32 Of the children H1121 of Joseph, H3130 namely, of the children H1121 of Ephraim, H669 by their generations, H8435 after their families, H4940 by the house H1004 of their fathers, H1 according to the number H4557 of the names, H8034 from twenty H6242 years H8141 old H1121 and upward, H4605 all that were able to go forth H3318 to war; H6635
These are the sons H1121 of Ephraim H669 after their families: H4940 of Shuthelah, H7803 the family H4940 of the Shuthalhites: H8364 of Becher, H1071 the family H4940 of the Bachrites: H1076 of Tahan, H8465 the family H4940 of the Tahanites. H8470 And these are the sons H1121 of Shuthelah: H7803 of Eran, H6197 the family H4940 of the Eranites. H6198 These are the families H4940 of the sons H1121 of Ephraim H669 according to those that were numbered H6485 of them, thirty H7970 and two H8147 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred. H3967 These are the sons H1121 of Joseph H3130 after their families. H4940
And Jacob H3290 dwelt H3427 in the land H776 wherein his father H1 was a stranger, H4033 in the land H776 of Canaan. H3667 These are the generations H8435 of Jacob. H3290 Joseph, H3130 being seventeen H6240 H7651 years H8141 old, H1121 was feeding H7462 the flock H6629 with his brethren; H251 and the lad H5288 was with the sons H1121 of Bilhah, H1090 and with the sons H1121 of Zilpah, H2153 his father's H1 wives: H802 and Joseph H3130 brought H935 unto his father H1 their evil H7451 report. H1681 Now Israel H3478 loved H157 Joseph H3130 more than all his children, H1121 because he was the son H1121 of his old age: H2208 and he made H6213 him a coat H3801 of many colours. H6446 And when his brethren H251 saw H7200 that their father H1 loved H157 him more than all his brethren, H251 they hated H8130 him, and could H3201 not speak H1696 peaceably H7965 unto him. And Joseph H3130 dreamed H2492 a dream, H2472 and he told H5046 it his brethren: H251 and they hated H8130 him yet the more. H3254 And he said H559 unto them, Hear, H8085 I pray you, this dream H2472 which I have dreamed: H2492 For, behold, we were binding H481 H8432 sheaves H485 in the field, H7704 and, lo, my sheaf H485 arose, H6965 and also stood upright; H5324 and, behold, your sheaves H485 stood round about, H5437 and made obeisance H7812 to my sheaf. H485 And his brethren H251 said H559 to him, Shalt thou indeed H4427 reign H4427 over us? or shalt thou indeed H4910 have dominion H4910 over us? And they hated H8130 him yet the more H3254 for his dreams, H2472 and for his words. H1697 And he dreamed H2492 yet another H312 dream, H2472 and told H5608 it his brethren, H251 and said, H559 Behold, I have dreamed H2492 a dream H2472 more; and, behold, the sun H8121 and the moon H3394 and the eleven H6240 H259 stars H3556 made obeisance H7812 to me. And he told H5608 it to his father, H1 and to his brethren: H251 and his father H1 rebuked H1605 him, and said H559 unto him, What is this dream H2472 that thou hast dreamed? H2492 Shall I and thy mother H517 and thy brethren H251 indeed H935 come H935 to bow down H7812 ourselves to thee to the earth? H776 And his brethren H251 envied H7065 him; but his father H1 observed H8104 the saying. H1697 And his brethren H251 went H3212 to feed H7462 their father's H1 flock H6629 in Shechem. H7927 And Israel H3478 said H559 unto Joseph, H3130 Do not thy brethren H251 feed H7462 the flock in Shechem? H7927 come, H3212 and I will send thee H7971 unto them. And he said H559 to him, Here am I. And he said H559 to him, Go, H3212 I pray thee, see H7200 whether it be well H7965 with thy brethren, H251 and well H7965 with the flocks; H6629 and bring H7725 me word H1697 again. H7725 So he sent H7971 him out of the vale H6010 of Hebron, H2275 and he came H935 