This continues a chronological Bible study. Because Blogger limits the number of labels per post, this post is actually in two parts. See the first part here:
The Israelites' Removal from Sinai to Paran, Part 1
(Numbers 10:22) And the standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set
forward according to their armies; and over his host was Elishama the
son of Ammihud.
In part one of this post the tribes of the Israelites were moving out from their camps in an order that had been predetermined. The
Israelites under the standard of Judah (Judah, Issachar, Zebulun) moved first; then went the Gershonites and Merarites carrying the tabernacle; then the tribes under the standard of Reuben (Reuben, Simeon, Gad) moved forward; and then went the Kohathites carrying the most holy parts of the tabernacle, those things belonging to the sanctuary.
Now we see that the next to move were the tribes under the standard of Ephraim. According to Numbers 2, they camped on the west side,
and included the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin. The captain
of the host of Ephraim was Elishama, the son of Ammihud.
(23) And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
The captain of the host of the tribe of Manasseh, which was under the standard of Ephraim, was Gamaliel, the son of Pedazur.
(24) And over the host of the tribe of the children of Benjamin was Abidan the son of Gideoni.
The captain over the host of the tribe of Benjamin, that also moved under the standard of Ephraim, was Abidan, the son of Gideoni.
(25) And the standard of the camp of the children of Dan set forward, the rearward of all the camps throughout their hosts; and over his host was Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
Finally the standard of Dan moved forward, bringing up the rear of all the camps. The captain of the host of the tribe of Dan was Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai. According to Numbers 2:25 they camped on the north side of the
tabernacle. Included under the standard of Dan were the tribes of Dan,
Asher, and Naphtali.
(26) And over the host of the tribe of the children of Asher was Pagiel the son of Ocran.
The captain over the host of the tribe of Asher, which was under the standard of Dan, was Pagiel, the son of Ocran.
(27) And over the host of the tribe of the children of Naphtali was Ahira the son of Enan.
The captain of the host of the tribe of Naphtali, also under the standard of Dan, was Ahira, the son of Enan.
(28) Thus were the journeyings of the children of Israel according to their armies, when they set forward.
Thus was the order in which the children of Israel journeyed forward, by their armies.
(29) And Moses said to Hobab, the son of Reuel the Midianite, Moses's father-in-law, "We are journeying to the place of which the LORD said, ‘I will give it to you.’ Come with us, and we will treat you well, for the LORD has spoken good concerning Israel."
Reuel or Jethro (in some scriptures) was Moses's father-in-law, Zipporah's father; therefore Hobab would be Zipporah's brother. Back in Exodus 18:27 Moses had left his father-in-law to go to his own land, but apparently, his brother-in-law had stayed with the Israelites. Now that they were moving on to the place the Lord was giving to them, Moses asked Hobab to join them, promising to treat him well because the Lord had promised blessings on Israel and they would share those with him.
(30) And he said to him, “I will not go, but I will depart to my own land and to my kindred."
Hobab refused, saying he would return to his own land and to his family.
(31) And he said, "Leave us not, I pray thee, forasmuch as you know how we are to camp in the wilderness, and you may be our eyes."
Moses asked Hobab not to leave them, this time suggesting that he could help them. Obviously, the Lord was their guide in the cloud, but I suppose Hobab could have been useful in their daily excursions from their camps. He, being more familiar with the area, could point them to watering places, pastures, or point out dangerous places, etc. This may have been just Moses's attempt to show Hobab that they sincerely would like him to stay with them.
(32) “And it shall be, if you go with us, yea, it shall be, that what goodness the LORD shall do to us, the same will we do to you.”
Moses continued with his plea to Hobab, repeating that indeed if Hobab went with them, whatever goodness the Lord blessed them with, they would in turn bless Hobab.
(33) And they departed from the mount of the LORD three days' journey; and
the ark of the covenant of the LORD went before them in the three days'
journey, to search out a resting place for them.
Although it doesn't specifically say so, I think we can assume that Hobab remained with the Israelites, because later scriptures show that
his posterity dwelt among the Israelites in Canaan. The Israelites departed from Mount Sinai, and traveled three days with the pillar of cloud over the Ark of the Covenant leading them, seeking out the next place for them to rest or camp.
