- Take ye the sum:
- This numbering was probably intended to illustrate the Divine faithfulness in thus increasing the seed of Abraham; to prepare them to preserve due order in their march; and to distinguish the tribes and families. "Takeª°¹ the sumª of all¹ the congregationª of the childrenª of Israel,ª from twentyª yearsª oldª¹ and upward,ª throughout their fathers'ª house,ª all¹ that are able to goª° to warª in Israel.ª ... [Take the sum of the people], from twentyª yearsª oldª¹ and upward;ª as¹ the LORDª commandedª°¹ Mosesª and the childrenª of Israel,ª which went forthª° out of the landª¹ of Egypt.ª" {Num 26:2-4} + "These¹ [are] they that were numberedª° by Mosesª and Eleazarª the priest,ª who¹ numberedª°¹ the childrenª of Israelª in the plainsª of Moabª by¹ Jordanª [near] Jericho.ª ... But among these¹ there was¹ not¹ a manª of them whom Mosesª and Aaronª the priestª numbered,ª°¹ when¹ they numberedª°¹ the childrenª of Israelª in the wildernessª of Sinai.ª" {Num 26:63-64} + "When¹ thou takestª°¹ the sumª of the childrenª of Israelª after their number,ª° then shall they giveª° every manª a ransomª for his soulª unto the LORD,ª when thou numberestª° them; that there be¹ no¹ plagueª among them, when [thou] numberestª° them." {Exd 30:12} + "A bekahª for every man,ª [that is], halfª a shekel,ª after the shekelª of the sanctuary,ª for every one¹ that wentª° to¹ be numbered,ª° from twenty² years² oldª¹¹¹ and upward,ª for sixª hundredª thousandª and threeª thousandª and fiveª hundredª and fiftyª [men]." {Exd 38:26} + "And againª° the angerª of the LORDª was kindledª° against Israel,ª and he movedª°¹ Davidª against them to say,ª° Go,²°¹ numberª°¹ Israelª and Judah.ª ... And Joabª saidª° unto¹ the king,ª Now the LORDª thy Godª addª° unto¹ the people,ª how many soever² they be,ª an hundredfold,ªª and that the eyesª of my lordª the kingª may seeª° [it]: but why¹ doth my lordª the kingª delightª° in this¹ thing?ª" {2Sm 24:1-3} + "And Satanª stood upª° against¹ Israel,ª and provokedª°¹ Davidª to numberª°¹ Israel.ª ... And Davidª saidª° to¹ Joabª and to¹ the rulersª of the people,ª Go,²°¹ numberª°¹ Israelª from Beershebaª¹ even to¹ Dan;ª and bringª°¹ the numberª of them to¹ me, that I may knowª° [it]." {1Ch 21:1-2} + "But Davidª tookª° not¹ the numberª of them from twenty² years² oldª¹¹¹ and under:ª because¹ the LORDª had saidª° he would increaseª°¹ Israelª like to the starsª of the heavens.ª ... Joabª the sonª of Zeruiahª beganª° to number,ª° but he finishedª° not,¹ because there fell¹ wrathª for itª against¹ Israel;ª neither¹ was the numberª putª° in the accountª of the chroniclesªª of kingª David.ª" {1Ch 27:23-24}
|