Numbers 1:23 kjv
Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
Numbers 1:23 nkjv
those who were numbered of the tribe of Simeon were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.
Numbers 1:23 niv
The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.
Numbers 1:23 esv
those listed of the tribe of Simeon were 59,300.
Numbers 1 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 1:2 | "Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by their clans... all who are able to go to war in Israel..." | Command for the census |
| Num 1:45 | "all those listed... by their fathers' houses... of the sons of Israel, twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war in Israel." | Confirms census criteria |
| Exod 30:11-16 | "When you take the census of the people of Israel... each man shall give a ransom for his life to the LORD." | Prior census for atonement |
| Num 26:14 | "These are the clans of the Simeonite, 22,200." | Second census, significant reduction |
| Gen 49:5-7 | "Simeon and Levi are brothers; weapons of violence are their swords... I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel." | Jacob's prophecy of scattering/diminution |
| Josh 19:1, 9 | "The second lot came out for Simeon... whose inheritance was in the midst of the inheritance of the people of Judah." | Fulfillment of Simeon's scattering/integration |
| Gen 29:33 | "And she conceived again... 'Because the LORD has heard that I am hated, he has given me this son also.' So she called his name Simeon." | Meaning of Simeon's name: "He has heard" |
| Gen 12:2 | "I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you..." | Promise of nationhood to Abraham |
| Gen 13:16 | "I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also can be counted." | Promise of multitude |
| Gen 15:5 | "Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.' Then he said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.'" | Divine promise of innumerable descendants |
| Exod 1:7 | "But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them." | Early fulfillment of population growth |
| Deut 23:14 | "For the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and to give up your enemies before you; therefore your camp must be holy." | Emphasis on the holiness of the camp |
| 1 Cor 14:33 | "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." | God's character of order and organization |
| 1 Cor 12:27 | "Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it." | Analogy of structured body, divine order |
| Deut 1:15 | "So I took the heads of your tribes, wise and experienced men, and made them heads over you..." | Appointing leaders by tribes/families |
| Neh 7:5 | "My God put it into my heart to assemble the nobles, the officials, and the common people for enrollment by genealogies." | Post-exilic census for returning exiles |
| Heb 12:1 | "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight..." | Implicit spiritual 'army' and discipline |
| Eph 6:11-12 | "Put on the whole armor of God... For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities..." | Christian life as spiritual warfare |
| Isa 40:26 | "Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name..." | God's sovereign command over His creation |
| Ps 147:4 | "He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names." | God's meticulous knowledge and numbering |
| Joel 2:25 | "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, the hopper, the destroyer, and the cutter, my great army..." | God using ordered forces, even locusts |
Numbers 1 verses
Numbers 1 23 Meaning
Numbers 1:23 specifies the exact count of all able-bodied men twenty years old and above from the tribe of Simeon, who were enrolled for military service in the wilderness. This precise enumeration highlights God's meticulous organization of His people, essential for their journey, encampment, and preparedness as His army, while also signifying His fulfillment of the covenant promise to Abraham regarding a numerous offspring.
Numbers 1 23 Context
Numbers chapter 1 details the first general census of the Israelite male population capable of military service. This enumeration occurs in the Sinai wilderness, specifically on the first day of the second month in the second year after the Exodus from Egypt. God Himself commands Moses and Aaron to take this count. The purpose of this census was multifaceted: to organize the Israelite tribes into a divinely ordered camp (Num 2), to arrange them for travel, and to establish their readiness for holy war in the conquest of Canaan. The counting of each tribe individually, as seen in verse 23 for Simeon, underscores the distinct tribal identities within the unified nation of Israel. This particular census excludes the Levites, who were separately enumerated for service in the Tabernacle (Num 1:47-54).
