Numbers 2:4 kjv
And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.
Numbers 2:4 nkjv
And his army was numbered at seventy-four thousand six hundred.
Numbers 2:4 niv
His division numbers 74,600.
Numbers 2:4 esv
his company as listed being 74,600.
Numbers 2 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 1:1-3 | The Lord spoke to Moses... "Take a census... every male... from twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war." | Command for census & purpose. |
| Num 1:19 | ...as the Lord commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai. | Divine authority behind the census. |
| Num 10:14 | The standard of the camp of the people of Judah set out first... | Judah's leading position in march. |
| Gen 12:2 | I will make of you a great nation... | God's promise to Abraham of numerous descendants. |
| Gen 13:16 | I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth, so that if one can count the dust of the earth, your offspring also cannot be counted. | God's promise of countless offspring. |
| Gen 22:17 | ...multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and as the sand that is on the seashore. | Emphasizes the fulfillment of God's multiplication promise. |
| Ex 1:7 | But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew very strong, so that the land was filled with them. | God's faithfulness in increasing Israel's population. |
| Num 26:1-4 | After the plague the Lord said to Moses... "Take a census... from twenty years old and upward..." | Second census reaffirming numbers & divine order. |
| Josh 3:17 | ...all Israel passed over on dry ground until all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan. | God's leadership of a vast organized host. |
| Deut 1:3-4 | In the fortieth year, in the eleventh month, on the first day of the month, Moses spoke to the people of Israel according to all that the LORD had given him in command to them... after he had struck down Sihon... and Og. | Moses recounts divine instructions & Israel's strength for battle. |
| Ps 44:3 | For not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but your right hand and your arm, and the light of your face, for you delighted in them. | Victory comes from God, not just numbers or strength. |
| Ps 144:1 | Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle. | Divine preparation for battle for God's people. |
| Eph 6:10-18 | ...be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God... | Metaphorical call to spiritual readiness, akin to military order. |
| Gen 49:8-10 | Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies... The scepter shall not depart from Judah... | Judah's prophesied leadership and kingly tribe status. |
| Judg 1:1-2 | After the death of Joshua, the people of Israel inquired of the LORD, "Who shall go up first for us against the Canaanites to fight against them?" The LORD said, "Judah shall go up..." | Judah's role as the leading tribe in conquest. |
| 1 Chron 21:1-30 | ...Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel... | Contrast: David's sinful census, highlighting proper motivation for numbering. |
| Heb 7:14 | For it is clear that our Lord descended from Judah... | Connection of Christ's lineage to the tribe of Judah. |
| Rev 5:5 | And one of the elders said to me, "Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll..." | Jesus's identity as the ultimate King from Judah. |
| Num 3:1-49 | These are the generations of Aaron and Moses... But the Levites were not numbered among the people of Israel... | Clarification that Levites were numbered separately, not for war. |
| Ex 38:26 | ...one beka a head... for six hundred three thousand, five hundred fifty men who were numbered. | Census for the Tabernacle tax, providing another instance of numbering. |
Numbers 2 verses
Numbers 2 4 Meaning
Numbers 2:4 states the exact number of men capable of military service for the tribe of Judah as seventy-four thousand six hundred. This precise enumeration highlights the meticulous order established by God for the Israelite encampment and marching formations in the wilderness. It underscores Judah's significant strength and leading position within the twelve tribes.
Numbers 2 4 Context
Numbers chapter 2 details the meticulously prescribed arrangement of the twelve tribes of Israel around the Tabernacle, their tribal leaders, and the exact number of their fighting men, in preparation for their wilderness journey and conquest of the Promised Land. This chapter immediately follows the census of fighting men in Numbers chapter 1 and specifies the formation for camping and marching, reinforcing God's demand for order and readiness among His people. The tribe of Judah, being listed first, holds the preeminent position on the east side of the Tabernacle, leading the entire host. This detailed arrangement was crucial for military effectiveness, logistical management in the vast desert, and for maintaining the sanctity of the Tabernacle at the center of their national life. It reflects a divine emphasis on organization, preparedness, and obedience to God's precise commands.