(34) And the cloud of the LORD was upon them by day, when they went out of the camp.
The cloud did not just stay as a pillar at the head, but it spread itself in journeying over the whole body of people and was a covering to them from the heat of the sun, as well as a guide to them. The psalmist spoke of this in Psalm 105:39: "He spread a cloud for a covering; and fire to give light in the night."
(35) And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, “Rise up, O LORD, and let Your enemies be scattered, and let those who hate You flee before You.”
When the ark set forward, Moses asked the Lord to rise up and scatter their enemies and those who hated Him, so that they might safely travel through the wilderness. That's a prayer we would all do well to remember; God must come first and we want to follow Him and be dependent upon Him for our successes.
(36) And when it rested, he said, “Return, O LORD, to the many thousands of Israel."
Moses also prayed when the ark rested. Having asked the Lord to rise up and scatter their enemies as they journeyed, he now asked Him to return to them and take up His abode with them. Matthew Henry, in his Commentary on the Whole Bible, likened this to the church of God, which has many thousands, hundreds of thousands, yet their safety is not in their numbers, but in the continual presence of God. Our welfare and happiness, like with the Israelites, depends upon His grace and mercy and guidance.
Showing posts with label Ahiezer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ahiezer. Show all posts
Sunday, July 1, 2018
Thursday, May 10, 2018
Offerings of the Princes at the Dedication of the Altar, Part 2
Continuing a chronological Bible study, the seventh chapter of Numbers being continued from:
Offerings of the Princes at the Dedication of the Altar, Part 1
(48) On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered.
In the last post, the first half of Numbers, chapter 7, the princes of each of the tribes of the children of Israel brought offerings, first wagons and oxen for the Levites in the service of the tabernacle, and then also brought offerings for what seems to be a formal dedication of the altar. Each of the princes brought identical offerings, one on each day. Now on the seventh day Elishama, the son of Ammihud, prince of the tribe of Ephraim, brought his offering, and we will see that it was the same offering that had been presented on each of the six previous days.
(49) His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (50) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (51) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (52) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (53) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.
Elishama brought the same offering that had been presented by six other princes on each of the six days prior to this: a silver charger weighing 130 shekels, a silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; a gold spoon weighing ten shekels that was full of incense; a young bull, a ram, and a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering; a goat kid for a sin offering; and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year for peace offerings.
(54) On the eighth day offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh. (55) His offering was one silver charger of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (56) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (57) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (58) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (59) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
On the eighth day Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur, prince of the tribe of Manasseh, brought the same offering that had been presented seven days before by seven other of the princes of the children of Israel.
(60) On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered; (61) His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (62) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (63) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (64) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (65) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.
On the ninth day Abidan, the son of Gideoni, prince of the tribe of Benjamin, offered the same offering that had been offered by the eight other princes on the eight days prior to this one.
(66) On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered. (67) His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (68) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (69) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (70) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (71) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
On the tenth day Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the tribe of Dan, offered the same offering that had been offered on the nine days before.
(72) On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered. (73) His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (74) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (75) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (76) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (77) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.
On the eleventh day Pagiel, the son of Ocran, prince of the tribe of Asher, offered the same offering.
(78) On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered. (79) His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (80) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (81) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (82) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (83) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.
On the twelfth day Ahira, the son of Enan, prince of the tribe of Naphtali, offered the same offering.
(84) This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold, (85) Each charger of silver weighing one hundred and thirty shekels and each bowl seventy shekels; all the silver vessels weighed two thousand four hundred shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
The total weight of all the silver brought by the twelve princes in this dedication of the altar was 2400 shekels, according to the standard used in the sanctuary. Once again, no one seems to know exactly what a silver shekel was worth. Even among the older commentaries I study, their estimates varied from 300 to 400 British pounds. I won't go to the trouble of trying to figure out what a British pound was worth in the 1800's since no one really knows how accurate that was anyway. We do know that a shekel was twenty gerahs, and a gerah is defined as a "kernel" or a "grain", the smallest weight or coin among the Israelites, said to be perhaps about two and a half or three pennies of American money. That would make it about $1400, but take that one with a gerah of salt, as no one really knows! $1400 doesn't sound like that much; I'm not sure what 300-400 pounds in the 1700-1800's sounds like, but I am quite sure that with the rate of inflation, or with the value placed on it during Biblical times, that this was a substantial gift of silver given by the twelve princes.
