Numbers 1

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 1:44

These are those that were numbered ,.... Or, as the Targum of Jonathan, these are the sums of the numbers; namely, those before given of the several respective tribes: which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men ; for though the tribe of Levi was not numbered, yet Joseph having a double portion, his two sons are reckoned as distinct tribes; so that one out of each tribe made up the number twelve: each one for the house of his fathers ; for the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 1:45

So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel ,.... Of all the tribes, excepting Levi, that is, all the sums of the number of the children of Israel; all put together made the sum total given in the next verse: by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel ; all in every tribe, family, and house, that were above twenty years of age, healthful and strong, and fit for war. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 1:46

Even all they that were numbered ,.... Of whom an account was taken, and their names set down in a book or register: were 603,550; which was exactly the number of them, when taken about seven months before this, when they were assessed for defraying the expenses of the tabernacle, Exodus 38:26 ; so that it should seem not one person had died during that time; for though there were three that died a violent death in that compass of time, yet two of them were of the tribe of Levi, not now... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 1:47

But the Levites ,.... The tribe of Levi were excepted from this muster, they being employed in a kind of warfare, and therefore not to be engaged in another: after the tribe of their fathers, were not numbered among them : the rest of the tribes; the reason follows. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 1:48

For the Lord had spoken unto Moses ,.... Not to number the Levites, when he gave him the orders to number the rest of the tribes: this is observed, lest it should be thought that this was what Moses did of himself, out of affection to the tribe he was of, and to spare it, that it might not be obliged to go forth to war when others did; not that they were forbid to engage in war, or that it was unlawful for them so to do, for when necessity required, and they were of themselves willing to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 1:49

Only thou shall not number the tribe of Levi ,.... That is, along with the other tribes, for it might be numbered by itself, as it afterwards was, Numbers 3:43 , neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel ; which confirms what is before observed: now this being the declared will of God clears Moses from all partiality to his own tribe, he doing nothing but what he had a command of God for it. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 1:50

But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony ,.... So called from the ark in it, in which was the law of God, which was a testimony of the will of God to his people: and over all the vessels thereof ; the candlestick, table: and altars, as Aben Ezra notes: and over all things that belong to it ; the vessels of vessels, as the same writer calls them; for the candlestick, shewbread table, and the two altars of incense and burnt offering had vessels appertaining... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 1:51

And when the tabernacle setteth forward ,.... Or was about to set forward; that is, the congregation were about to journey, and take the tabernacle with them, as they always did, when and wherever they journeyed: the Levites shall take it down ; unpin it, take the boards and pillars out of their sockets, and the bars out of their places, and the whole into pieces, in order to be put into wagons prepared to carry them, of which mention is made in a following chapter: and when the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 1:52

And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp ,.... There were four, unless every tribe was a camp, and so then there were twelve camps, besides the camp of the Levites: the Targum of Jonathan is,"by the house of his troop,'the regiment to which he belonged, every tribe or camp having various troops or regiments in it: and every man by his own standard throughout their hosts ; there were four standards, and three tribes to each standard, which were placed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Numbers 1:53

But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony ,.... Between the tabernacle and the camps of Israel, to guard the tabernacle and preserve the things in it, and to keep persons from going into it that should not, to pollute or plunder it: these were placed in like manner as the four living creatures round the throne, Revelation 4:6 ; where the allusion seems to be to this situation of the Levites: that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel... read more

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