Numeri 1:2

Nova Vulgata

"Tollite summam universae congregationis filiorum Israel per cognationes et domos suas et nomina singulorum, quidquid sexus est masculini

Parallel Translations

Clementine Latin Vulgate (1592)
Loquere filiis Isra�l, et dices ad eos : Homo, qui obtulerit ex vobis hostiam Domino de pecoribus, id est, de bobus et ovibus offerens victimas,

Jerome's Latin Vulgate (405)
Tollite summam univers� congregationis filiorum Isra�l per cognationes et domos suas, et nomina singulorum, quidquid sexus est masculini

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Take ye the sum: This numbering was probably intended to illustrate the Divine faithfulness in thus increasing the seed of Abraham; to prepare them to preserve due order in their march; and to distinguish the tribes and families. Numbers 26:2-4, Numbers 26:63, Numbers 26:64, Exodus 30:12, Exodus 38:26, 2 Samuel 24:1-3, 1 Chronicles 21:1, 1 Chronicles 21:2, 1 Chronicles 27:23, 1 Chronicles 27:24

the children: Genesis 49:1-3, Exodus 1:1-5

after: Numbers 1:18, Numbers 1:22, Numbers 1:26-54, Exodus 6:14-19

Reciprocal: Numbers 1:19 - General Numbers 1:44 - General 1 Chronicles 23:24 - by their polls 2 Chronicles 17:14 - to the house

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel,.... Excepting the Levites; nor were any account taken of the mixed multitude that came out of Egypt with the children of Israel, only of them; and this account was taken, partly to observe the fulfilment of the divine promise to Abraham concerning the multiplication of his seed, and partly that it might be observed, that at the end of thirty eight years from hence, when they were numbered again, there were but three left of this large number, their carcasses falling in the wilderness because of their sins; and chiefly, as Aben Ezra observes, this sum was now taken to fix their standards, and for their better and more orderly journeying and encampment; for on the twentieth of this month they set forward on their journey from hence,

Numbers 10:11; the word for the order is in the plural number, take ye, being given both to Moses and Aaron, who were to take the number, and did, Numbers 1:3;

after their families; into which their tribes were divided:

by the house of their fathers; for if the mother was of one tribe, and the father of another, the family was according to the tribe of the father, as Jarchi notes, a mother's family being never called a family, as Aben Ezra observes:

with the number of [their] names; of every particular person, whose name was inserted in a list or register:

every male by their poll; or head b; for none but males were numbered: the Lord's spiritual Israel are a numbered people, written in the book of life, placed into the hand of Christ, and exactly known by him, even by name; yea, all that belong to him are numbered, and the very airs of their heads,

b לגלגלתם "per capita sua", Pagninus, &c,

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

A month had passed away since the setting up of the tabernacle Exodus 40:2, Exodus 40:17 : and the Sinaitic legislation was now complete (compare Leviticus 27:34).

A census (“sum”) was commanded, to be based not upon any fresh registration of individuals, but upon that which had accompanied the previous collection of the offerings. Compare Exodus 30:11, etc.; Exodus 38:25-28. The offerings had been probably tendered by the people in groups, and if certificates of registration were furnished to such groups, the new census might be easily carried out by means of these documents, and got through Numbers 1:18 in a single day. The present registration enrolled persons “after their families, by the house of their fathers;” and was superintended not by the Levites (see Exodus 38:21 and note), but by Numbers 1:4 an assessor for each tribe to act in the business with Moses and Aaron. The purpose now in view was not religious only. The census now taken would serve as a basis for various civil and military arrangements.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Numbers 1:2. Take ye the sum, c. — God, having established the commonwealth of Israel by just and equitable laws, ordained every thing relative to the due performance of his own worship, erected his tabernacle, which was his throne, and the place of his residence among the people, and consecrated his priests who were to minister before him he now orders his subjects to be mustered,

1. That they might see he had not forgotten his promise to Abraham, but was multiplying his posterity.

2. That they might observe due order in their march toward the promised land.

3. That the tribes and families might be properly distinguished; that all litigations concerning property, inheritance, c., might, in all future times, be prevented.

4. That the promise concerning the Messiah might be known to have its due accomplishment, when in the fulness of time God should send him from the seed of Abraham through the house of David. And,

5. That they might know their strength for war for although they should ever consider God as their protector and defence, yet it was necessary that they should be assured of their own fitness, naturally speaking, to cope with any ordinary enemy, or to surmount any common difficulties.