Numbers 2:21 kjv
And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
Numbers 2:21 nkjv
And his army was numbered at thirty-two thousand two hundred.
Numbers 2:21 niv
His division numbers 32,200.
Numbers 2:21 esv
his company as listed being 32,200.
Numbers 2 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 1:1-3 | "Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel... all able to go to war..." | Divine command for census and military readiness. |
| Num 1:24-25 | "Of the children of Gad, their generations... those numbered were forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty." | Gad's number in the initial census (slightly different). |
| Num 1:52-53 | "The children of Israel shall pitch their tents... before the tabernacle of testimony." | Divine order for tribal encampment. |
| Num 3:29 | "The families of the sons of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle." | Specific tribal and Levitical positions. |
| Num 10:14-16 | "The standard of the camp of the children of Judah set out first..." | Marching order by camps, Judah first. |
| Num 10:18-20 | "Then the standard of the camp of Reuben set out according to their divisions..." | Marching order: Reuben's camp (includes Gad) follows Levites. |
| Num 26:18 | "These are the families of the sons of Gad according to those who were numbered of them: forty thousand five hundred." | Gad's number in a later census (post-plague). |
| Gen 12:2 | "And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you..." | Fulfillment of God's promise to multiply Israel. |
| Gen 49:19 | "Gad, a troop shall overcome him, but he shall overcome at the last." | Jacob's prophecy concerning Gad's martial character. |
| Deut 33:20-21 | "Blessed is he who enlarges Gad... he executed the justice of the LORD..." | Moses' blessing, portraying Gad's strength and zeal. |
| Ex 6:26 | "These are that Aaron and Moses, to whom the LORD said, 'Bring the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt according to their armies [hosts].'" | Israel as God's organized "hosts" (armies). |
| Ex 12:41 | "Then all the hosts of the LORD went out from the land of Egypt." | Israel seen as the organized army of the Lord. |
| 2 Sam 24:9 | "And Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to the king..." | Example of a later census (problematic for David). |
| 1 Chr 21:1 | "Now Satan stood up against Israel and incited David to count Israel." | Parallel account of David's census. |
| Neh 11:1 | "Now the leaders of the people dwelt at Jerusalem... cast lots..." | Examples of civic organization and numbering. |
| Ps 68:11 | "The Lord gave the word; Great was the company of those who proclaimed it." | God equipping His people for service. |
| Prov 16:33 | "The lot is cast into the lap, But its every decision is from the LORD." | God's sovereignty even in random processes (underlying order). |
| Mt 10:30 | "But the very hairs of your head are all numbered." | God's meticulous knowledge and care for individuals. |
| Lk 12:7 | "But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered..." | Reiterates God's minute attention to detail. |
| 1 Cor 14:33 | "For God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints." | Principle of divine order and peace in God's community. |
| Col 2:5 | "For though I am absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order..." | Appreciation for orderliness in faith communities. |
| Heb 12:1 | "Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight..." | Call for orderly living for believers. |
| Jas 3:16 | "For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there." | Contrasts human disorder with God's peace. |
Numbers 2 verses
Numbers 2 21 Meaning
Numbers 2:21 specifies the exact count of males twenty years old and upward, fit for war, belonging to the tribe of Gad, stating their number as forty-six thousand four hundred. This precise figure was part of the divine census for the purpose of organizing the Israelite camp and their marching order in the wilderness, as mandated by God.
Numbers 2 21 Context
Numbers chapter 2 meticulously details the precise divine arrangement for the twelve tribes of Israel concerning their encampment around the Tabernacle and their specific marching order. This highly structured organization underscored the absolute holiness of God dwelling in their midst, necessitating purity, reverence, and order in all aspects of their community life. The tribe of Gad, whose numerical strength is given in verse 21, was part of the second major camp division, the "camp of Reuben." This division was commanded to encamp on the south side of the Tabernacle, alongside Reuben and Simeon. Each tribal contingent, having been accurately numbered in the preceding chapter (Numbers 1), was assigned a specific leader and position within this elaborate divine blueprint. The broader historical context is Israel's wilderness journey, where God's detailed instructions provided a framework for their existence as a holy nation, preparing them for their identity, logistical efficiency, military readiness, and eventual conquest and inheritance of the Promised Land. The numbers served crucial military, logistical, and ceremonial purposes.
