember(-brance), set (over), sum, [idiom] surely, visit, want.
   
3. Strong's Number: H7657
   There are 90 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שִׁבְעִים
   Transliteration: shibʻîym
   Pronunciation: shib-eem'
   Description: multiple of שֶׁבַע; seventy; seventy, threescore and ten ([phrase] -teen).
   
4. Strong's Number: H702
   There are 383 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אַרְבַּע
   Transliteration: ʼarbaʻ
   Pronunciation: ar-bah'
   Description: masculine אַרְבָּעָה; from רָבַע; four; four.
   
5. Strong's Number: H505
   There are 496 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: אֶלֶף
   Transliteration: ʼeleph
   Pronunciation: eh'-lef
   Description: prop, the same as אֶלֶף; hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand; thousand.
   
6. Strong's Number: H8337
   There are 203 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: שֵׁשׁ
   Transliteration: shêsh
   Pronunciation: shaysh
   Description: masculine שִׁשָּׁה; a primitive number; compare שׂוּשׂ; six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth; six(-teen, -teenth), sixth.
   
7. Strong's Number: H3967
   There are 512 instances of this translation in the Bible
   Lemma: מֵאָה
   Transliteration: mêʼâh
   Pronunciation: may-aw'
   Description: or מֵאיָה; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction; hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore.