Numbers 2 6

Numbers 2:6 kjv

And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.

Numbers 2:6 nkjv

And his army was numbered at fifty-four thousand four hundred.

Numbers 2:6 niv

His division numbers 54,400.

Numbers 2:6 esv

his company as listed being 54,400.

Numbers 2 6 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Num 1:3"from twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war..."Census for military service.
Num 1:30"From Zebulun, those registered... were 57,400."Matches the specific count for Zebulun.
Num 2:3"Those to encamp on the east side, toward the sunrise, shall be the division of the camp of Judah..."Locates Zebulun in Judah's camp.
Num 2:9"All those listed of the camp of Judah... total 186,400. They shall set out first."Confirms Judah's camp's leadership/order.
Num 10:14"The standard of the camp of the sons of Judah, according to their divisions, set out first..."Fulfillment of the ordered departure.
Num 26:27"These are the clans of the Zebulunites, and those registered were 60,500."Later census, shows population growth.
Gen 49:13"Zebulun shall dwell at the seashore; he shall be a haven for ships..."Jacob's blessing; future tribal dwelling.
Deut 33:18-19"Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents!..."Moses' blessing; link to Issachar and sea trade.
Exod 13:18"...the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle."Readiness of Israel as God's army.
1 Cor 14:40"But all things should be done decently and in order."Principle of divine order.
Lev 24:8"Every Sabbath day he shall arrange it before the LORD regularly; it is an everlasting covenant..."God's desire for orderly service.
Neh 13:30"Thus I cleansed them from everything foreign and assigned duties to the priests and Levites..."Order and purity in service.
Matt 12:25"Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste..."Contrast: unity vs. disarray.
Eph 4:16"from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by every joint with which it is supplied..."Corporate body functioning in order.
Ps 33:16"The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength."God's power over human numbers.
Deut 20:1-4God assures victory for a disciplined army.Divine presence makes the army effective.
Num 1:53"But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle... so that there may be no wrath on the congregation..."Sacred space and divine protection.
Ezek 10:17"When they stood, these stood; and when they rose, these rose..."Orderly movement in heavenly vision.
Rom 13:1"Let every person be subject to the governing authorities..."God-ordained order and authority.
Heb 12:28"let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe..."Ordered worship required.
Rev 7:8"of the tribe of Zebulun 12,000 were sealed..."Zebulun's inclusion in future redemption.

Numbers 2 verses

Numbers 2 6 Meaning

Numbers 2:6 specifies the precise number of men, fifty-seven thousand four hundred, from the tribe of Zebulun who were registered for military service. This verse is part of a larger divine instruction outlining the encampment order of the Israelite tribes in the wilderness around the Tabernacle, underscoring God's meticulous nature, His desire for order within His people, and their readiness as His holy army. Zebulun was stationed on the east side of the Tabernacle, alongside the tribes of Judah and Issachar, forming the lead division of the camp.

Numbers 2 6 Context

Numbers chapter 2 meticulously details the encampment instructions given by the Lord to Moses and Aaron. Following the census taken in chapter 1, which enumerated all males twenty years old and upward fit for military service, chapter 2 specifies the precise arrangement of each of the twelve tribes around the central Tabernacle in the wilderness. Each tribe was assigned a specific cardinal direction (east, south, west, north), with three tribes making up a single division, positioned under a lead tribe. The tribe of Judah, with its associate tribes of Issachar and Zebulun, formed the first division to encamp on the east side of the Tabernacle and was also designated to lead the Israelites in their journeys. Numbers 2:6 specifically names the tribe of Zebulun and provides its registered number within this orderly divine arrangement. This highly structured setup served not only practical purposes (defense, organization for travel, sanitation) but primarily reflected God's desire for a holy, disciplined, and unified people who approached His dwelling place in an ordered manner, ready for His commands. The camp arrangement also prophetically highlighted Judah's prominence as the lead tribe, from whom the Messiah would come.