to Shechem. H7927 And a certain man H376 found him, H4672 and, behold, he was wandering H8582 in the field: H7704 and the man H376 asked him, H7592 saying, H559 What seekest H1245 thou? And he said, H559 I seek H1245 my brethren: H251 tell H5046 me, I pray thee, where H375 they feed H7462 their flocks. And the man H376 said, H559 They are departed H5265 hence; H2088 for I heard H8085 them say, H559 Let us go H3212 to Dothan. H1886 And Joseph H3130 went H3212 after H310 his brethren, H251 and found H4672 them in Dothan. H1886 And when they saw H7200 him afar off, H7350 even before he came near H7126 unto them, they conspired H5230 against him to slay H4191 him. And they said H559 one H376 to another, H251 Behold, this H1976 dreamer H1167 H2472 cometh. H935 Come H3212 now therefore, and let us slay H2026 him, and cast H7993 him into some H259 pit, H953 and we will say, H559 Some evil H7451 beast H2416 hath devoured H398 him: and we shall see H7200 what will become of his dreams. H2472 And Reuben H7205 heard H8085 it, and he delivered H5337 him out of their hands; H3027 and said, H559 Let us not kill H5221 H5315 him. And Reuben H7205 said H559 unto them, Shed H8210 no blood, H1818 but cast H7993 him into this pit H953 that is in the wilderness, H4057 and lay H7971 no hand H3027 upon him; that he might rid H5337 him out of their hands, H3027 to deliver H7725 him to his father H1 again. H7725 And it came to pass, when Joseph H3130 was come H935 unto his brethren, H251 that they stript H6584 H853 Joseph H3130 out of H854 his coat, H3801 his coat H3801 of many colours H6446 that was on him; And they took H3947 him, and cast H7993 him into a pit: H953 and the pit H953 was empty, H7386 there was no water H4325 in it. And they sat down H3427 to eat H398 bread: H3899 and they lifted up H5375 their eyes H5869 and looked, H7200 and, behold, a company H736 of Ishmeelites H3459 came H935 from Gilead H1568 with their camels H1581 bearing H5375 spicery H5219 and balm H6875 and myrrh, H3910 going H1980 to carry it down H3381 to Egypt. H4714 And Judah H3063 said H559 unto his brethren, H251 What profit H1215 is it if we slay H2026 our brother, H251 and conceal H3680 his blood? H1818 Come, H3212 and let us sell H4376 him to the Ishmeelites, H3459 and let not our hand H3027 be upon him; for he is our brother H251 and our flesh. H1320 And his brethren H251 were content. H8085 Then there passed H5674 by Midianites H4084 merchantmen; H582 H5503 and they drew H4900 and lifted up H5927 Joseph H3130 out of the pit, H953 and sold H4376 Joseph H3130 to the Ishmeelites H3459 for twenty H6242 pieces of silver: H3701 and they brought H935 Joseph H3130 into Egypt. H4714 And Reuben H7205 returned H7725 unto the pit; H953 and, behold, Joseph H3130 was not in the pit; H953 and he rent H7167 his clothes. H899 And he returned H7725 unto his brethren, H251 and said, H559 The child H3206 is not; and I, whither H575 shall I go? H935 And they took H3947 Joseph's H3130 coat, H3801 and killed H7819 a kid H8163 of the goats, H5795 and dipped H2881 the coat H3801 in the blood; H1818 And they sent H7971 the coat H3801 of many colours, H6446 and they brought H935 it to their father; H1 and said, H559 This have we found: H4672 know H5234 now whether it be thy son's H1121 coat H3801 or no. And he knew it, H5234 and said, H559 It is my son's H1121 coat; H3801 an evil H7451 beast H2416 hath devoured H398 him; Joseph H3130 is without doubt H2963 rent in pieces. H2963 And Jacob H3290 rent H7167 his clothes, H8071 and put H7760 sackcloth H8242 upon his loins, H4975 and mourned H56 for his son H1121 many H7227 days. H3117 And all his sons H1121 and all his daughters H1323 rose up H6965 to comfort H5162 him; but he refused H3985 to be comforted; H5162 and he said, H559 For I will go down H3381 into the grave H7585 unto my son H1121 mourning. H57 Thus his father H1 wept H1058 for him. And the Midianites H4092 sold H4376 him into Egypt H4714 unto Potiphar, H6318 an officer H5631 of Pharaoh's, H6547 and captain H8269 of the guard. H2876
