Numbers 10 23

Numbers 10:23 kjv

And over the host of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

Numbers 10:23 nkjv

Over the army of the tribe of the children of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

Numbers 10:23 niv

Gamaliel son of Pedahzur was over the division of the tribe of Manasseh,

Numbers 10:23 esv

And over the company of the tribe of the people of Manasseh was Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

Numbers 10:23 nlt

They were joined by the troops of the tribe of Manasseh, led by Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,

Numbers 10 23 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Num 3:24The leader of the fathers’ house of the Gershonites was Eliasaph the son of Lael.Confirmation of Eliasaph's leadership role.
Num 3:25-26The responsibility of the sons of Gershon... curtains of the tabernacle...Specific duties of the Gershonites.
Num 4:24-26This is the service of the families of the Gershonites...Detailed account of Gershonite Tabernacle tasks.
Num 10:17Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who carried the tabernacle, set out.Gershonites' immediate role in the march.
1 Cor 14:33For God is not a God of confusion but of peace...Divine attribute of order and organization.
Exod 18:25So Moses chose able men... and made them heads over the people...Principle of appointed leadership.
Num 1:49-50Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number... they shall carry the tabernacle.Levites set apart for sanctuary service.
Deut 10:8At that time the Lord set apart the tribe of Levi to carry the ark of the covenant of the Lord...Levites designated for sacred service.
Heb 8:5They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven.Earthly Tabernacle reflecting heavenly reality.
Num 9:17Whenever the cloud was taken up... the people of Israel would journey...Divine guidance for the journey.
Psa 78:14In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all night with a fiery light.God's continuous guidance for Israel.
Eph 4:11-12He gave some to be apostles... pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry...Ordered leadership in the church.
1 Pet 4:10-11As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another...Individual roles in serving the community.
Matt 23:11The greatest among you shall be your servant.Humble service as a characteristic of leadership.
Num 2:3On the east side, toward the sunrise, shall be the standard of the camp of Judah...Demonstrates tribal organization in camping.
Num 1:53But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony...Levites' proximity and protection of Tabernacle.
Psa 29:10The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as King forever.God's sovereignty over all creation and order.
Isa 40:26Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars...God's meticulous care even in creation.
Psa 84:10For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God...Emphasizes honor in Tabernacle/temple service.
Exod 25:9According to all that I show you... so shall you make it.God's detailed instructions for the Tabernacle.
Rom 12:4-5For as in one body we have many members...Body of Christ metaphor for organized service.
1 Cor 12:12-27...the body is one though it has many parts, and all the parts of the body...Unity and diverse functions within a community.

Numbers 10 verses

Numbers 10 23 Meaning

Numbers 10:23 describes the appointed leader of the host of the Gershonite clan, Eliasaph the son of Lael, as part of the detailed and divinely ordained marching order for the Israelites as they set out from Mount Sinai. This verse highlights God's meticulous organization of His people, particularly the Levites, in their service related to the Tabernacle during their wilderness journey. It emphasizes specific leadership roles and the orderly function of each tribe within the greater community of Israel.

Numbers 10 23 Context

Numbers chapter 10 marks a pivotal transition in the Book of Numbers, detailing the breaking of the camp at Mount Sinai after a year of receiving God's laws and preparing for the wilderness journey. Having established the camp's meticulous order in Numbers chapter 2 and assigned the specific duties to the Levitical clans in Numbers chapters 3 and 4, chapter 10 provides the blueprint for their actual movement. The trumpets are sounded, the cloud leads the way, and the tribes set out in their pre-ordained order. Verse 23 is part of this precise description, specifically detailing the leadership for the Gershonites within the march, emphasizing their vital role in disassembling and transporting the fabric components of the Tabernacle immediately after the first group of tribes departs.

Numbers 10 23 Word analysis

  • and over: Implies continuity from the preceding verses detailing tribal leaders and their positions. It connects the Gershonites' leadership directly to the overarching divine order established for the march.
  • the host: (Hebrew: צָבָא, tsava') Refers to an organized company, army, or host. In this context, it signifies a well-ordered, disciplined unit, reflecting God's perfect organization rather than a chaotic group. This term underscores the military-like precision with which Israel was to move.
  • of the tribe: (Hebrew: שֵׁבֶט, shevet) Designates one of the twelve fundamental family divisions of Israel. This specifies that the Gershonites, though a Levite clan, are counted as a distinct functional group within the broader tribal structure.
  • of the children: (Hebrew: בְּנֵי, b'nei) Literally "sons of," indicating descendants and clan identity. This emphasizes the generational lineage and the established family units forming the Gershonite clan.
  • of Gershon: (Hebrew: גֵּרְשׁוֹן, Gershon) One of the three sons of Levi, whose descendants (the Gershonites) were specifically tasked with carrying the Tabernacle curtains, coverings, tent pegs, and ropes. Their role was critical for the very fabric of the sacred dwelling. Their name itself might relate to 'sojourning' or 'driving out', fitting their nomadic service.
  • was Eliasaph: (Hebrew: אֶלְיָסָף, Elyasaph) Meaning "God has added" or "God has gathered." This name reinforces the divine hand in his appointment and in the gathering of the people. Eliasaph served as the principal leader or chief of the Gershonite families (Num 3:24), overseeing their crucial service.
  • the son of Lael: (Hebrew: לָאֵל, La'el) Meaning "To God" or "Belonging to God." This patrilineal identifier authenticates Eliasaph's position within the Gershonite clan and subtly suggests a family devoted to God.
  • Words-group Analysis:
    • "and over the host of the tribe of the children of Gershon": This phrase succinctly identifies the specific contingent being addressed – a precise segment of the larger Israelite body, with a leader explicitly appointed to oversee its 'host-like' (ordered, military-style) movement. It underlines the divine precision for even sub-groups within Israel.
    • "Eliasaph the son of Lael": This detailed naming reinforces the legitimacy and divine appointment of the leader, distinguishing him as an individual divinely chosen for the responsibility, rather than a self-appointed leader. It highlights accountability and the importance of established lineage in their sacred roles.

Numbers 10 23 Bonus section

The positioning of the Gershonites and Merarites in the marching order is noteworthy. Numbers 10:17 states they set out after the first division (Judah, Issachar, Zebulun) to carry the Tabernacle before the sacred holy articles (Ark, lampstand, altar, etc.) carried by the Kohathites, who departed with the second division (Reuben, Simeon, Gad). This implies that the 'shell' or framework (curtains, pillars, coverings) of the Tabernacle needed to arrive first at the next camp location so that it could be re-erected, preparing a ready sanctuary before the most holy vessels entered, ensuring proper reverence and housing for the holy elements of God's dwelling. This sequence underscores God's wisdom in practical logistics combined with sacred protocol, emphasizing that preparation and order precede the holy presence.

Numbers 10 23 Commentary

Numbers 10:23 encapsulates the profound divine order guiding the Israelite wilderness journey. It specifically focuses on the Gershonite contingent, whose responsibility was to transport the Tabernacle's most sacred fabric components. The naming of Eliasaph, son of Lael, as their appointed leader, not only signifies a divinely established chain of command but also emphasizes that every part of Israel's journey, especially their interaction with and transportation of the holy Tabernacle, was conducted with precision and authorized leadership. This highlights God as a God of order, who meticulously prepares and equips His people for their journey, ensuring their worship and presence are maintained even in movement.