(86) The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary; all the gold of the spoons was a hundred and twenty shekels.
The total of the gold offered was 120 shekels of gold. According to Dr. John Gill in his Exposition of the Entire Bible, written in the 1700's, this was about 75 British pounds of gold. According to this article in Got Questions (gotquestions.org), "Scholars are uncertain what exactly a shekel was, but here is one calculation of its value: the sanctuary shekel was defined as 20 gerahs. A gerah has been traditionally measured as 1/50 of an ounce, or 0.6 grams. The sanctuary shekel would then equal 0.4 of an ounce of gold (20 times 1/50 of an ounce), or 12 grams. Based on a price of 46.43 USD per gram, the approximate value of a sanctuary shekel would be $557.16, in today’s market." According to these calculations, the value of the gold would have been over $66,000! However, as most everyone states in their opinions, we don't really know exactly what the value would be at this present time, but you can be sure its value in Biblical times was great when compared to prices of food and clothing and the like.
(87) All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve young bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs in their first year twelve, with their grain offering, and the kids of the goats as a sin offering twelve.
The total for the burnt offering from the twelve princes combined, was twelve young bulls, twelve rams, and twelve young lambs in their first year, with the grain offering that always went along with the burnt offering. The total for the sin offering was twelve kid goats.
(88) And all the oxen for the sacrifice of peace offerings were twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, and the lambs in their first year sixty. This was the dedication for the altar after it was anointed.
The total number for the sacrifice of peace offerings that were offered by all twelve princes combined was 24 bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty lambs in their first year. All these offerings were for the dedication of the altar after it had been anointed.
(89) And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with Him, he heard the voice of one speaking to him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims; and He spoke to him.
When Moses went into the tabernacle to speak with God, he heard God's voice coming from the mercy seat that was upon the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim. We will learn what He said to him in the next chapter.
Isn't it interesting that although every prince's offering was exactly the same, each account of them was given the same detailed description? I believe it was to show that each tribe was equally important to God. What a beautiful illustration of how God views the gifts of each and every one of us! Although we might feel inadequate when we consider how little our gifts are compared with the mighty works and gifts of others, God takes full notice of everything we do in His name, no matter how small. Consider Matthew 10:42 where Jesus said that even a cup of cold water given to His disciple would have its reward. Surely some of the tribes were not as rich as others of them, but each gave exactly the same offering, illustrating that they were all equally important to God. Although some of the tribes' services may have seemed more important than others, all were important in the service of God, and they all had an equal share in the altar.
Offerings of the Princes at the Dedication of the Altar, Part 1
(48) On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered.
In the last post, the first half of Numbers, chapter 7, the princes of each of the tribes of the children of Israel brought offerings, first wagons and oxen for the Levites in the service of the tabernacle, and then also brought offerings for what seems to be a formal dedication of the altar. Each of the princes brought identical offerings, one on each day. Now on the seventh day Elishama, the son of Ammihud, prince of the tribe of Ephraim, brought his offering, and we will see that it was the same offering that had been presented on each of the six previous days.
(49) His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (50) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (51) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (52) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (53) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Elishama the son of Ammihud.
Elishama brought the same offering that had been presented by six other princes on each of the six days prior to this: a silver charger weighing 130 shekels, a silver bowl weighing seventy shekels, both full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering; a gold spoon weighing ten shekels that was full of incense; a young bull, a ram, and a lamb of the first year for a burnt offering; a goat kid for a sin offering; and two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year for peace offerings.
(54) On the eighth day offered Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, prince of the children of Manasseh. (55) His offering was one silver charger of the weight of a hundred and thirty shekels, one silver bowl of seventy shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary; both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (56) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (57) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (58) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (59) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
On the eighth day Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur, prince of the tribe of Manasseh, brought the same offering that had been presented seven days before by seven other of the princes of the children of Israel.
(60) On the ninth day Abidan the son of Gideoni, prince of the children of Benjamin, offered; (61) His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (62) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (63) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (64) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (65) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Abidan the son of Gideoni.
On the ninth day Abidan, the son of Gideoni, prince of the tribe of Benjamin, offered the same offering that had been offered by the eight other princes on the eight days prior to this one.