And Joseph H3130 was brought down H3381 to Egypt; H4714 and Potiphar, H6318 an officer H5631 of Pharaoh, H6547 captain H8269 of the guard, H2876 an Egyptian, H376 H4713 bought H7069 him of the hands H3027 of the Ishmeelites, H3459 which had brought him down H3381 thither. And the LORD H3068 was with Joseph, H3130 and he was a prosperous H6743 man; H376 and he was in the house H1004 of his master H113 the Egyptian. H4713 And his master H113 saw H7200 that the LORD H3068 was with him, and that the LORD H3068 made all that he did H6213 to prosper H6743 in his hand. H3027 And Joseph H3130 found H4672 grace H2580 in his sight, H5869 and he served H8334 him: and he made him overseer H6485 over his house, H1004 and all that he had H3426 he put H5414 into his hand. H3027 And it came to pass from the time H227 that he had made him overseer H6485 in his house, H1004 and over all that he had, H3426 that the LORD H3068 blessed H1288 the Egyptian's H4713 house H1004 for Joseph's H3130 sake; H1558 and the blessing H1293 of the LORD H3068 was upon all that he had H3426 in the house, H1004 and in the field. H7704 And he left H5800 all that he had in Joseph's H3130 hand; H3027 and he knew H3045 not ought H3972 he had, save H518 the bread H3899 which he did eat. H398 And Joseph H3130 was a goodly H8389 person, and well H3303 favoured. H4758 And it came to pass after H310 these things, H1697 that his master's H113 wife H802 cast H5375 her eyes H5869 upon Joseph; H3130 and she said, H559 Lie H7901 with me. But he refused, H3985 and said H559 unto his master's H113 wife, H802 Behold, my master H113 wotteth H3045 not what is with me in the house, H1004 and he hath committed H5414 all that he hath H3426 to my hand; H3027 There is none greater H1419 in this house H1004 than I; neither H3808 hath he kept back H2820 any thing H3972 from me but thee, because H834 thou H859 art his wife: H802 how then can I do H6213 this great H1419 wickedness, H7451 and sin H2398 against God? H430 And it came to pass, as she spake H1696 to Joseph H3130 day H3117 by day, H3117 that he hearkened H8085 not unto her, to lie H7901 by her, H681 or to be with her. And it came to pass about this time, H3117 that Joseph went H935 into the house H1004 to do H6213 his business; H4399 and there was none of the men H376 H582 of the house H1004 there within. And she caught H8610 him by his garment, H899 saying, H559 Lie H7901 with me: and he left H5800 his garment H899 in her hand, H3027 and fled, H5127 and got H3318 him out. H2351 And it came to pass, when she saw H7200 that he had left H5800 his garment H899 in her hand, H3027 and was fled H5127 forth, H2351 That she called H7121 unto the men H582 of her house, H1004 and spake H559 unto them, saying, H559 See, H7200 he hath brought in H935 an Hebrew H376 H5680 unto us to mock H6711 us; he came in H935 unto me to lie H7901 with me, and I cried H7121 with a loud H1419 voice: H6963 And it came to pass, when he heard H8085 that I lifted up H7311 my voice H6963 and cried, H7121 that he left H5800 his garment H899 with me, H681 and fled, H5127 and got him H3318 out. H2351 And she laid up H3240 his garment H899 by her, H681 until his lord H113 came H935 home. H1004 And she spake H1696 unto him according to these words, H1697 saying, H559 The Hebrew H5680 servant, H5650 which thou hast brought H935 unto us, came in H935 unto me to mock H6711 me: And it came to pass, as I lifted up H7311 my voice H6963 and cried, H7121 