Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Numbers 1:3

From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.

Verse 3. From twenty years old and upward] In this census no women were reckoned, nor children, nor strangers, nor the Levites, nor old men, which, collectively, must have formed an immense multitude; the Levites alone amounted to 22,300. True-born Israelites only are reckoned; such as were able to carry arms, and were expert for war.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

3. Aaron shall number them by theirarmiesor companies. In their departure from Egypt they weredivided into five grand companies (Ex13:18), but from the sojourn in the wilderness to the passage ofthe Jordan, they were formed into four great divisions. The latter ishere referred to.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

From twenty years old and upwards,…. All that had entered into their twentieth year, or, as it should rather seem, who were full twenty years of age, and all that were above it without any limitation; though some limit it to fifty, and others to sixty years, when men may be reasonably excused going to war; for to know who were fit for it seems to be a principal design of this order, as follows:

all that are able to go forth to war in Israel; who being about to journey, might expect to meet with enemies, with whom they would be obliged to engage in battle; and therefore it was proper to know their strength, and whom to call out upon occasion: Aben Ezra observes, that the phrase “in Israel” excepts the mixed multitude; those were not of Israel, and so not numbered, and perhaps not to be trusted or depended upon in war; nor were they mustered and marshalled by the standards of the several tribes; in a mystical sense, those numbered may signify the valiant of Israel, the same as the young men in 1Jo 2:14; see So 3:7;

thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies; each tribe making a considerable army, [See comments on Ex 7:4]; these people were now typical of the church of God in its militant state in the wilderness, for which they are provided, and prepared, and accoutred.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

(3) From twenty years old and upward.The result of the previous numbering (Exo. 30:12; Exo. 38:26), which was made about six months earlier, and which was probably obtained by counting the number of half-shekels which were paid, as Ithamar appears to have done (Exo. 38:2), exactly corresponds with the result of the present census (Num. 1:46). But the complete census, or numbering and enrolment of the persons according to tribes, families, and fathers houses, appears to have been deferred until after the erection of the tabernacle, towards the construction of which the atonement money had been paid. If the whole was done in obedience to the command contained in Exo. 30:12, and was regarded as one transaction, those only would be numbered on the second occasion who had already paid their atonement money. There is nothing impossible in the supposition that the whole of those who had been numbered six months previously were still alive, but no allowance is made, on this supposition, for the number of those who were below twenty years of age at the earlier period, and who had exceeded that age at the later period. Inasmuch, however, as the sum-total in both cases is divisible by ten, and inasmuch as the separate items in this chapter are given in tens (the smallest subdivision of the people which was adopted by Moses, on the recommendation of Jethro, Exo. 18:21), no objection to the historical accuracy of both records can be sustained if it be allowed that the number of those who had attained the age of twenty years since the earlier census corresponded nearly with the number of deaths during the same period. The whole of the objection, however, is removed in a far more satisfactory manner by the supposition that there was only one census. (See the Introduction.)

By their armies.Better, their hosts or companies.

Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)

3. Twenty years From the son of twenty years. This was the law ever afterwards. The word able does not occur in the Hebrew. If it had been written, the names of the sick and aged men would not have been enrolled, and the enumerators must have added to their functions those of surgical examiners. Exemptions from military service were established on Divine authority several years afterwards. See Deu 20:5-8. There is not the least hint in the text of an upper limit to the military age. Yet Josephus asserts that this census enrolled only the fighting men between twenty and fifty years of age. It is quite probable that subsequent legislation fixed the maximum age at fifty years, and that Josephus ( Ant., Num 3:12 ; Num 3:4) has carried the law back too far. For if there had been such a maximum age it would have been expressed with the minimum. Moreover, since the grand total of this military muster-roll is exactly the same as that of the poll-offering in Exo 38:26, it would follow, according to Josephus’s statement, that all above fifty years must have been exempted from the offering. Of this immunity there is no hint, either in the original command (Exo 30:11-16) or in the report of its execution. Exo 38:26.