(66) On the tenth day Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the children of Dan, offered. (67) His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (68) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (69) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (70) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (71) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
On the tenth day Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai, prince of the tribe of Dan, offered the same offering that had been offered on the nine days before.
(72) On the eleventh day Pagiel the son of Ocran, prince of the children of Asher, offered. (73) His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (74) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (75) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (76) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (77) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Pagiel the son of Ocran.
On the eleventh day Pagiel, the son of Ocran, prince of the tribe of Asher, offered the same offering.
(78) On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, prince of the children of Naphtali, offered. (79) His offering was one silver charger, the weight of which was one hundred and thirty shekels, and one silver bowl of seventy shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil as a grain offering; (80) One golden spoon of ten shekels, full of incense; (81) One young bullock, one ram, and one lamb of the first year, for a burnt offering; (82) One kid of the goats for a sin offering; (83) And for a sacrifice of peace offerings, two oxen, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs in their first year. This was the offering of Ahira the son of Enan.
On the twelfth day Ahira, the son of Enan, prince of the tribe of Naphtali, offered the same offering.
(84) This was the dedication of the altar, in the day when it was anointed, by the princes of Israel: twelve chargers of silver, twelve silver bowls, twelve spoons of gold, (85) Each charger of silver weighing one hundred and thirty shekels and each bowl seventy shekels; all the silver vessels weighed two thousand four hundred shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary.
The total weight of all the silver brought by the twelve princes in this dedication of the altar was 2400 shekels, according to the standard used in the sanctuary. Once again, no one seems to know exactly what a silver shekel was worth. Even among the older commentaries I study, their estimates varied from 300 to 400 British pounds. I won't go to the trouble of trying to figure out what a British pound was worth in the 1800's since no one really knows how accurate that was anyway. We do know that a shekel was twenty gerahs, and a gerah is defined as a "kernel" or a "grain", the smallest weight or coin among the Israelites, said to be perhaps about two and a half or three pennies of American money. That would make it about $1400, but take that one with a gerah of salt, as no one really knows! $1400 doesn't sound like that much; I'm not sure what 300-400 pounds in the 1700-1800's sounds like, but I am quite sure that with the rate of inflation, or with the value placed on it during Biblical times, that this was a substantial gift of silver given by the twelve princes.
(86) The golden spoons were twelve, full of incense, weighing ten shekels apiece, after the shekel of the sanctuary; all the gold of the spoons was a hundred and twenty shekels.
The total of the gold offered was 120 shekels of gold. According to Dr. John Gill in his Exposition of the Entire Bible, written in the 1700's, this was about 75 British pounds of gold. According to this article in Got Questions (gotquestions.org), "Scholars are uncertain what exactly a shekel was, but here is one calculation of its value: the sanctuary shekel was defined as 20 gerahs. A gerah has been traditionally measured as 1/50 of an ounce, or 0.6 grams. The sanctuary shekel would then equal 0.4 of an ounce of gold (20 times 1/50 of an ounce), or 12 grams. Based on a price of 46.43 USD per gram, the approximate value of a sanctuary shekel would be $557.16, in today’s market." According to these calculations, the value of the gold would have been over $66,000! However, as most everyone states in their opinions, we don't really know exactly what the value would be at this present time, but you can be sure its value in Biblical times was great when compared to prices of food and clothing and the like.
(87) All the oxen for the burnt offering were twelve young bulls, the rams twelve, the male lambs in their first year twelve, with their grain offering, and the kids of the goats as a sin offering twelve.
The total for the burnt offering from the twelve princes combined, was twelve young bulls, twelve rams, and twelve young lambs in their first year, with the grain offering that always went along with the burnt offering. The total for the sin offering was twelve kid goats.
(88) And all the oxen for the sacrifice of peace offerings were twenty-four bulls, the rams sixty, the male goats sixty, and the lambs in their first year sixty. This was the dedication for the altar after it was anointed.
The total number for the sacrifice of peace offerings that were offered by all twelve princes combined was 24 bulls, sixty rams, sixty male goats, and sixty lambs in their first year. All these offerings were for the dedication of the altar after it had been anointed.