that he left H5800 his garment H899 with me, H681 and fled H5127 out. H2351 And it came to pass, when his master H113 heard H8085 the words H1697 of his wife, H802 which she spake H1696 unto him, saying, H559 After this manner H1697 did H6213 thy servant H5650 to me; that his wrath H639 was kindled. H2734 And Joseph's H3130 master H113 took H3947 him, and put him H5414 into the prison, H1004 H5470 a place H4725 where the king's H4428 prisoners H615 were bound: H631 and he was there in the prison. H1004 H5470 But the LORD H3068 was with Joseph, H3130 and shewed H5186 him mercy, H2617 and gave H5414 him favour H2580 in the sight H5869 of the keeper H8269 of the prison. H1004 H5470 And the keeper H8269 of the prison H1004 H5470 committed H5414 to Joseph's H3130 hand H3027 all the prisoners H615 that were in the prison; H1004 H5470 and whatsoever they did H6213 there, he was the doer H6213 of it. The keeper H8269 of the prison H1004 H5470 looked H7200 not to any thing H3972 that was under his hand; H3027 because the LORD H3068 was with him, and that which he did, H6213 the LORD H3068 made it to prosper. H6743
And it came to pass after H310 these things, H1697 that one told H559 Joseph, H3130 Behold, thy father H1 is sick: H2470 and he took H3947 with him his two H8147 sons, H1121 Manasseh H4519 and Ephraim. H669 And one told H5046 Jacob, H3290 and said, H559 Behold, thy son H1121 Joseph H3130 cometh H935 unto thee: and Israel H3478 strengthened H2388 himself, and sat H3427 upon the bed. H4296 And Jacob H3290 said H559 unto Joseph, H3130 God H410 Almighty H7706 appeared H7200 unto me at Luz H3870 in the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 and blessed H1288 me, And said H559 unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, H6509 and multiply H7235 thee, and I will make H5414 of thee a multitude H6951 of people; H5971 and will give H5414 this land H776 to thy seed H2233 after thee H310 for an everlasting H5769 possession. H272 And now thy two H8147 sons, H1121 Ephraim H669 and Manasseh, H4519 which were born H3205 unto thee in the land H776 of Egypt H4714 before H5704 I came H935 unto thee into Egypt, H4714 are mine; as Reuben H7205 and Simeon, H8095 they shall be mine. And thy issue, H4138 which thou begettest H3205 after H310 them, shall be thine, and shall be called H7121 after H5921 the name H8034 of their brethren H251 in their inheritance. H5159 And as for me, when I came H935 from Padan, H6307 Rachel H7354 died H4191 by me in the land H776 of Canaan H3667 in the way, H1870 when H5750 yet there was but a little H3530 way H776 to come H935 unto Ephrath: H672 and I buried her H6912 there in the way H1870 of Ephrath; H672 the same is Bethlehem. H1035 And Israel H3478 beheld H7200 Joseph's H3130 sons, H1121 and said, H559 Who are these? And Joseph H3130 said H559 unto his father, H1 They are my sons, H1121 whom God H430 hath given H5414 me in this place. And he said, H559 Bring them, H3947 I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless H1288 them. Now the eyes H5869 of Israel H3478 were dim H3513 for age, H2207 so that he could H3201 not see. H7200 And he brought them near H5066 unto him; and he kissed H5401 them, and embraced H2263 them. And Israel H3478 said H559 unto Joseph, H3130 I had not thought H6419 to see H7200 thy face: H6440 and, lo, God H430 hath shewed H7200 me also thy seed. H2233 And Joseph H3130 brought them out H3318 from between H5973 his knees, H1290 and he bowed H7812 himself with his face H639 to the earth. H776 And Joseph H3130 took H3947 them both, H8147 Ephraim H669 in his right hand H3225 toward Israel's H3478 left hand, H8040 and Manasseh H4519 in his left hand H8040 toward Israel's H3478 right hand, H3225 and brought them near H5066 