The Numbering of the Israelites, Part 3

Because Blogger limits the number of labels on each post, and I believe the names in chapter 1 of Numbers all to be of significance, I have had to chop the study of Numbers 1 into small posts.  This is the third of three posts on Numbers 1.  The previous posts can be found here:

The Numbering of the Israelites, Part 1

The Numbering of the Israelites, Part 2

The current heads of each tribe had just been named and pulled aside, and after giving their pedigrees, the children of Israel were numbered as follows, as we continue the chronological Bible study in Numbers 1:

(20) And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, 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, (21) Those who were numbered of the tribe of Reuben were forty-six thousand five hundred.

Reuben was the oldest son of Jacob, known as Israel.  Those of his tribe, "by their generations", probably meaning by their descent in their pedigrees, and according to the families and houses to which they belonged, were counted and their names recorded, that is, every male from twenty years of age and upward who was able to go to war.  Those numbered of the tribe of Reuben were 46,500 men.

(22) 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, (23) Those who were numbered of the tribe of Simeon were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.

Of the tribe of Simeon, likewise according to their generations in their line of descent, and according to the families and houses to which they belonged, there were numbered 59,300 men from age twenty and upward who were able to go to war.

(24) Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war, (25) Those who were numbered of the tribe of Gad were forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty.

From the tribe of Gad were counted 45,650 able-bodied men for war from age twenty and upward.

(26) Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war, (27) Those who were numbered of the tribe of Judah were seventy-four thousand six hundred.

From the tribe of Judah, there were 74,600 men twenty years and older who were able to go to war.

(28) Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war, (29) Those who were numbered of the tribe of Issachar were fifty-four thousand four hundred.

From the tribe of Issachar there were 54,400.

(30) Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war, (31) Those who were numbered of the tribe of Zebulun were fifty-seven thousand four hundred.

From the tribe of Zebulun, 57,400.

(32) Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war, (33) Those who were numbered of the tribe of Ephraim were forty thousand five hundred.

From the children of Joseph, first from the tribe of Ephraim, there were 40,500 men.

(34) Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war, (35) Those who were numbered of the tribe of Manasseh were thirty-two thousand two hundred.

From the tribe of Manasseh, Joseph's other son, there were counted 32,200 men.

(36) Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war, (37) Those who were numbered of the tribe of Benjamin were thirty-five thousand four hundred.

From the tribe of Benjamin were 35,400 men.

(38) Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war, (39) Those who were numbered of the tribe of Dan were sixty-two thousand seven hundred.

From the tribe of Dan, 62,700.

(40) Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war, (41) Those who were numbered of the tribe of Asher were forty-one thousand five hundred.

From the tribe of Asher, 41,500.

(42) Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war, (43) Those who were numbered of the tribe of Naphtali were fifty-three thousand four hundred.

From Naphtali, 53,400.

(44) These are those who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, twelve men, each one for the house of his fathers.

These aforementioned tribes were those whom Moses and Aaron, along with the head of each tribe, as named in the first and second posts on Numbers 1, numbered in this census of able-bodied men for war from twenty years and older.

(45) So all who were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war in Israel, (46) All who were numbered were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.

All who were numbered of the children of Israel, the twelve tribes excepting Levi, with the tribe of Joseph being actually two tribes, all the men of those tribes twenty years of age and older who were able to go to war, totaled 603,550.  Adam Clarke, in his Commentary on the Bible, pointed out "what an astonishing increase from seventy souls that went down into Egypt (Gen. 46:27), about 215 years before, where latterly they had endured the greatest hardships!"

(47) But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.

The tribe of Levi, being made up of a different type of warrior, one appointed to the use of the tabernacle, was not counted among the rest of the tribes who were able to go to war.

(48) For the LORD had spoken to Moses, saying, (49) "Only you shall not number the tribe of Levi, nor take the sum of them among the children of Israel."

The Levites were not counted because the Lord had told Moses not to number them, nor include them with the rest of the census taken of the children of Israel.

(50) "But you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the Testimony, over all its vessels, and over all things that belong to it; they shall carry the tabernacle and all its vessels, and they shall minister to it, and shall encamp around the tabernacle."

A continuation of what God had told Moses, the Levites, not being counted as able-bodied men of war, were instead to be appointed to the care of the tabernacle and the Ark of the Testimony within it, and over all the vessels and furnishings belonging to it.  When the children of Israel moved, the Levites were the ones appointed to take down the tabernacle, carry it and all that belonged to it, and then set it up again in the place appointed.  They were to encamp around the tabernacle, ever ready to attend to it.

(51) “And when the tabernacle goes forward, the Levites shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall set it up; and the stranger who comes near shall be put to death."

As already noted as implied by verse 50, whenever the tabernacle was to be moved, it was the duty of the Levites only to take it down, carry it and all its belongings, and set it up again.  All the early commentators agree, that what is meant by a "stranger" is one of another tribe other than the Levites.  If any Israelite from another tribe touched these holy things of God's tabernacle, he was to be put to death.  Matthew Henry, in his Commentary on the Whole Bible, pointed out this was symbolic of all of us who are unfit and unworthy to approach God "until we are first called by his grace into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, and so, being the spiritual seed of that great high priest, are made priests to our God; and it is promised that God would take Levites to himself, even from the Gentiles":  “And I will also take of them for priests and Levites,” says the LORD (Isaiah 66:21).

(52) "And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts."

The children of Israel were to pitch their tents, every man with his own camp and by his own standard or banner, throughout their armies.  Dr. John Gill, in his Exposition of the Entire Bible, explained that "there were four standards, and three tribes to each standard, which were placed east, west, north, and south of the tabernacle, as is at large described in the following chapter."

(53) "But the Levites shall pitch around the tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony.”

However, the Levites were to pitch their tents around the tabernacle, preventing access of the other tribes that might come too close to the tabernacle and bring the wrath of God.  The Levites would keep charge of the tabernacle.

(54) And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so they did.

The children of Israel did just as the Lord had commanded they do per the instructions He gave Moses.  Shouldn't every believer always seek to do what the Lord has commanded?