Numbers 1 23 Word analysis
those who were numbered (
פְּקוּדֵיהֶם, pekudeyhem): This term stems from the root pqd, meaning "to visit, muster, appoint, observe, take an account of." It implies a formal, authoritative enrollment rather than a mere counting. In the biblical context, it often denotes divine oversight or a divinely appointed purpose. Here, it specifically indicates those selected and registered as fit for war or service by divine command. The numbering itself signifies God's sovereign hand in organizing His people.of them (
לָהֶם, lahem): A possessive pronoun, directly linking the count to the preceding "those who were numbered," specifying they belong to the particular tribal entity. It denotes inclusion within the specific group being referred to.of the tribe (
לְמַטֵּה, le-mat'teh): Matteh literally means "staff" or "rod," and by extension, refers to a clan, branch, or tribe, likely because tribal leaders carried distinctive staffs. This term emphasizes the familial and ancestral division within Israel, ordained by God, ensuring orderly lineage and inheritance. Eachmattehwas a distinct military and administrative unit.of Simeon (
שִׁמְעוֹן, Shim'on): The second son born to Jacob and Leah. His name means "he has heard" (from the Hebrew verb shama), given by Leah in recognition that "the LORD has heard that I am hated" (Gen 29:33). Historically, Simeon's actions with Levi in the slaughter of Shechem (Gen 34) led to Jacob's prophecy that they would be "divided in Jacob and scattered in Israel" (Gen 49:7). This context adds a layer of significance, as despite a large number here, this prophecy finds a dramatic future fulfillment, reflected in the reduced size of the tribe in the second census (Num 26:14) and their later absorption within Judah's territory (Josh 19:1, 9).fifty-nine thousand and three hundred (
תִּשְׁעָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וּשְׁלֹשׁ מֵאוֹת, tish'ah vachamishim elef ush'losh me'ot): This precise numerical figure is characteristic of the book of Numbers. It demonstrates the meticulous detail of God's organizational plans and His fulfillment of the promise to multiply Abraham's descendants. The emphasis on specific numbers underscores the factual basis of the biblical record and God's intentionality in preparing His people for their covenant mission. It also contrasts sharply with the Simeonite census later in Numbers, foreshadowing the consequences of future disobedience.
Numbers 1 23 Bonus section
The disproportionate decline of Simeon's fighting men from 59,300 in Num 1 to 22,200 in Num 26 is a significant aspect often highlighted by biblical scholars. This substantial decrease serves as a potent reminder of the severe consequences of corporate sin and rebellion, especially following the events at Baal-Peor (Num 25) where Zimri, a Simeonite prince, was prominently involved. While other tribes also experienced decline or growth, Simeon's fall was the most severe, seemingly reflecting the tribal impact of their actions. This tribal decimation also appears to be a direct fulfillment of Jacob's prophetic words against Simeon and Levi in Gen 49:7, "I will divide them in Jacob and scatter them in Israel." Ultimately, Simeon's inheritance was not a distinct territory but enclaves within Judah's land (Josh 19:1-9), illustrating how a once-mighty tribal unit can face reduction and assimilation due to divine judgment or the ramifications of unfaithfulness.
Numbers 1 23 Commentary
Numbers 1:23 provides a clear and precise statistic for the fighting men of the tribe of Simeon, a critical detail within the larger census of Israel. This is not merely a bureaucratic accounting but a divinely commanded act to organize God's chosen people as an assembly (or "church") and a functional army ready to inherit the promised land. The precision of "fifty-nine thousand and three hundred" highlights God's meticulous nature and His deep engagement with the details of His covenant people. For the original audience, such an accurate count would reassure them of their numerical strength and God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promise of multitude to their patriarchs. However, when contrasted with the significantly lower figure for Simeon in Numbers 26:14 (22,200), this initial strength foreshadows a stark decline. This dramatic reduction between the two censuses, greater proportionally than any other tribe, is often linked to the tribe's involvement in the idolatry and immorality at Baal-Peor (Num 25), reflecting God's swift judgment against rebellion and disobedience. Thus, Numbers 1:23, while seemingly just a number, begins a subtle narrative of divine fidelity amidst potential human failure and the consequences that follow.