unto him. And Israel H3478 stretched out H7971 his right hand, H3225 and laid H7896 it upon Ephraim's H669 head, H7218 who was the younger, H6810 and his left hand H8040 upon Manasseh's H4519 head, H7218 guiding H7919 his hands H3027 wittingly; H7919 for Manasseh H4519 was the firstborn. H1060 And he blessed H1288 Joseph, H3130 and said, H559 God, H430 before H6440 whom my fathers H1 Abraham H85 and Isaac H3327 did walk, H1980 the God H430 which fed H7462 me all my life long H5750 unto this day, H3117 The Angel H4397 which redeemed H1350 me from all evil, H7451 bless H1288 the lads; H5288 and let my name H8034 be named H7121 on them, and the name H8034 of my fathers H1 Abraham H85 and Isaac; H3327 and let them grow H1711 into a multitude H7230 in the midst H7130 of the earth. H776 And when Joseph H3130 saw H7200 that his father H1 laid H7896 his right H3225 hand H3027 upon the head H7218 of Ephraim, H669 it displeased H3415 H5869 him: and he held up H8551 his father's H1 hand, H3027 to remove H5493 it from Ephraim's H669 head H7218 unto Manasseh's H4519 head. H7218 And Joseph H3130 said H559 unto his father, H1 Not so, my father: H1 for this is the firstborn; H1060 put H7760 thy right hand H3225 upon his head. H7218 And his father H1 refused, H3985 and said, H559 I know H3045 it, my son, H1121 I know H3045 it: he also shall become a people, H5971 and he also shall be great: H1431 but truly H199 his younger H6996 brother H251 shall be greater H1431 than he, and his seed H2233 shall become a multitude H4393 of nations. H1471 And he blessed H1288 them that day, H3117 saying, H559 In thee shall Israel H3478 bless, H1288 saying, H559 God H430 make H7760 thee as Ephraim H669 and as Manasseh: H4519 and he set H7760 Ephraim H669 before H6440 Manasseh. H4519 And Israel H3478 said H559 unto Joseph, H3130 Behold, I die: H4191 but God H430 shall be with you, and bring you again H7725 unto the land H776 of your fathers. H1 Moreover I have given H5414 to thee one H259 portion H7926 above thy brethren, H251 which I took H3947 out of the hand H3027 of the Amorite H567 with my sword H2719 and with my bow. H7198
Joseph H3130 is a fruitful H6509 bough, H1121 even a fruitful H6509 bough H1121 by a well; H5869 whose branches H1323 run H6805 over the wall: H7791 The archers H1167 H2671 have sorely grieved him, H4843 and shot H7232 at him, and hated him: H7852 But his bow H7198 abode H3427 in strength, H386 and the arms H2220 of his hands H3027 were made strong H6339 by the hands H3027 of the mighty H46 God of Jacob; H3290 (from thence is the shepherd, H7462 the stone H68 of Israel:) H3478 Even by the God H410 of thy father, H1 who shall help H5826 thee; and by H854 the Almighty, H7706 who shall bless H1288 thee with blessings H1293 of heaven H8064 above, H5920 blessings H1293 of the deep H8415 that lieth H7257 under, blessings H1293 of the breasts, H7699 and of the womb: H7356 The blessings H1293 of thy father H1 have prevailed H1396 above the blessings H1293 of my progenitors H2029 unto the utmost bound H8379 of the everlasting H5769 hills: H1389 they shall be on the head H7218 of Joseph, H3130 and on the crown of the head H6936 of him that was separate H5139 from his brethren. H251
On the west side H3220 shall be the standard H1714 of the camp H4264 of Ephraim H669 according to their armies: H6635 and the captain H5387 of the sons H1121 of Ephraim H669 shall be Elishama H476 the son H1121 of Ammihud. H5989 And his host, H6635 and those that were numbered H6485 of them, were forty H705 thousand H505 and five H2568 hundred. H3967
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Numbers 1
Commentary on Numbers 1 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 1
Nu 1:1-54. Moses Numbering the Men of War.