Numbers 2 21 Word analysis
and his host (וצבאו, u-ts'va'o): The Hebrew word tsava (צבא) broadly refers to an army, host, or a massed collection, including heavenly bodies. In this context, it emphasizes that the men from the tribe of Gad are not merely a random collection of individuals but form a disciplined, organized military unit – effectively, a component of God's "army." This portrayal underlines Israel's identity not only as pilgrims but also as God's equipped fighting force, ready for His divine purposes, including the upcoming conquest of Canaan. It implies divine discipline and collective purpose.
with those numbered of them (ופקודיהם, u-fequdehem): The Hebrew root paqad (פקד) carries various meanings such as to number, to appoint, to visit, or to attend to. Here, it specifically denotes those who were officially counted, registered, and thus appointed in the census. This highlights the precise, authoritative, and deliberate nature of the counting, undertaken strictly under divine command. It signifies accountability, divine recognition, and formal inclusion within God's meticulously ordered community, emphasizing God's meticulous oversight over His people.
forty-six thousand four hundred: This exact, specific number is not merely statistical data. It profoundly underscores God's meticulous attention to detail, precision, and order. Every male capable of military service from the tribe of Gad was counted, demonstrating the systematic organization mandated for God's holy people. This precision contrasts with chaos or arbitrary arrangements, emphasizing God's careful provisioning, planning, and knowledge of His entire congregation for their wilderness journey and eventual fulfillment of covenant promises.
his host, with those numbered of them: This phrase combines the military aspect ("host") with the administrative aspect ("numbered"), powerfully conveying that Israel's fighting force was not spontaneously formed but divinely commissioned and precisely counted. It speaks to both their readiness for conflict and their ordered existence under God's watchful eye, emphasizing both strength and accountability within God's kingdom.
Numbers 2 21 Bonus section
The act of counting and numbering tribes, as seen in Numbers 2:21 and the preceding verses, directly contrasts with the chaotic and often superstitious practices of surrounding pagan nations. Instead of relying on divination or arbitrary forces, Israel's organization was directly commanded by Yahweh, signifying His direct governance and a systematic, rational approach to His people. This divine organization highlighted Israel's identity as a peculiar people set apart for God's service. The consistency (with slight, later explained variations) in the numbering throughout the book of Numbers emphasizes God's faithfulness to His covenant promises of multiplication to Abraham, demonstrating a real and growing population that could fulfill their national and spiritual destiny. The camp arrangements, with the Tabernacle at the center, illustrate the theological principle that God is the central focus of His people's lives and their community. Every number, including Gad's forty-six thousand four hundred, was part of God's perfect plan to establish a holy nation prepared to walk in His ways and inherit His blessings.
Numbers 2 21 Commentary
Numbers 2:21, though seemingly a simple statement of a number, serves as a testament to God's profound character as a God of order, precision, and intentionality, rather than confusion. The verse completes the numerical specification for the tribe of Gad within Israel's highly structured wilderness organization, emphasizing that every single tribe, with its exact strength, was an integral and recognized component of God's corporate people. This divine census and elaborate arrangement served a multifaceted purpose: to maintain purity and reverence around the holy Tabernacle, to ensure logistical efficiency during their movements, and to establish military readiness for the challenges ahead, particularly the conquest of the Promised Land. Ultimately, the meticulous counting signifies God's personal knowledge and careful oversight of His vast family, preparing them both physically and spiritually for His great redemptive plan.
Practical examples:
- Order in Community: Just as God precisely ordered the Israelite camp, Christian communities benefit from structure, clear roles, and organized processes, reflecting God's nature (e.g., proper leadership, ministries, finances).
- Divine Meticulousness: The detail of the count shows God's concern for even seemingly small elements. This encourages believers to trust that God cares about the details of their lives and plans (e.g., knowing individual struggles, providing specific needs).
- Preparation for Purpose: The census for military readiness reminds us that God equips His people not just for existence, but for a specific purpose (e.g., believers are called to spiritual warfare, to spread the Gospel, or to serve in the body, needing to be spiritually ready and organized for these tasks).