Numbers 1:2

Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of [their] names, every male by their polls;

Take {H5375} ye the sum {H7218} of all the congregation {H5712} of the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, after their families {H4940}, by the house {H1004} of their fathers {H1}, with the number {H4557} of their names {H8034}, every male {H2145} by their polls {H1538};

"Take a census of the entire assembly of the people of Isra'el, by clans and families. Record the names of all the men

“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.

Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, every male, by their polls;

Commentary

Numbers 1:2 initiates the detailed census of the Israelite congregation shortly after their departure from Mount Sinai. This verse outlines the divine command given to Moses to count every male Israelite aged twenty years and upward, who were able to go forth to war.

Context

This verse is found at the very beginning of the Book of Numbers. The Israelites have been at Mount Sinai for nearly a year, receiving the Law, building the Tabernacle, and establishing their covenant relationship with God. Numbers opens as they prepare to leave Sinai and embark on their journey towards the Promised Land. The census described here is crucial for organizing the nation for travel, military readiness, and the distribution of responsibilities, particularly concerning the Tabernacle service.

Key Themes

  • Divine Order and Organization: The census highlights God's meticulous attention to order within His people. Counting "by their families, by the house of their fathers" emphasizes the importance of tribal structure and lineage as the basis for national organization and military enrollment.
  • Preparation for Journey and Conflict: The primary purpose of counting the males "able to go forth to war" was military readiness. As the Israelites were about to move into potentially hostile territory on their way to Canaan, knowing their fighting strength was essential. This census was a practical step in preparing for the challenges ahead, including conquest.
  • Identity and Belonging: Being counted within one's family, father's house, and tribe reinforced each individual's place and identity within the larger community of Israel.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "by their polls" is a direct translation of the Hebrew phrase meaning "by their heads." It simply indicates counting individuals. The structure "after their families, by the house of their fathers" (Hebrew: lĕmišpĕḥōṯām lĕḇêṯ ’ăḇōṯām) emphasizes the hierarchical structure of Israelite society, moving from the broader family unit to the specific patriarchal household.

Reflection

Numbers 1:2 shows God's concern for the practical details of His people's lives and their mission. He is not a God of chaos but of order, preparing His people for the tasks and challenges He sets before them. Just as the Israelites were counted and organized for their journey and mission, so too God calls believers today into an ordered community (see 1 Corinthians 14:40) and equips them for spiritual warfare and the work of His kingdom.

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Cross-References

  • Exodus 30:12 (5 votes)

    When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the LORD, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when [thou] numberest them.

  • Exodus 38:26 (5 votes)

    A bekah for every man, [that is], half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for every one that went to be numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty [men].

  • Numbers 1:18 (4 votes)

    And they assembled all the congregation together on the first [day] of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.

  • Numbers 1:22 (3 votes)

    Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

  • Numbers 26:2 (3 votes)

    Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers' house, all that are able to go to war in Israel.

  • Numbers 26:4 (3 votes)

    [Take the sum of the people], from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt.

  • Genesis 49:1 (2 votes)

    ¶ And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you [that] which shall befall you in the last days.