1, 2. on the first day of the second month, &c.—Thirteen months had elapsed since the exodus. About one month had been occupied in the journey; and the rest of the period had been passed in encampment among the recesses of Sinai, where the transactions took place, and the laws, religious and civil, were promulgated, which are contained in the two preceding books. As the tabernacle was erected on the first day of the first month, and the order here mentioned was given on the first day of the second, some think the laws in Leviticus were all given in one month. The Israelites having been formed into a separate nation, under the special government of God as their King, it was necessary, before resuming their march towards the promised land, to put them into good order. And accordingly Moses was commissioned, along with Aaron, to take a census of the people. This census was incidentally noticed (Ex 38:26), in reference to the poll tax for the works of the tabernacle; but it is here described in detail, in order to show the relative increase and military strength of the different tribes. The enumeration was confined to those capable of bearing arms [Nu 1:3], and it was to be made with a careful distinction of the tribe, family, and household to which every individual belonged. By this rule of summation many important advantages were secured: an exact genealogical register was formed, the relative strength of each tribe was ascertained, and the reason found for arranging the order of precedence in march as well as disposing the different tribes in camp around the tabernacle. The promise of God to Abraham [Ge 22:17] was seen to be fulfilled in the extraordinary increase of his posterity, and provision made for tracing the regular descent of the Messiah.
3. Aaron shall number them by their armies—or companies. In their departure from Egypt they were divided into five grand companies (Ex 13:18), but from the sojourn in the wilderness to the passage of the Jordan, they were formed into four great divisions. The latter is here referred to.
4-16. with you there shall be a man of every tribe, &c.—The social condition of the Israelites in the wilderness bore a close resemblance to that of the nomad tribes of the East in the present day. The head of the tribe was a hereditary dignity, vested in the oldest son or some other to whom the right of primogeniture was transferred, and under whom were other inferior heads, also hereditary, among the different branches of the tribe. The Israelites being divided into twelve tribes, there were twelve chiefs appointed to assist in taking the census of the people.
5. these are the names of the men that shall stand with you, &c.—Each is designated by adding the name of the ancestors of his tribe, the people of which were called "Beni-Reuben," "Beni-Levi," sons of Reuben, sons of Levi, according to the custom of the Arabs still, as well as other nations which are divided into clans, as the Macs of Scotland, the Aps of Wales, and the O's and the Fitzes of Ireland [Chalmers].
16-18. These were the renowned—literally, "the called" of the congregation, summoned by name; and they entered upon the survey the very day the order was given.
18. by their polls—individually, one by one.
19. As the Lord commanded Moses, &c.—The numbering of the people was not an act sinful in itself, as Moses did it by divine appointment; but David incurred guilt by doing it without the authority of God. (See on 2Sa 24:10).
20-44. These are those that were numbered—In this registration the tribe of Judah appears the most numerous; and accordingly, as the pre-eminence had been assigned to it by Jacob [Ge 49:8-12], it got the precedence in all the encampments of Israel. Of the two half-tribes of Joseph, who is seen to be "a fruitful bough" [Ge 49:22], that of Ephraim was the larger, as had been predicted. The relative increase of all, as in the two just mentioned, was owing to the special blessing of God, conformably to the prophetic declaration of the dying patriarch. But the divine blessing is usually conveyed through the influence of secondary causes; and there is reason to believe that the relative populousness of the tribes would, under God, depend upon the productiveness of the respective localities assigned to them. [For tabular chart, see on Nu 26:64.]
45, 46. all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand, &c.—What an astonishing increase from seventy-five persons who went down to Egypt about two hundred fifteen years before [see on Ge 46:8], and who were subjected to the greatest privations and hardships! And yet this enumeration was restricted to men from twenty years and upwards [Nu 1:3]. Including women, children, and old men, together with the Levites, the whole population of Israel, on the ordinary principles of computation, amounted to about 2,400,000.
47-54. But the Levites … were not numbered among them—They were obliged to keep a register of their own. They were consecrated to the priestly office, which in all countries has been exempted customarily, and in Israel by the express authority of God, from military service. The custody of the things devoted to the divine service was assigned to them so exclusively, that "no stranger"—that is, no person, not even an Israelite of any other tribe, was allowed, under penalty of death, to approach these [Nu 16:40]. Hence they encamped round the tabernacle in order that there should be no manifestation of the divine displeasure among the people. Thus the numbering of the people was subservient to the separation of the Levites from those Israelites who were fit for military service, and to the practical introduction of the law respecting the first-born, for whom the tribe of Levi became a substitute [Ex 13:2; Nu 3:12].