King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
Complete Jewish Bible:
Moshe counted, as ADONAI had ordered him, all the firstborn among the people of Isra'el.
Berean Standard Bible:
So Moses numbered all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the LORD had commanded him.
American Standard Version:
And Moses numbered, as Jehovah commanded him, all the first-born among the children of Israel.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And Moses{H4872} numbered{H6485}, as the LORD{H3068} commanded{H6680} him, all the firstborn{H1060} among the children{H1121} of Israel{H3478}.
Cross-References (KJV):
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Commentary for Numbers 3:42
**Themes:**
1. **Divine Command and Obedience:** The verse emphasizes Moses' obedience to God's command, illustrating a recurring theme in the book of Numbers where Moses and the Israelites follow God's instructions in preparation for their journey and the establishment of their nation.
2. **Census and Organization:** The act of numbering the firstborn is part of a larger theme of census-taking and organizing the Israelite community, which is essential for understanding the structure and roles within Israelite society.
3. **Redemption of the Firstborn:** This action is a prelude to the redemption of the firstborn sons, a practice rooted in the memory of the Passover in Egypt, where the firstborn of the Israelites were spared from the final plague. This theme underscores God's sovereignty over life and the importance of remembering and celebrating divine deliverance.
4. **Transition of Service:** The census of the firstborn is related to the theme of transition from the firstborn's traditional role as religious leaders to the Levites, who were set apart to serve God after the incident of the Golden Calf.
**Historical Context:**
The book of Numbers is set during the Israelites' journey from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land, which took place after the Exodus from Egypt. In Numbers 3, God instructs Moses to number the Levites and the firstborn males of the Israelites. This was to establish the Levites' role as substitutes for the firstborn, who were originally designated as sacred to God (Exodus 13:2). The firstborn census would determine how many Levites were needed to replace the firstborn for priestly service.
The historical context of Numbers 3:42 is significant because it reflects the period when the Israelite religious and social structures were being formalized in preparation for their life in Canaan. The Levites, who had demonstrated loyalty to God during the Golden Calf incident, were chosen to serve in the Tabernacle in place of the firstborn. This reorganization was crucial for the ongoing worship and religious life of the Israelites as they transitioned from a loose collection of tribes to a nation under God's law.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H4872
There are 704 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֹשֶׁה
Transliteration: Môsheh
Pronunciation: mo-sheh'
Description: from מָשָׁה; drawing out (of the water), i.e. rescued; Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver; Moses. - 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. - Strong's Number: H3068
There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יְהֹוָה
Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה. - Strong's Number: H6680
There are 475 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צָוָה
Transliteration: tsâvâh
Pronunciation: tsaw-vaw'
Description: a primitive root; (intensively) to constitute, enjoin; appoint, (for-) bid, (give a) charge, (give a, give in, send with) command(-er, -ment), send a messenger, put, (set) in order. - Strong's Number: H1060
There are 96 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בְּכוֹר
Transliteration: bᵉkôwr
Pronunciation: bek-ore'
Description: from בָּכַר; firstborn; hence, chief; eldest (son), firstborn(-ling). - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.