Numbers 1 20

Numbers 1:20 kjv

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;

Numbers 1:20 nkjv

Now the children of Reuben, Israel's oldest son, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers' house, according to the number of names, every male individually, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:

Numbers 1:20 niv

From the descendants of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel: All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families.

Numbers 1:20 esv

The people of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war:

Numbers 1:20 nlt

[20-21] This is the number of men twenty years old or older who were able to go to war, as their names were listed in the records of their clans and families : Tribe ? Number
Reuben (Jacob's oldest son) ? 46,500

Numbers 1 verses

Numbers 1 20 Meaning

Numbers 1:20 details the criteria for the census of the tribe of Reuben, Israel's firstborn. It specifies that the count was to include every male, from twenty years old and upward, who was capable of military service. This meticulous enumeration, organized by generations, families, and fathers' houses, signifies the divine command for order, preparedness, and responsibility within the Israelite community as they prepared for their wilderness journey and the eventual conquest of the Promised Land.

Numbers 1 20 Context

Numbers Chapter 1 details the first census taken in the wilderness of Sinai, following Israel's liberation from Egypt and the giving of the Law at Mount Sinai. This census was not merely a demographic count but a divine command for military mobilization and orderly organization. Israel, about to embark on its journey through the wilderness to the Promised Land, needed to be structured as an army of the Lord. The focus on males "twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war" establishes the fighting strength of the nation. The specific criteria mentioned in verse 20 for Reuben, and subsequent tribes, reflects God's desire for an organized, accountable, and prepared people, essential for establishing His kingdom on earth through them.

Numbers 1 20 Word analysis

• Of the children of Reuben (בְּנֵי רְאוּבֵן - b'ney Reuven): Denotes the tribal identity. Reuben was Jacob's firstborn (Gen 29:32), which usually conferred the birthright (primogeniture) and associated leadership. However, Reuben later lost this privilege due to sin (Gen 49:3-4; 1 Chr 5:1-2), a significant backdrop to the precise enumeration of his descendants.
• by their generations (לְתוֹלְדֹתָם - l'toldotam): Refers to the lineage or successive descent of a family or tribe. It emphasizes the historical continuity and divine preservation of the family lines within Israel.
• after their families (לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם - l'mishpechotam): Points to larger family units or clans, a broader grouping than immediate households but still based on kinship. This indicates the census was thorough, descending from tribe to clan.
• by their fathers' houses (לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם - l'veit avotam): Refers to the patriarchal household, the fundamental socio-economic and religious unit in Israelite society. This detailed level of organization confirms the census was meticulously individual and traceable to the foundational family structures.
• according to the number of the names (בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת - b'mispar shemot): Highlights an individual-level count, person by person. This precision signifies God's attention to each person and also the accountability required from each member of the nation.
• every male (כָּל־זָכָר - kol-zakhar): Explicitly restricts the census to the male population. This was for the specific purpose of military readiness.
• from twenty years old and upward (מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה - mibben esrim shanah u'ma'lah): Establishes the age of legal and military majority in ancient Israel (cf. Num 1:3; Exod 30:14). It marked an individual's readiness for civic and military responsibility, signifying adulthood and physical capability.
• all who were able to go out to war (כָּל־יֹצֵא צָבָא - kol yotzei tzava): Defines the explicit purpose of the census – a military muster. Tzava (צָבָא) means "army" or "host" and can also refer to the "hosts of heaven," indicating that this human army operates under divine authority and purpose, preparing to fulfill God's plans.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Of the children of Reuben... by their generations, after their families, by their fathers' houses": This repeated formula across Numbers 1 (and 26) emphasizes the meticulously structured, hierarchical, and patriarchal nature of Israelite society. It underscores that God knows His people by their established lineage and tribal identities, not as an undifferentiated mass. This organization was critical for maintaining tribal land assignments, genealogical records, and civil order, reflecting God's orderliness.
• "according to the number of the names, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war": This grouping delineates the precise criteria for enrollment. It points to a highly selective and purposeful count: adult men (demonstrating strength and maturity), each individually identified, specifically for military readiness. This was not a general population census but a roster of those able to fulfill the crucial role of defending the nation and participating in the conquest that God had ordained for them. It underscores the active role each capable man was expected to play in God's national purposes.

Numbers 1 20 Bonus section

The repeated emphasis on counting by "generations, families, fathers' houses" throughout Numbers 1 demonstrates a theological principle: God deals with His people not as an amorphous blob but as distinct individuals connected through defined social and spiritual structures. This ensures accountability, maintains order, and facilitates the future inheritance of the Promised Land based on tribal and familial assignments. The "census" thus served not only military purposes but also played a critical role in preserving the unique identity and patrimony of each tribe within Israel. The census was an act of preparation for fulfilling God's covenant promises, where human obedience and organization worked in conjunction with divine leading.

Numbers 1 20 Commentary

Numbers 1:20 is a micro-cosm of the entire first chapter, encapsulating God's specific command for ordering the Israelite nation as they prepare for the wilderness journey and the conquest of Canaan. Far from a dry demographic record, this verse details a divinely ordained census with a strategic purpose: to identify every capable man who would serve in the Lord's army. The emphasis on precise lineage ("generations, families, fathers' houses") highlights God's methodical approach to His chosen people, valuing individual identity within a communal structure. The age criterion ("twenty years old and upward") signifies the importance of maturity and responsibility, while the qualification ("able to go out to war") points directly to their imminent physical and spiritual battles. This act of numbering underscores that the entire community, specifically its adult men, were to be ready and available for God's sovereign plan.