Numbers 2 4 Word analysis
- and his army (וּצְבָאוֹ֙ - ūṣḇāʾōw): Word: "Army" (צָבָא - tsaba') Meaning: A large organized body of people, typically for military purposes; a host, a force. It implies readiness for warfare, organization, and power. Significance: This term underscores the primary purpose of the census – to determine Israel's military strength. It is not just a demographic count but an assessment of their capacity to engage in battle as God's host. In a broader biblical context, tsaba' can also refer to heavenly hosts, showing God's organized celestial forces and, by extension, His earthly people's structured purpose.
- those who were numbered of them (וּפְקֻדֵיהֶם֙ - ūfəquḏêhem): Word: "Numbered" (פָּקַד - paqad) Meaning: To visit, oversee, appoint, muster, take an account of, number. It often implies a review or visitation with a specific purpose, such as enrollment for service or inspection. Significance: This isn't just a simple count, but a formal mustering. The term "paqad" suggests that each man was accounted for and acknowledged for his role in the communal life and service, particularly in the military context. It highlights divine scrutiny and order, as God commanded and supervised this process.
- were (הֵ֕מָּה - hēmâ): Meaning: They were; an emphatic pronoun. Significance: While a simple linking verb in English, the Hebrew pronoun emphasizes the actual presence of these numbers. It points to the concrete reality of Judah's significant strength.
- 74,600 (אַרְבָּעָ֥ה וְשִׁבְעִ֨ים אֶ֜לֶף וְשֵׁשׁ־מֵאֹ֖וֹת - ʾarbaʿāh wəšiḇʿîm ʾelef wəšēš mêʾôt): Meaning: Seventy-four thousand, six hundred. Significance: The precise figure conveys accuracy and divine knowledge. It shows the incredible growth of Israel since their descent into Egypt and their release, fulfilling God's promise to Abraham to make his descendants numerous (Gen 12:2, 22:17). The large number speaks to God's faithfulness and Israel's preparedness as a significant national and military force. This specific number for Judah also reveals it as the largest tribe by this count, foreshadowing its leadership role.
- "and his army, those who were numbered of them": This phrase emphasizes that the count was not merely of individuals, but of an organized, divinely sanctioned fighting force. It underscores their identity as "God's host," prepared for His purposes. The meticulous counting signifies that every individual was known and accounted for in the divine plan for Israel's encampment and progression.
- "were 74,600": The precise enumeration of a large fighting force demonstrates God's fulfillment of His covenant promises to multiply Abraham's seed. It also indicates the vast resources and strength available to the nation of Israel under God's leadership, setting the stage for their future conquest of Canaan. This specific number for Judah places them as the largest tribal division, reinforcing their preeminent position and their role in leading the march.
Numbers 2 4 Bonus section
- Symbolic Significance of Judah's Lead: Judah's designated position on the east, leading the vanguard, symbolizes its future preeminence not only as the royal tribe from which Israel's kings (including David and Solomon) would descend, but ultimately as the tribe from which the Messiah would come (Genesis 49:10; Hebrews 7:14). This census therefore isn't just about military strength but also about a divinely ordained hierarchy with future eschatological implications.
- Contrast with Worldly Armies: While other nations boasted of their armies and strength, Israel's strength, though numerically significant, was always predicated on God's presence and command. Their order and numbers were not for human glory but for divine purpose and obedience, differentiating them from nations that relied solely on human might.
- The Practicality of Order: Living in the wilderness with such a large population required meticulous planning and structure. The precise numbering and organization of each tribe, down to specific military divisions, speaks to the immense logistical challenges God divinely overcame through Moses' leadership, enabling them to travel, camp, and eventually wage war effectively.
Numbers 2 4 Commentary
Numbers 2:4 is more than a mere numerical detail; it is a profound testament to divine order and covenant faithfulness. This verse, detailing Judah's counted fighting men, highlights their impressive military strength, positioning them as the largest and therefore leading tribe in Israel's wilderness organization. This census was a direct command from God, signifying His desire for order and preparation within His chosen people, whether for worship, travel, or warfare. The meticulous precision of the number reveals God's perfect knowledge and control over every detail of His people's lives and His grand design. Furthermore, Judah's prominence here foreshadows its future historical and spiritual significance, culminating in the lineage of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, who is described as the "Lion of the tribe of Judah" (Rev 5:5). Thus, this seemingly simple statistic serves as a foundational detail within God's unfolding redemptive narrative, affirming His promises and setting the stage for future events.