Numbers 2:28 kjv
And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.
Numbers 2:28 nkjv
And his army was numbered at forty-one thousand five hundred.
Numbers 2:28 niv
His division numbers 41,500.
Numbers 2:28 esv
his company as listed being 41,500.
Numbers 2 28 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 1:2-3 | "Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel... all that are able to go forth to war..." | Divine command for a military census. |
| Num 1:32-33 | "Of the children of Ephraim, their generations... were forty thousand and five hundred." | Corroborates Ephraim's census count as initial instruction. |
| Num 2:1-2 | "Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their fathers' house..." | Emphasizes structured camping and tribal organization. |
| Num 2:18-24 | Details the organization and numbers of Ephraim's camp (Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin) on the west side. | Sets the specific location and composition of Ephraim's division. |
| Num 10:22-24 | "The standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward..." | Demonstrates the order of marching for Ephraim's camp. |
| Exod 30:11-16 | Command to number the people for atonement money. | Prior divine instruction for a census, emphasizing life for military service. |
| Exod 12:41 | "the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt." | Israel depicted as an organized "host" or army of God. |
| Deut 20:1-4 | Instructions for warfare, highlighting divine presence with armies. | Reinforces the military context of the numbering and God's role. |
| 1 Cor 14:33 | "For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints." | Theological principle of divine order and structure. |
| 1 Cor 14:40 | "Let all things be done decently and in order." | Applies the principle of order to spiritual communities. |
| Eph 4:11-12 | Gifts for equipping saints for work of ministry. | Spiritual parallel of equipping and organizing for service. |
| Gen 48:19 | Jacob's blessing prophesying Ephraim becoming a multitude. | Background to Ephraim's prominence and eventual size. |
| Deut 33:13-17 | Moses' blessing on Joseph's tribes, including Ephraim, emphasizing their strength. | Prophetic context for the strength and numbers of Ephraim. |
| Josh 16-17 | Allocation of land inheritance to Ephraim and Manasseh. | Future significance of their numbers in securing inheritance. |
| 2 Sam 24:1-9 | David's census and its consequences. | Highlights dangers when censuses are undertaken without God's explicit command/purpose. |
| 1 Chron 21:1-6 | Parallel account of David's census, linking it to Satan's incitement. | Further emphasizes divine command as a prerequisite for censuses. |
| Neh 7:5-6 | Register of those who returned from exile. | Example of future numerical registration for rebuilding. |
| Rom 13:1-7 | Submission to governing authorities, which order society. | Implies a divine endorsement of order and structured society. |
| Heb 12:23 | "the general assembly and church of the firstborn..." | Future gathering of God's people in perfect heavenly order. |
| Rev 7:4 | Numbering of the sealed from the tribes of Israel. | Prophetic parallel to future spiritual "numbering" for God's purposes. |
Numbers 2 verses
Numbers 2 28 Meaning
This verse specifies the total count of all Israelite males, twenty years old and upward, from the tribe of Ephraim, who were fit for military service. This numerical datum of forty thousand and five hundred men forms part of a larger, divinely commanded census, detailing the military strength and organizational structure of the entire Israelite nation as they prepared to journey through the wilderness and approach the promised land. It highlights their structured identity and readiness for purposeful movement under God’s order.
Numbers 2 28 Context
Numbers chapter 2 meticulously details the arrangement of the twelve tribes of Israel around the Tabernacle in the wilderness. This specific ordering was divinely commanded (Num 2:1-2) to ensure both a reverent and strategic alignment. The Tabernacle, symbolizing God's dwelling presence, was at the center, surrounded by the Levites who served it (Num 1:50-53, 3:21-38). The rest of the tribes were positioned in four camps, each comprising three tribes, corresponding to the four cardinal directions. These arrangements were not merely logistical but underscored the sanctity, purity, and readiness of the nation for its sacred journey and for warfare against potential enemies. Numbers 2:28 is part of the detailing of the third camp, positioned on the west side, which was the Camp of Ephraim. This camp consisted of the tribes of Ephraim (leader), Manasseh, and Benjamin, signifying their united strength and specific placement within God’s overall plan for Israel's encampment and future march. The census count for each tribe highlighted their readiness for military mobilization and their proportional strength within the nation.
