Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
Those numbered of Simeon in Israel's first wilderness census at Sinai were 59,300 men twenty years old and older who were able to go forth to war, counted by tribe apart from Levi, women, and children for a total of 603,550 men of war. The numbering marshaled the host in complete order for the journey and pointed to speedy entrance into the promised land, with every man numbered expecting an inheritance in Canaan. It is the first of the two numberings that give the book its name, taken forty years before the second numbering in the plains of Moab at the end of the wandering. Simeon's number fell by 37,100, nearly two-thirds, between the two enumerations, and apart from Caleb and Joshua none of the men counted in the first census remained alive at the second because rebellion barred that generation from entering Canaan. The numbering and the fate of that generation show that God fulfills His threatened judgments and that sin leads to ruin, while Moses' census at the Lord's command was not condemned as David's census without the Lord's consent was.
First Census at Sinai
Those numbered of the tribe of Simeon were 59,300 men in Israel's first wilderness census. It was part of the numbering of Israel at Sinai, one of the two censuses that give the book of Numbers its name. The chapter records the numbers of the tribes at the beginning of Israel's wilderness journey, with each tribe numbered separately. The verse belongs to the opening chapters of Numbers, which describe Israel's numbering, camp order, tribal leaders, and divisions of service.
The census was taken at Sinai at the close of the first year in the wilderness, when Israel had been in the desert only about one year. It came after the law of God had been proclaimed from the flaming mount, the tabernacle had been erected and the ark containing God's law carried into its most holy place, the cloud of God's glory had taken possession of the tabernacle, God had given bread from heaven every morning and water from the smitten rock, and while the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night departed not from the camp. In the connected story it comes after the building of the tabernacle and the establishing of its services and the sin of Nadab and Abihu, and before Israel left Mount Sinai to journey toward Kadesh-barnea. It is the first of the two numberings of Israel, with the second taken in the plains of Moab thirty-eight years later, showing why the Greek title Arithmoi, from which comes the word arithmetic, is fitting, and the verse stands in the opening chapters that continue Leviticus before the narrative that left Israel encamped at Sinai resumes.
At God's direction Moses counted only men twenty years old and older who were able to go forth to war, excluding the tribe of Levi, females, and those under twenty. The census counted the men of Simeon who were of the specified age, numbering each tribe separately under appointed inspectors, with God taking down all their names and marshaling the host in the completest order. The total was 603,550 men of war.
The numbering organized Israel for the journey to Canaan and marshaled the host in complete order preparatory to marching into the land of promise, indicating their speedy entrance into Canaan. Every man numbered expected an inheritance in the land of promise and might have had it after such tokens of God's loving-kindness as no other people ever witnessed. Those counted expected to enter Canaan and could have received an inheritance there.
The verse belongs to the first of the two numberings that give the book of Numbers its name. The census Moses took at the Lord's command was not condemned, unlike David's census taken without the Lord's consent.
Comparison and Solemn Warning
The numbering in Numbers 1 was the first numbering of Israel, taken forty years before the second numbering recorded in Numbers 26, with those holding one reckoning placing the second numbering thirty-eight years later in the plains of Moab at the end of the forty years of wandering. In that first census the tribe of Simeon totaled 59,300 men, forming part of the numbering of the tribes that was to be repeated at the close of the wilderness period. The two enumerations are to be compared to note the difference in the tribes and to see how their numbers changed during Israel's wilderness journey. That comparison provides the point of contrast between the tribes at the beginning of the journey and after forty years, when their growth and losses can be noted, with some tribes prospering and others declining.
For Simeon the change was a marked decline of 37,100, nearly two-thirds, between the two enumerations, linked with Jacob's prophecy that Simeon would be scattered among Israel. Those counted in the first census were men able to go to war who expected to enter Canaan and might have received an inheritance there, yet apart from Caleb and Joshua none of that first generation remained alive at the second numbering. Their rebellion brought God's judgment and barred them from the land, so that the rebellious generation died in the wilderness. In this the first numbering and the fate of that generation show that God fulfills His threatened judgments and that sin leads to ruin.
