Numbers 1 28

Numbers 1:28 kjv

Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

Numbers 1:28 nkjv

From the children of Issachar, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers' house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war:

Numbers 1:28 niv

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

Numbers 1:28 esv

Of the people of Issachar, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war:

Numbers 1:28 nlt

[28-29] Issachar ? 54,400

Numbers 1 verses

Numbers 1 28 Meaning

Numbers 1:28 details the enrollment process for the tribe of Issachar during the first census conducted by Moses in the wilderness. It specifies that every male descendant, organized by his lineage through generations, families, and individual households, was counted by name. The criteria for inclusion were males aged twenty years and older who were physically capable of participating in military service, thereby preparing Israel as an ordered host for divine purposes and the impending journey to the promised land.

Numbers 1 28 Context

Numbers chapter 1 inaugurates the book of Numbers by recounting the first national census of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. Commanded by God through Moses, this enumeration took place in the second year after their departure from Egypt. The primary purpose of this census was to register all Israelite males capable of military service—those twenty years old and older—in preparation for the wilderness journey, territorial conquest, and organized encampment. Each tribe, except for Levi, was counted individually, highlighting Israel's structure as God's army. This systematic approach underscored the divine order and God's purposeful direction for His chosen nation as they prepared to move from a temporary camp to the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant.

Numbers 1 28 Word analysis

• Of the children of Issachar:

  • Hebrew: mibne Yissaśkhar (מִבְּנֵי יִשָּׂשְׂכָר).
  • "Children" (bene) here refers specifically to male descendants, as per the context of military enlistment.
  • Issachar was one of the twelve sons of Jacob and Leah (Gen 30:18), meaning "there is reward" or "man of wages." This highlights his unique lineage and place within Israel's tribes.
  • The tribal identity is paramount, linking individuals to their collective heritage.

• their generations:

  • Hebrew: toledotam (תּוֹלְדֹתָם).
  • Refers to their lineage, history of descendants.
  • Emphasizes the continuous familial lines and the organic growth of the tribe. This suggests a careful tracking of lineage over time, not just a casual counting.

• by their families:

  • Hebrew: le-mishpeḥotam (לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם).
  • Refers to the larger kinship groups or clans within the tribe.
  • Illustrates the intermediate layer of organization within Israelite society, between the tribe and the individual household. This grouping facilitated management and administration.

• by their fathers’ houses:

  • Hebrew: le-beit avotam (לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם).
  • Refers to the smallest unit of social organization: the patriarchal household.
  • This specifies the precision of the census, ensuring every individual within every household was accounted for. It shows an ordered and meticulous counting from the ground up.

• according to the number of names:

  • Hebrew: be-mispar shemot (בְּמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת).
  • Indicates that each person was individually identified and tallied.
  • Highlights the personal knowledge God has of His people, contrasting with the ancient world's tendency to view individuals as nameless masses. For God, each person is distinct and known. This precise naming underscored the importance and value of each life.

• from twenty years old and upward:

  • Hebrew: mibben 'esrim shana va-ma'lah (מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה).
  • This age established the threshold for legal adulthood and military service in Israelite society and generally in the ancient Near East.
  • It also relates to culpability; individuals 20 years and older were held responsible for their actions in the wilderness judgment (Num 14:29). This defines a period of maturity and accountability.

• all who were able to go to war:

  • Hebrew: kol yotze tzava (כֹּל יֹצֵא צָבָא).
  • Literally "all going out to host/army." This signifies physical fitness, readiness, and the capacity for military combat.
  • This phrase unequivocally states the explicit purpose of this census: to muster a fighting force for Israel, God's army (Exo 7:4, Num 33:1). It underscores the practical, strategic reason behind the precise numbering.

Words-group analysis:

• "their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses": This tripartite structure (lineage, clan, household) illustrates the hierarchical and organized nature of Israelite society. It reveals a highly structured method of accounting, emphasizing the thoroughness of the divinely commanded census and the orderliness of the nation. It ensures no one is overlooked and proper identity is maintained.
• "according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war": This precise qualification clause defines the specific parameters for the census. It's not a general population count but a military registration, establishing clear boundaries for who qualifies as an eligible fighting man in Israel. This underlines the objective and purposeful nature of God's command.

Numbers 1 28 Bonus section

• The identical enumeration formula for each tribe throughout Numbers chapter 1 emphasizes consistency, fairness, and the uniform standard God applied to all His people.
• This military census of adult males indicates God's plan for Israel to actively engage in the fulfillment of His promises through the conquest of the land, not passively receive it.
• The numbering contrasts sharply with instances in other ancient Near Eastern cultures where censuses could be associated with servitude or taxation, showing God's census as primarily for divine purpose and organization for battle.
• The detailed enumeration foreshadows God's intimate knowledge of His New Covenant people, whose names are "written in the Book of Life" (Phil 4:3, Rev 21:27), where individual identity and belonging are cherished by God.

Numbers 1 28 Commentary

Numbers 1:28 provides a glimpse into the meticulously ordered society that God established for His people, Israel. Far from being an undifferentiated mass, the Israelites were structured into tribes, clans, and households, with each individual meticulously counted by name. This emphasis on precise enumeration was not merely administrative; it signified God's careful attention to His people, valuing each one personally while organizing them for a collective purpose. The criteria "from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war" highlight the immediate purpose: to assemble a capable and prepared army for the conquest of Canaan and the battles ahead. This demonstrated God's providential care in equipping His people, preparing them practically and militarily for their divine destiny, underscoring themes of divine order, accountability, and the importance of individual contribution to the collective mission.