Numbers 2 6 Word analysis

  • And (וְ, ve): A conjunction meaning "and," connecting this statement about Zebulun directly to the preceding information about Issachar and Judah, showing their communal placement within the eastern camp division.
  • his company (וְצָבָאוֹ, u-tzəva'o): Composed of וְ (ve, "and") and צָבָא (tzava), meaning "army," "host," or "those serving." Here, it specifically refers to the organized military body or division of the tribe of Zebulun. The term underscores the primary purpose of the census and the encampment: readiness for service, including warfare and divine directives.
  • those enrolled (הַפְּקֻדִים, ha-p'qudim): This is a passive participle from the root פָּקַד (paqad), meaning "to visit," "to inspect," "to number," "to appoint," or "to muster." Ha-p'qudim thus signifies "the ones who were mustered," "the ones who were counted," or "the ones who were appointed." It implies a careful, divine mandate and precise registration, not merely an estimation, highlighting God's direct involvement in the numbering and organizing of His people.
  • from the tribe of Zebulun (מִמַּטֵּה זְבֻלוּן, mi-maṭṭeh Zəḇulun):
    • מִמַּטֵּה (mi-maṭṭeh): "from the rod/staff/tribe of." The noun מַטֶּה (maṭṭeh) literally means "rod" or "staff," which was used to represent tribal authority and identity (e.g., Aaron's rod). Over time, it became a common term for "tribe." This phrase emphasizes tribal distinctiveness and origin.
    • זְבֻלוּן (Zəḇulun): The proper name of the son of Jacob and Leah, founder of the tribe. The name itself is connected to "dwelling" or "honor" (Gen 30:20), possibly anticipating their settled habitation and future role.
  • fifty-seven thousand four hundred (שִׁבְעָה וַחֲמִשִּׁים אֶלֶף וְאַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת, shiv'a vachamishim elef v'arba me'ot): This specific numerical count demonstrates divine precision and order. No approximations were used in God's instructions for the organization of His camp. This number corresponds exactly to the count for Zebulun in Num 1:30.

Words-group analysis:

  • "And his company, those enrolled": This phrase together indicates the total military-eligible contingent of Zebulun that was officially registered by divine command. It highlights their status as an organized, numbered force within Israel, ready for mobilization.
  • "from the tribe of Zebulun": This phrase clearly identifies the specific tribal unit whose census data is being presented, reinforcing the individual identity and role of each tribe within the larger covenant community of Israel.

Numbers 2 6 Bonus section

The emphasis on exact numbers throughout Numbers, as seen with Zebulun's specific count, often contrasts with human ways of estimation or approximation. This precision communicates that God's plans are exact and comprehensive, not loosely defined. In the wilderness journey, this order was critical for sanitation, defense against attacks, efficient movement, and most importantly, maintaining the holiness of the camp around the presence of God in the Tabernacle. Any disarray could lead to spiritual defilement and divine judgment (Num 1:53). Zebulun, positioned with Judah and Issachar, was part of the lead marching division (Num 10:14-16), a place of honor and responsibility, symbolizing strength and initiation in the wilderness trek.

Numbers 2 6 Commentary

Numbers 2:6, while seemingly a dry enumeration, serves as a profound illustration of God's character and His divine order. The meticulous listing of each tribe's numerical strength, specifically Zebulun's 57,400, reveals several crucial insights. Firstly, it underscores God's meticulous attention to detail. Every individual counted was known to Him, and every tribal unit had its specific place and function within the broader Israelite community. This precision counters any notion of a haphazard divine plan, demonstrating that God is a God of perfect order, not chaos.

Secondly, the verse reinforces the purpose of the census: to prepare Israel as a unified, organized, and disciplined "host" or "army" for the wilderness journey and the eventual conquest of the promised land. Zebulun's specific number and placement on the east, under Judah's standard, signifies its role as an integral, marching component of God's people. This military readiness was not just for earthly warfare but reflected their spiritual posture as God's chosen people, moving under His guidance and protection.

Finally, Zebulun's inclusion and precise count within the encampment plan speak to the corporate identity of Israel, where each part contributes to the strength and effectiveness of the whole. No tribe was insignificant; each had its unique role and count, highlighting that diversity under unified leadership brings strength. The very act of obedience to this divine structuring was an act of worship and trust, setting a pattern for orderly service in God's kingdom.