(89) And when Moses was gone into the tabernacle of the congregation to speak with Him, he heard the voice of one speaking to him from off the mercy seat that was upon the ark of testimony, from between the two cherubims; and He spoke to him.
When Moses went into the tabernacle to speak with God, he heard God's voice coming from the mercy seat that was upon the ark of the Testimony, from between the two cherubim. We will learn what He said to him in the next chapter.
Isn't it interesting that although every prince's offering was exactly the same, each account of them was given the same detailed description? I believe it was to show that each tribe was equally important to God. What a beautiful illustration of how God views the gifts of each and every one of us! Although we might feel inadequate when we consider how little our gifts are compared with the mighty works and gifts of others, God takes full notice of everything we do in His name, no matter how small. Consider Matthew 10:42 where Jesus said that even a cup of cold water given to His disciple would have its reward. Surely some of the tribes were not as rich as others of them, but each gave exactly the same offering, illustrating that they were all equally important to God. Although some of the tribes' services may have seemed more important than others, all were important in the service of God, and they all had an equal share in the altar.
Saturday, January 20, 2018
Order of the Encampment and March of the Tribes of Israel, Part 2
Continuing a chronological Bible study, the second chapter of Numbers being continued from:
Order of the Encampment and March of the Tribes of Israel, Part 1
(Numbers 2:18) "On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies; and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud."
In the last post, God began giving instructions to Moses on how the Israelites were to camp and the order in which they would march. The twelve tribes or armies were grouped in four standards of three tribes each. In the east was to camp the standard of Judah, with the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun under that standard. In the south was the standard of Reuben, with the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad making up that squadron. On the west side was to be the standard of Ephraim, including, of course, the tribe of Ephraim, whose captain was Elishama, the son of Ammihud.
(19) "And his host, and those who were numbered of them, were forty thousand five hundred."
There were 40,500 able-bodied men of war in the army of Ephraim.
(20) "And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh; and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. (21) And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty-two thousand two hundred."
Camped next to Ephraim was to be the tribe of Manasseh, whose captain was Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur. The army of Manasseh numbered 32,200.
(22) "Then the tribe of Benjamin; and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni. (23) And his host, and those who were numbered of them, were thirty-five thousand four hundred."
The third tribe to be camped under the standard of Ephraim was the tribe of Benjamin; and Abidan, the son of Gideoni, was the captain of the tribe of Benjamin. The tribe of Benjamin numbered 35,400 men. It was discussed in the last post how the standards seemed to be made up of the tribes that were nearest of kin to each other. In the case of the standard of Ephraim, the three tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, were all descended from Jacob's beloved wife, Rachel.
(24) "All who were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were one hundred and eight thousand one hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank."
All the able-bodied men of war who were numbered of the standard of the camp of Ephraim totaled 108,100. They were to be the third group to move, that is, after the tribe of Levi. In the last post, we learned that the tribe of Levi made up of the priests who took care of the tabernacle, and the tribe who camped closest to the tabernacle, were to move in the midst of the other tribes when the Israelites were called to move. First went the standard of Judah, then Reuben, then Levi, and the standard of Ephraim moved third among the standards of armies of war.
(25) "The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies; and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. (26) And his host, and those who were numbered of them, were sixty-two thousand seven hundred."
The fourth and last standard was the camp of Dan that was to camp on the north side. The captain of the camp of Dan was Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai; and his army totaled 62,700 men.
(27) "And those who encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher; and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran. (28) And his host, and those who were numbered of them, were forty-one thousand five hundred."
The tribe of Asher was to camp next to the tribe of Dan under the standard of Dan. The captain of the tribe of Asher was Pagiel, the son of Ocran, and his army totaled 41,500.
(29) "Then the tribe of Naphtali; and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan. (30) And his host, and those who were numbered of them, were fifty-three thousand four hundred."
Finally, under the standard of Dan, was to camp the tribe of Asher, with 53,400 men, under Ahira, the son of Enan, as captain.
(31) "All they who were numbered in the camp of Dan were one hundred and fifty-seven thousand six hundred. They shall go last with their standards."
The three tribes under the standard of Dan totaled 157,600; they were to move last when marching.
(32) These are those who were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers; all those who were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.
