Numbers 1:35

Those that were numbered of them, [even] of the tribe of Manasseh, [were] thirty and two thousand and two hundred.

Those that were numbered {H6485} of them, even of the tribe {H4294} of Manasseh {H4519}, were thirty {H7970} and two {H8147} thousand {H505} and two hundred {H3967}.

those registered to the tribe of Manasseh numbered 32,200.

those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.

Commentary

Context

Numbers 1:35 is part of the extensive census detailed in the first chapter of the Book of Numbers. This census was commanded by God to Moses and Aaron at Mount Sinai, approximately one year after the Exodus from Egypt. Its primary purpose was to count all males aged twenty years old and upward who were able to go forth to war, thereby organizing the Israelite community for their journey through the wilderness and eventual conquest of the Promised Land. This meticulous numbering of each tribe, including Manasseh, underscores the divine order and preparation for a nation on the move. For more on the initial command, see Numbers 1:2.

Key Themes

  • Divine Order and Organization: The detailed accounting of each tribe, including Manasseh's 32,200, demonstrates God's precise and orderly nature in orchestrating His people's affairs. This was not a chaotic multitude but a structured nation ready for its divine mission.
  • Preparation for War and Journey: The census served as a military roster, identifying all eligible men for service. The tribe of Manasseh, like others, was being prepared for both the challenges of the wilderness journey and the battles that lay ahead in Canaan. This readiness is a recurring theme in the early chapters of Numbers.
  • Tribal Identity and Unity: Each tribe, though distinct in its count, contributed to the overall strength and identity of the nation of Israel. Manasseh, as one of the two half-tribes descended from Joseph, played a specific role within this larger national framework, highlighting the individual's value within the collective.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "numbered" (ืคึผึธืงึทื“ - paqad) signifies not just a simple counting but also an enrollment, a mustering, or an appointment for a specific purpose. It implies an act of divine oversight and preparation. For the tribe of Manasseh, being "numbered" meant they were officially accounted for and designated for their part in Israel's journey and future tasks, highlighting their inclusion in God's divine plan.

Practical Application

Numbers 1:35, while seemingly a simple numerical record, offers valuable lessons for us today. It reminds us that God is a God of order and purpose. Just as He meticulously organized the tribes of Israel for their journey and mission, He also has a plan for our lives and communities. We are called to be prepared and organized for the tasks He sets before us, whether spiritual battles or daily responsibilities. Each individual, like each numbered person in Manasseh, has value and a place within the larger body of believers, contributing to God's overall purpose. This focus on readiness and divine purpose echoes themes found in the New Testament about equipping the saints for ministry and working together as a unified body.

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Cross-References

  • Numbers 26:34 (3 votes)

    These [are] the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.

  • Numbers 2:21 (2 votes)

    And his host, and those that were numbered of them, [were] thirty and two thousand and two hundred.

  • Genesis 48:19 (2 votes)

    And his father refused, and said, I know [it], my son, I know [it]: he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.

  • Genesis 48:20 (2 votes)

    And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.