Numbers 2 28 Word analysis
- All those that were numbered: This refers to the outcome of the census initiated in Numbers 1. The Hebrew verb for "numbered" is pakad (פקד), which implies more than a mere head-count. It carries the nuance of mustering, enrolling, visiting, or taking account of, often with a view towards military service or divine oversight. It denotes an official registration under God's authority, indicating a sense of order, divine command, and readiness for a specific purpose—in this context, military formation and readiness to move and conquer.
- of the camp of Ephraim: This designates the specific division within the larger Israelite encampment. The "camp of Ephraim" (machaneh 'Ephraim - מחנה אפרים) was one of the four principal divisions. It was positioned on the west side of the Tabernacle and served as the standard-bearer for the tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin, even though Manasseh was the older son of Joseph. Ephraim’s leadership role, foretold by Jacob's blessing (Gen 48:19), highlights God's sovereign choice and unexpected exaltation, showing that divine favor does not always follow human logic or birth order.
- according to their armies: The Hebrew tseva'ot (צבאות), translated as "armies" or "hosts," emphasizes the military aspect of the census. These numbers were not for civilian records but for active service and organized warfare. The nation of Israel was considered God’s tseva'ot, His army, being led by Him. This underscores that their journey through the wilderness was a divinely led military campaign, requiring discipline and order. It highlights the structured, disciplined nature of Israel under God’s direct command, prepared for conquest.
- were forty thousand and five hundred: This is the precise numerical result for the tribe of Ephraim from the initial census. The exact number, like all others in Numbers 1 and 2, points to the meticulous nature of God's plans and the divine authority behind the census. This was not an approximation but an exact figure, reflecting a divine attention to detail and a tangible assessment of their collective strength and individual accountability within the covenant community. While a significant number, it was smaller than the lead tribes of Judah or Dan, placing Ephraim in a secondary, though still crucial, position of strength.
Numbers 2 28 Bonus section
The positioning of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin on the west was significant in relation to the Tabernacle. As Ephraim and Manasseh were sons of Joseph, and Benjamin was the full brother of Joseph, this camp represented the direct lineage of Rachel, symbolizing unity and a significant segment of Israel's tribal strength. Despite being numerically smaller than the camp of Judah (on the east) or Dan (on the north), the Camp of Ephraim held the third position in the marching order and possessed particular prophetic significance due to Jacob's blessing of Ephraim over Manasseh. The overall numbering within Numbers demonstrates a divinely orchestrated census where every individual matters, not just the collective sum. It teaches that even detailed statistics serve a divine purpose in the grand narrative of redemption, guiding God’s people towards His promised goals and preparing them to confront opposition with His backing.
Numbers 2 28 Commentary
Numbers 2:28 provides a crucial detail in the overall divine blueprint for the nation of Israel’s journey through the wilderness. It meticulously records the specific count of the fighting men from the tribe of Ephraim, an essential part of the organized "camp of Ephraim" on the west side of the Tabernacle. This verse is not just a statistical entry; it underscores the fundamental principle of order, discipline, and divine purpose within God's chosen people. The census, from which this number originates, served multiple divine objectives: to prepare Israel as God's army for the conquest of Canaan, to allocate duties and responsibilities, and to establish a visible manifestation of divine order. Ephraim's specific count, integrated into a larger organizational structure, illustrates God’s precision and His intention for every segment of His people to operate with clarity and purpose, prepared for the challenges and victories ahead. This divine meticulousness in the Old Testament sets a pattern for God’s desire for order and readiness in all aspects of life, including the spiritual life of believers today. For example, believers are called to be disciplined soldiers for Christ (2 Tim 2:3), organized for effective ministry (Rom 12:4-8), and ready to stand for truth (Eph 6:11-17), reflecting God's orderly character.