Those numbered of Simeon in Israel's first wilderness census at Sinai were 59,300 men twenty years old and older who were able to go forth to war, counted by tribe apart from Levi, women, and children for a total of 603,550 men of war. The numbering marshaled the host in complete order for the journey and pointed to speedy entrance into the promised land, with every man numbered expecting an inheritance in Canaan. It is the first of the two numberings that give the book its name, taken forty years before the second numbering in the plains of Moab at the end of the wandering. Simeon's number fell by 37,100, nearly two-thirds, between the two enumerations, and apart from Caleb and Joshua none of the men counted in the first census remained alive at the second because rebellion barred that generation from entering Canaan. The numbering and the fate of that generation show that God fulfills His threatened judgments and that sin leads to ruin, while Moses' census at the Lord's command was not condemned as David's census without the Lord's consent was.
First Census at Sinai
Those numbered of the tribe of Simeon were 59,300 men in Israel's first wilderness census. It was part of the numbering of Israel at Sinai, one of the two censuses that give the book of Numbers its name. The chapter records the numbers of the tribes at the beginning of Israel's wilderness journey, with each tribe numbered separately. The verse belongs to the opening chapters of Numbers, which describe Israel's numbering, camp order, tribal leaders, and divisions of service.
The census was taken at Sinai at the close of the first year in the wilderness, when Israel had been in the desert only about one year. It came after the law of God had been proclaimed from the flaming mount, the tabernacle had been erected and the ark containing God's law carried into its most holy place, the cloud of God's glory had taken possession of the tabernacle, God had given bread from heaven every morning and water from the smitten rock, and while the pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night departed not from the camp. In the connected story it comes after the building of the tabernacle and the establishing of its services and the sin of Nadab and Abihu, and before Israel left Mount Sinai to journey toward Kadesh-barnea. It is the first of the two numberings of Israel, with the second taken in the plains of Moab thirty-eight years later, showing why the Greek title Arithmoi, from which comes the word arithmetic, is fitting, and the verse stands in the opening chapters that continue Leviticus before the narrative that left Israel encamped at Sinai resumes.
At God's direction Moses counted only men twenty years old and older who were able to go forth to war, excluding the tribe of Levi, females, and those under twenty. The census counted the men of Simeon who were of the specified age, numbering each tribe separately under appointed inspectors, with God taking down all their names and marshaling the host in the completest order. The total was 603,550 men of war.
The numbering organized Israel for the journey to Canaan and marshaled the host in complete order preparatory to marching into the land of promise, indicating their speedy entrance into Canaan. Every man numbered expected an inheritance in the land of promise and might have had it after such tokens of God's loving-kindness as no other people ever witnessed. Those counted expected to enter Canaan and could have received an inheritance there.
The verse belongs to the first of the two numberings that give the book of Numbers its name. The census Moses took at the Lord's command was not condemned, unlike David's census taken without the Lord's consent.
Comparison and Solemn Warning
The numbering in Numbers 1 was the first numbering of Israel, taken forty years before the second numbering recorded in Numbers 26, with those holding one reckoning placing the second numbering thirty-eight years later in the plains of Moab at the end of the forty years of wandering. In that first census the tribe of Simeon totaled 59,300 men, forming part of the numbering of the tribes that was to be repeated at the close of the wilderness period. The two enumerations are to be compared to note the difference in the tribes and to see how their numbers changed during Israel's wilderness journey. That comparison provides the point of contrast between the tribes at the beginning of the journey and after forty years, when their growth and losses can be noted, with some tribes prospering and others declining.
For Simeon the change was a marked decline of 37,100, nearly two-thirds, between the two enumerations, linked with Jacob's prophecy that Simeon would be scattered among Israel. Those counted in the first census were men able to go to war who expected to enter Canaan and might have received an inheritance there, yet apart from Caleb and Joshua none of that first generation remained alive at the second numbering. Their rebellion brought God's judgment and barred them from the land, so that the rebellious generation died in the wilderness. In this the first numbering and the fate of that generation show that God fulfills His threatened judgments and that sin leads to ruin.