Numbers 1 48

Numbers 1:48 kjv

For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying,

Numbers 1:48 nkjv

for the LORD had spoken to Moses, saying:

Numbers 1:48 niv

The LORD had said to Moses:

Numbers 1:48 esv

For the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

Numbers 1:48 nlt

For the LORD had said to Moses,

Numbers 1 verses

Numbers 1 48 Meaning

This verse serves as a crucial preface, declaring that the specific instructions concerning the exclusion of the Levites from the general military census (detailed in subsequent verses) originated directly from a divine communication given by Yahweh to Moses. It underscores the ultimate authority and sacredness of the commands that follow, establishing them as God's precise will.

Numbers 1 48 Context

Numbers Chapter 1 details the first general census of Israel's fighting men, taken at Mount Sinai. This census was conducted to organize the nation for travel, encampment, and war as they prepared to move from Sinai towards the Promised Land. Every man twenty years old or upward, able to go to war, was counted by his tribal lineage. Numbers 1:48-54, introduced by this verse, forms an interlude to the general census. It specifically delineates that the tribe of Levi is to be exempted from this military enrollment, setting them apart for dedicated service related to the Tabernacle, underscoring their unique spiritual calling. Historically, ancient near-eastern censuses were often conducted for military readiness or taxation, but here Yahweh institutes a different order for a sacred purpose for one tribe, a distinct and holy act.

Numbers 1 48 Word analysis

• For (כִּי ki): This Hebrew particle introduces a clause that explains or amplifies a preceding (or implied) statement. Here, it indicates that what follows is the specific divine instruction or reason behind a broader understanding of the Levitical separation. It emphasizes the direct causation by divine word.
• the LORD (יְהוָה YHWH): The Tetragrammaton, the covenant name of God, indicating His personal, immutable, and relational character. The use of this specific name underscores that the instruction originates from the self-existent God who made a covenant with Israel, thereby bestowing supreme authority upon the command.
• had spoken (דִבֶּר dibber): The Hebrew verb dibber signifies a purposeful, authoritative, and direct communication, often a command or declaration. It's in the perfect tense, implying a completed action, confirming that the communication had already definitively occurred, setting a firm foundation for the ensuing directives.
• unto Moses (אֶל־מֹשֶׁה ’el-Mosheh): This phrase highlights Moses' unparalleled role as the recipient and mediator of divine revelation to Israel. He was God's chosen prophet, through whom God conveyed His will directly and unambiguously to His people.
• saying (לֵאמֹר lemor): This is a common Hebrew infinitive construct used adverbially to introduce direct speech. It reinforces that the subsequent verses contain the precise, verbatim words or detailed commands spoken by the LORD, leaving no ambiguity regarding the source of the instruction.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:
• "For the LORD had spoken": This phrase asserts the divine origin and unchallengeable authority of the impending command. It frames the instruction not as a human decision, but as a direct dictate from the sovereign God, making the exclusion of Levi a matter of divine ordinance.
• "unto Moses, saying": This emphasizes the chain of revelation. God communicated directly to Moses, His designated prophet and mediator, who then conveyed these divine directives to the Israelites. It confirms Moses' unique position and the divine legitimacy of the Law and organization of Israel.

Numbers 1 48 Bonus section

The repetitive phrase "The LORD spoke to Moses, saying" (or similar variations) is found hundreds of times throughout the Pentateuch (especially Leviticus and Numbers). This continuous emphasis serves a crucial theological purpose: to repeatedly affirm the divine origin and unassailable authority of all laws, commands, and organizational structures given to Israel. It reminds the audience that every detail, including the specific duties and exceptions for the tribe of Levi, flows directly from God's wisdom and sovereign will, establishing Israel's unique identity as a nation directly governed by their covenant Lord. This concept contrasts sharply with ancient pagan nations whose laws often derived from human rulers or vague interpretations of omens.

Numbers 1 48 Commentary

Numbers 1:48, though terse, is profoundly significant as it underscores the divine authorship of Israel's foundational laws and structure. It states unequivocally that the command to separate the tribe of Levi from the general military census was a direct utterance from Yahweh to Moses. This declaration roots the special, consecrated status of the Levites in the explicit will of God, rather than in human design or political expediency. It prefaces a key theme in Numbers: the detailed organization and consecration of God's people for their wilderness journey, particularly the unique role of Levi in maintaining the sanctity of the Tabernacle and serving as priests and temple workers. This separation ensured that the care of sacred things remained in consecrated hands, distinct from military duties, reflecting God's order and holiness.