These standards of tribal armies were of those men who had been numbered by Moses and Aaron, assisted by the twelve princes of each tribe. They had now been assigned to standards and instructed on where to camp. The total number of able-bodied men of war twenty years and older throughout all the camps was 603,550, which was the same number recorded in Numbers 1:46.
(33) But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses.
This number did not include the Levites, as the Lord had instructed Moses not to count them (Numbers 1:47-49).
(34) And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses; so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.
The children of Israel did exactly what the Lord had commanded Moses they do; they pitched camp by their appointed standards, and that is how they would move forward when instructed to do so, in regular order according to their tribes.
Matthew Henry, in his Commentary on the Whole Bible, summed up the chapter this way:
"They put themselves in the posts assigned them, without murmuring or disputing, and, as it was their safety, so it was their beauty; Balaam was charmed with the sight of it: How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob! Num 24:5. Thus the gospel church, called the camp of saints, ought to be compact according to the scripture model, every one knowing and keeping his place, and then all that wish well to the church rejoice, beholding their order, Col 2:5."
Order of the Encampment and March of the Tribes of Israel, Part 1
(Numbers 2:18) "On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies; and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud."
In the last post, God began giving instructions to Moses on how the Israelites were to camp and the order in which they would march. The twelve tribes or armies were grouped in four standards of three tribes each. In the east was to camp the standard of Judah, with the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun under that standard. In the south was the standard of Reuben, with the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad making up that squadron. On the west side was to be the standard of Ephraim, including, of course, the tribe of Ephraim, whose captain was Elishama, the son of Ammihud.
(19) "And his host, and those who were numbered of them, were forty thousand five hundred."
There were 40,500 able-bodied men of war in the army of Ephraim.
(20) "And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh; and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. (21) And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty-two thousand two hundred."
Camped next to Ephraim was to be the tribe of Manasseh, whose captain was Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur. The army of Manasseh numbered 32,200.
(22) "Then the tribe of Benjamin; and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni. (23) And his host, and those who were numbered of them, were thirty-five thousand four hundred."
The third tribe to be camped under the standard of Ephraim was the tribe of Benjamin; and Abidan, the son of Gideoni, was the captain of the tribe of Benjamin. The tribe of Benjamin numbered 35,400 men. It was discussed in the last post how the standards seemed to be made up of the tribes that were nearest of kin to each other. In the case of the standard of Ephraim, the three tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin, were all descended from Jacob's beloved wife, Rachel.
(24) "All who were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were one hundred and eight thousand one hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank."
All the able-bodied men of war who were numbered of the standard of the camp of Ephraim totaled 108,100. They were to be the third group to move, that is, after the tribe of Levi. In the last post, we learned that the tribe of Levi made up of the priests who took care of the tabernacle, and the tribe who camped closest to the tabernacle, were to move in the midst of the other tribes when the Israelites were called to move. First went the standard of Judah, then Reuben, then Levi, and the standard of Ephraim moved third among the standards of armies of war.
(25) "The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies; and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. (26) And his host, and those who were numbered of them, were sixty-two thousand seven hundred."
The fourth and last standard was the camp of Dan that was to camp on the north side. The captain of the camp of Dan was Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai; and his army totaled 62,700 men.
(27) "And those who encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher; and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran. (28) And his host, and those who were numbered of them, were forty-one thousand five hundred."
The tribe of Asher was to camp next to the tribe of Dan under the standard of Dan. The captain of the tribe of Asher was Pagiel, the son of Ocran, and his army totaled 41,500.
(29) "Then the tribe of Naphtali; and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan. (30) And his host, and those who were numbered of them, were fifty-three thousand four hundred."
Finally, under the standard of Dan, was to camp the tribe of Asher, with 53,400 men, under Ahira, the son of Enan, as captain.
(31) "All they who were numbered in the camp of Dan were one hundred and fifty-seven thousand six hundred. They shall go last with their standards."
The three tribes under the standard of Dan totaled 157,600; they were to move last when marching.
(32) These are those who were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers; all those who were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.
These standards of tribal armies were of those men who had been numbered by Moses and Aaron, assisted by the twelve princes of each tribe. They had now been assigned to standards and instructed on where to camp. The total number of able-bodied men of war twenty years and older throughout all the camps was 603,550, which was the same number recorded in Numbers 1:46.
