Numbers 1:3

Translations

Modern

You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army.

Traditional

From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.

Literal

From a son of twenty years and above, all who can go to war in Israel, you shall number them by their armies—you and Aaron;

Latin

…a vigesimo anno et supra, omnium virorum fortium ex Israël, et numerabitis eos per turmas suas, tu et Aaron.

Original

Hebrew

English

You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army.

Notes

Numbers 1:1–10:10

The Israelites got ready to leave for the promised land by listing all troops who could join the conquest. The nation was changing from slavery to becoming a nation.

Numbers 1:2–16

those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army: This registration gathered more information than the earlier census (compare Exodus 38:26).
These are the names of the men who are to assist you: Hebrew culture was tribal, centered around clans and families. They easily identified the tribal leaders, who appear again as a group in Numbers 7.
Moses and Aaron did not include the tribe of Levi in this registration because it had a special status in Israelite society (see Numbers 1:47–53; 26:51–62; Deuteronomy 18:5; 33:8–11).

Numbers 1:1–16

God chose a family leader from each tribe (except the tribe of Levi), to count Israel's men who were old enough to be soldiers.

Related verses

Exodus 30:14
Everyone twenty years of age or older who crosses over must give this offering to the LORD.
Numbers 14:29
Your bodies will fall in this wilderness—all who were numbered in the census, everyone twenty years of age or older—because you have grumbled against Me.
2 Chronicles 26:11–13
Uzziah had an army ready for battle that went out to war by assigned divisions, as recorded by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer under the direction of Hananiah, one of the royal officers.
Deuteronomy 24:5
If a man is newly married, he must not be sent to war or be pressed into any duty. For one year he is free to stay at home and bring joy to the wife he has married.
Deuteronomy 3:18
At that time I commanded you: “The LORD your God has given you this land to possess. All your men of valor are to cross over, armed for battle, ahead of your brothers, the Israelites.
Exodus 12:17
So you are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your divisions out of the land of Egypt. You must keep this day as a permanent statute for the generations to come.
Numbers 26:2
“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by the houses of their fathers—all those twenty years of age or older who can serve in the army of Israel.”
Numbers 33:1
These are the journeys of the Israelites when they came out of the land of Egypt by their divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron.
2 Samuel 24:9
And Joab reported to the king the total number of the troops. In Israel there were 800,000 men of valor who drew the sword, and in Judah there were 500,000.
Numbers 32:11
‘Because they did not follow Me wholeheartedly, not one of the men twenty years of age or older who came out of Egypt will see the land that I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—
2 Chronicles 17:13–18
…and kept vast supplies in the cities of Judah. He also had warriors in Jerusalem who were mighty men of valor.

Parallels

Numbers 26:1–4

People

Aaron: Moses' brother, first high priest of Israel Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes

Glossary

Aaron Census Deuteronomy, Book of Gad, Tribe of Genealogy Marriage, Marriage Customs Numbers, Book of

Topics

Armies: Enumeration of Israel's Military Forces Armies: Who of the Israelites Were Subject to Service In Israel: Number of, at Sinai, by Tribes Journey of Israel Through The Desert: To Mount Sinai: Second Numbering of the People Priest: (The Function he Served Was Superior to That of Other Priests): To Count the People The Armies of Israel: Persons Liable to Serve In The High Priest: Duties of Taking the Census of the People

Numbers 1:3

Translations?

Original?

Notes?

Related verses?

Parallels?