Numbers 1:40 kjv
Of the children of Asher, 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 1:40 nkjv
From the children of Asher, 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 1:40 niv
From the descendants of Asher: 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 1:40 esv
Of the people of Asher, 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 1:40 nlt
[40-41] Asher ? 41,500
Numbers 1 40 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 1:2-3 | Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel... from twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go to war in Israel. | God commanded census for military readiness. |
| Num 26:47-48 | These are the families of the children of Asher... This is the number of the children of Asher... | Details second census, maintaining family structures. |
| Gen 30:12-13 | Leah’s servant Zilpah bore Jacob a second son. Then Leah said, “Happy am I! For the daughters will call me blessed.” So she called his name Asher. | Origin and meaning of Asher's name. |
| Deut 33:24-25 | Of Asher he said, "May Asher be blessed with children; may he be favored by his brothers, and let him dip his foot in oil. Your bars shall be iron and bronze..." | Moses' blessing foreseeing Asher's prosperity. |
| Exod 30:11-16 | When you take the census of the children of Israel according to their numbers... each one shall give a ransom for his soul to the LORD... | Early census, highlighting its divine significance and redemption aspect. |
| Num 4:3 | From thirty years old and upward, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to perform the work in the tent of meeting. | Different age for Levite service. |
| Num 4:23 | From twenty-five years old and upward, even to fifty years old... to do the service in the tabernacle. | Another Levite service age, showing variations in age for roles. |
| Num 2:1-2 | The children of Israel shall encamp, each man by his own camp, and each man by his own standard, according to their fathers’ houses... | Emphasis on structured camp order by families and houses. |
| Josh 1:14 | ...Your wives, your little ones, and your livestock shall remain in the land... but you shall pass before your brethren armed for war... | Readiness for battle for entering the Promised Land. |
| Deut 20:1-4 | When you go out to war against your enemies... for the LORD your God is with you, who goes with you to fight for you... | God's presence as the true source of strength in war. |
| Judg 7:2-7 | The LORD said to Gideon, "The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands..." | God's victory not by human numbers but by divine power. |
| Psa 33:16-17 | No king is saved by the multitude of an army; a mighty man is not delivered by great strength... The horse is a vain hope for safety... | Rejection of reliance on human military strength alone. |
| Zech 4:6 | Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts. | Emphasizes reliance on God's Spirit over human force. |
| Eph 6:10-17 | Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. | Spiritual warfare for believers, parallel to physical readiness. |
| 2 Tim 2:3-4 | You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life... | Believers as soldiers for Christ, dedicated to His service. |
| Exod 6:14 | These are the heads of their fathers’ houses: The sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel... | Introduction to detailed genealogies by family lines. |
| 1 Chron 7:30-40 | The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah... These were the heads of the fathers’ houses of Asher, choice mighty men of valor... | Asher's specific tribal genealogy, highlighting military strength. |
| Ezra 2:59-63 | These searched among their ancestral registration, but they could not find their record; therefore they were excluded... | Importance of preserving genealogies for tribal identity. |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | Let all things be done decently and in order. | Principle of order reflecting God's nature, applied to divine commands. |
| Num 1:46 | All the numbered ones were six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty. | The final total from the overall census of Numbers 1. |
Numbers 1 verses
Numbers 1 40 Meaning
Numbers 1:40 defines the specific criteria for the census count of the tribe of Asher. It stipulates that the individuals to be counted were males from Asher, identified by their precise genealogies, organized into families and ancestral houses. Furthermore, these counted males had to be twenty years old and older, and critically, capable of engaging in military service, thereby establishing the military strength of the tribe for the journey and conquest of Canaan.
Numbers 1 40 Context
Numbers 1:40 is situated within the broader context of Numbers chapter 1, which records the divinely commanded census of the Israelite male population. This census takes place in the Wilderness of Sinai on the first day of the second month in the second year after Israel's departure from Egypt. The primary purpose of this enumeration was to ascertain the number of military-eligible males, defined as those twenty years old and upward who were able to go to war. This census provided the basis for the tribal organization of the camp, marching order, and military deployment for the upcoming journey to the Promised Land and the anticipated conquest. The meticulous listing by "generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses" underscores the importance of tribal identity, lineage, and orderly structure in Israel's theocratic community.
Numbers 1 40 Word analysis
- Of the children of Asher:
- Significance: "Asher" (אֳשֶׁר, Asher) means "happy" or "blessed," named by Leah after Zilpah bore Jacob this son (Gen 30:13). This phrase identifies a specific tribal segment within the larger Israelite community. It grounds the individual in his tribal identity and lineage.
- their generations:
- Significance: Refers to "genealogies" or "descendants" (תּוֹלְדֹת, toledot). This term emphasizes a meticulously maintained record of ancestry. It was crucial for identifying individuals, maintaining tribal distinctiveness, claiming inheritance, and demonstrating purity of lineage in Israel.
- by their families:
- Significance: Refers to the "clan" or larger family grouping (מִשְׁפָּחָה, mishpachah). This unit comprised several "fathers’ houses." It signifies the immediate social and administrative organization level above the individual household, critical for mobilization and order.
- by their fathers’ houses:
- Significance: Refers to the fundamental household unit (בֵּית אָב, beit av), typically encompassing the patriarch, his wives, children, and extended kin residing together. This was the smallest, most foundational social and economic unit, emphasizing patriarchal authority and the basis for tribal registration.
- according to the number of names:
- Significance: Emphasizes an individual, specific count. Every person was called by name and explicitly accounted for. It signifies God's personal knowledge and enumeration of each eligible member, ensuring precision and a complete tally.
- from twenty years old and upward:
- Significance: Establishes the age of majority and eligibility for military service in ancient Israel. This age was common for conscription in the ancient Near East and also often marked a period of greater accountability and responsibility within the Israelite community, distinguishing them from the younger or older non-eligible populations.
- all who were able to go out to war:
- Significance: "Able to go out to war" (יֹצֵא צָבָא, yotse tsava) means "going out to military service." This is the core qualification and purpose of the census: to determine the fighting strength. It denotes physical fitness, capability, and readiness for battle, indicating those who could serve in the Lord's army for the divine purpose of conquering the Promised Land.
Numbers 1 40 Bonus section
The specific enumeration of each tribe, like Asher in this verse, was critical not only for military organization but also for the ordered encampment around the tabernacle, each tribe having a designated place (Num 2). This tribal precision reinforced the Israelites' identity and unity under God. Furthermore, this census established a crucial historical record, differentiating the "wilderness generation" from future generations and providing a framework for understanding divine judgment and faithfulness during the subsequent wanderings. The careful registration highlights the detailed providence of God, who numbers every hair on our head (Matt 10:30) and knows each of His chosen ones by name (John 10:3, 27).
Numbers 1 40 Commentary
Numbers 1:40 provides a precise look into the meticulously organized divine command to count Israel's fighting force. Far from a mere human exercise in population tabulation, this census underscores God's order, preparation, and direct involvement in Israel's journey. By specifying "generations, families, and fathers’ houses," it highlights the enduring importance of lineage and identity within the covenant community, demonstrating that even in military readiness, God values the integrity of His people's heritage. The criteria "twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war," reveal the immediate purpose: equipping an army for the sacred task of conquest. This entire endeavor showcases that God equips and structures His people for the specific purposes He has ordained, ensuring every member fit for the task is counted and ready. This prepares them not just physically, but as a consecrated "host of the LORD" for His work (Exod 12:41).