(33) But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel, as the LORD commanded Moses.
This number did not include the Levites, as the Lord had instructed Moses not to count them (Numbers 1:47-49).
(34) And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses; so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.
The children of Israel did exactly what the Lord had commanded Moses they do; they pitched camp by their appointed standards, and that is how they would move forward when instructed to do so, in regular order according to their tribes.
Matthew Henry, in his Commentary on the Whole Bible, summed up the chapter this way:
"They put themselves in the posts assigned them, without murmuring or disputing, and, as it was their safety, so it was their beauty; Balaam was charmed with the sight of it: How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob! Num 24:5. Thus the gospel church, called the camp of saints, ought to be compact according to the scripture model, every one knowing and keeping his place, and then all that wish well to the church rejoice, beholding their order, Col 2:5."
Sunday, January 14, 2018
The Numbering of the Israelites, Part 2
Because Blogger limits the number of labels each post can have, I have separated the post on Numbers 1 into three posts so that all the heads of tribes may be noted in labels. Part 1 of Numbers 1 can be found at this link:
The Numbering of the Israelites, Part 1
In the last post (part 1) God was instructing Moses and Aaron to take a census of the able-bodied men from twenty years and older who would be able to go to war. They were to take each head of the twelve tribes to assist them in this census, and the instructions continued from the last post as follows:
(10) "Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud; of Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur;"
Previously noted was that the tribe of Levi was not counted among the twelve tribes fit for armies as the Levites were the priests. However, there were still twelve tribes as the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, each became heads of their tribes. In Genesis 48:5, Jacob or Israel, adopted, so to speak, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own children, making them heads of tribes as his own sons would be, having a distinct portion of the promised land. At the time of the census, Elishama, the son of Ammihud, was the head of the tribe of Ephraim; and Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur, was the head of the tribe of Manasseh. "Elishama" meant "my God has heard"; "Gamaliel" meant "reward of God". To be noted is that the insertion of Joseph here is not in birth order. Dr. John Gill, in his Exposition of the Entire Bible, sometimes referencing the Jewish biblical scholar, Aben Ezra, explained it this way:
"...first the children of Leah, beginning with Reuben, the firstborn; and the rest, Simeon and Judah, are ranked according to their birth; Levi being omitted, because that tribe was not now numbered...and then Issachar and Zebulun; after those the children of Rachel, because of her honour and glory above the handmaids, as Aben Ezra remarks; who further observes, that it begins with Ephraim, following Jacob our father, that is, because of the blessing of Jacob, who preferred Ephraim the younger to Manasseh the elder; and here Ephraim and Manasseh are set before Benjamin, because they were in the place of Joseph; and after that the account goes on with Dan, because, he was the firstborn of the handmaids; and after him Asher, though the second son of Zilpah, is placed before Gad, the first son, because, says the same Aben Ezra, the Lord knew that he would be the head of those that encamped by the standard of Dan, and so is placed next to him; and after him Gad, who was the firstborn of Leah's handmaid; and Naphtali last of all, the second son of Bilhah: this order seems to be designed to suit with their encampments, and the form of them."
(11) "Of Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni;"
From the tribe of Benjamin, Abidan, the son of Gideoni, was the head. "Abidan" meant "my father is judge".
(12) "Of Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai;"
From the tribe of Dan, Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai, was the head. "Ahiezer" meant "my brother is help".
(13) "Of Asher, Pagiel the son of Ocran;"
From the tribe of Asher, Pagiel, the son of Ocran, was the head, "Pagiel" meaning "event of God" or "accident of God".
(14) "Of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel;"
From the tribe of Gad, Eliasaph, the son of Deuel, was head. "Eliasaph" meant "God is gatherer" or "God has added".
(15) "Of Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan."
Finally, from the tribe of Naphtali, Ahira, the son of Enan, was head. Interestingly, "Ahira" meant "brother of wrong" or "my brother is evil"; however, I can find no reference for the reason for his name.
(16) These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.
The preceding list of heads of tribes named the most eminent among the children of Israel, princes of their father's tribes. The congregation of Israel being divided into thousands according to tribes, each prince was head of thousands of people.
(17) And Moses and Aaron took these men who had been expressed by name, (18) 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.