Thou and Aaron shall number Number is not the idea of the Hebrew, but rather review, muster, arrange. Moses and Aaron were to constitute a board of superintendence, while the details of the census were to be attended to by a commission of twelve distinguished men, one from each tribe. These would be sufficient, for the chief labour of the census had already been performed. In arranging for the service of the newly-erected tabernacle, nine months before, it had been ordained that each person enumerated should pay half a shekel, about twenty-seven cents, atonement money, “a ransom for his soul unto the Lord.” See Exo 30:12. Since the atonement money had already been offered, (Exo 38:25-28,) we infer that a census had already been taken in the tribes, or in subdivisions of tribes, and records made of the results. The office of the census board, just appointed by God, was, probably, to collect and classify those registrations which had already been made, and draw out the people into military divisions.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Num 1:3. All that are able to go forth to war Hence it appears, that the aged and infirm, such as were unable to go to war, were not numbered: and, accordingly, Josephus tells us, that after fifty years they were not obliged to pay the half shekel which was due upon such musters. Among several other nations, as well as the Jews, particularly the Romans, all who were of age to bear arms were obliged, upon some occasions, to go forth to battle. Hence it is, that we read of the kings of Israel bringing such numerous armies into the field.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

“Handfuls of Purpose”

For All Gleaners

“Able to go forth to war.” Num 1:3

Then there are difference’s amongst men; some being able, and others unable to go forth to war. Forgetfulness of these differences leads to indiscriminate and cruel criticism. There is always a war in life. Sometimes a real battle is only known to the man himself. In all solitary conflicts the man himself is of course alone responsible. Even in such conflicts the warrior needs inspiration and encouragement from without. There is a solitude that leads to despair, and in the darkness of that solitude the war goes against the soul. The words of the text refer to open or public battle, in which every man is expected to appear in the fulness of his strength. The statistics of the army are kept in heaven. The spirit of this text forbids every man to look only at his weakness. Every man is called upon to make the most of himself in the presence of the enemy. Sometimes the very going forth to war develops the power of battle. Let every man take a hopeful view of his capacity. The wars to which men are called in this day may be of the nature of controversy, testimony under difficult circumstances, consistency in the midst of subtle and persistent temptation; because we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, it does not follow that we have no conflict with principalities and powers and innumerable enemies out of sight. The spirit of Christianity is a spirit of war. The Christian is at war with every form and action of evil. There can be no doubt as to the side which the Christian will take in every moral conflict. The suggestion of the text is that some men are not called upon to engage in public strife. They may be soldiers, nevertheless, suffering heroically, illustrating the majesty of patience, and proving by joyful resignation how possible it is to wait without complaining, and to sing in the darkness and weariness of night. Cowardice is nowhere commended in the Bible. The distinguishing feature of Christianity in relation to all the forces of life is heroism. Let imagination picture the scene; the Christian is not afraid to go forth where ignorance is densest, where rebellion is most violent, where cruelty is most desperate, and even where infection is most contagious; the picture is always vivid with heroic colour, and expressive of consecration, which can neither be daunted or discouraged. “The Son of God goes forth to war.” It is too commonly supposed that Christianity is a bed of roses, a new variety of luxury, a sentiment which, while it excuses, also aggravates the natural selfishness of the heart. Every man should put to himself the question, Why am I not at the war? Every wound that testifies to honourable battle is a sign of true soldiership. Do not be ashame of wounds and scars that tell o suffering only see that they are on the breast, and thereby indicate fearlessness, and not on the back, and thereby prove fear and faithlessness.

Fuente: The People’s Bible by Joseph Parker

Num 1:3 From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.

Ver. 3. All that are able. ] The people perceiving how many hundred thousand strong they were, might go on with more courage against their enemies. It is an ancient custom in Scotland, in cases of importance, to command the fire cross to be carried; that is, two fire brands to be set in fashion of a cross, and pitched upon the point of a spear, and proclamation is thereupon made, that all men, above sixteen years of age and under sixty, shall come into the field to advance against the common enemy. a

a Sir John Heywood, in the Life of King Edward VI.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)