As instructed by God, Moses and Aaron took the heads of each tribe and assembled all of the congregation together on that first day of the second month. The people declared their pedigrees, of what tribe, family, and house they were, and each "poll" (head) was counted and listed by name, that was twenty years and older, and I assume, also able-bodied enough for war.
(19) As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.
Moses did as the Lord had commanded him, and he numbered the armies of the Lord as instructed there in the wilderness of Sinai.
Once again I have reached the total number of labels allowed and will continue this chapter in the next post:
The Numbering of the Israelites, Part 3
The Numbering of the Israelites, Part 1
In the last post (part 1) God was instructing Moses and Aaron to take a census of the able-bodied men from twenty years and older who would be able to go to war. They were to take each head of the twelve tribes to assist them in this census, and the instructions continued from the last post as follows:
(10) "Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud; of Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur;"
Previously noted was that the tribe of Levi was not counted among the twelve tribes fit for armies as the Levites were the priests. However, there were still twelve tribes as the two sons of Joseph, Ephraim and Manasseh, each became heads of their tribes. In Genesis 48:5, Jacob or Israel, adopted, so to speak, Ephraim and Manasseh, as his own children, making them heads of tribes as his own sons would be, having a distinct portion of the promised land. At the time of the census, Elishama, the son of Ammihud, was the head of the tribe of Ephraim; and Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur, was the head of the tribe of Manasseh. "Elishama" meant "my God has heard"; "Gamaliel" meant "reward of God". To be noted is that the insertion of Joseph here is not in birth order. Dr. John Gill, in his Exposition of the Entire Bible, sometimes referencing the Jewish biblical scholar, Aben Ezra, explained it this way:
"...first the children of Leah, beginning with Reuben, the firstborn; and the rest, Simeon and Judah, are ranked according to their birth; Levi being omitted, because that tribe was not now numbered...and then Issachar and Zebulun; after those the children of Rachel, because of her honour and glory above the handmaids, as Aben Ezra remarks; who further observes, that it begins with Ephraim, following Jacob our father, that is, because of the blessing of Jacob, who preferred Ephraim the younger to Manasseh the elder; and here Ephraim and Manasseh are set before Benjamin, because they were in the place of Joseph; and after that the account goes on with Dan, because, he was the firstborn of the handmaids; and after him Asher, though the second son of Zilpah, is placed before Gad, the first son, because, says the same Aben Ezra, the Lord knew that he would be the head of those that encamped by the standard of Dan, and so is placed next to him; and after him Gad, who was the firstborn of Leah's handmaid; and Naphtali last of all, the second son of Bilhah: this order seems to be designed to suit with their encampments, and the form of them."
(11) "Of Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni;"
From the tribe of Benjamin, Abidan, the son of Gideoni, was the head. "Abidan" meant "my father is judge".
(12) "Of Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai;"
From the tribe of Dan, Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai, was the head. "Ahiezer" meant "my brother is help".
(13) "Of Asher, Pagiel the son of Ocran;"
From the tribe of Asher, Pagiel, the son of Ocran, was the head, "Pagiel" meaning "event of God" or "accident of God".
(14) "Of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel;"
From the tribe of Gad, Eliasaph, the son of Deuel, was head. "Eliasaph" meant "God is gatherer" or "God has added".
(15) "Of Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan."
Finally, from the tribe of Naphtali, Ahira, the son of Enan, was head. Interestingly, "Ahira" meant "brother of wrong" or "my brother is evil"; however, I can find no reference for the reason for his name.
(16) These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.
The preceding list of heads of tribes named the most eminent among the children of Israel, princes of their father's tribes. The congregation of Israel being divided into thousands according to tribes, each prince was head of thousands of people.
(17) And Moses and Aaron took these men who had been expressed by name, (18) 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.
As instructed by God, Moses and Aaron took the heads of each tribe and assembled all of the congregation together on that first day of the second month. The people declared their pedigrees, of what tribe, family, and house they were, and each "poll" (head) was counted and listed by name, that was twenty years and older, and I assume, also able-bodied enough for war.
(19) As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.
Moses did as the Lord had commanded him, and he numbered the armies of the Lord as instructed there in the wilderness of Sinai.
Once again I have reached the total number of labels allowed and will continue this chapter in the next post:
The Numbering of the Israelites, Part 3
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