Numbers 1:28
Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war; Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Numbers 1:28 belongs to Israel's first numbering at Sinai, recording the tribe-by-tribe enrollment of the children of Issachar by generations, families, and houses of fathers, counting every male from twenty years old and upward who was able to go forth to war. Issachar's number in this census was 54,400 men, part of a total of 603,550 men of war that did not include the tribe of Levi, any females, or any under twenty years of age. Taken about one year after Israel entered the wilderness, after the law was given and the tabernacle with its services was established, the numbering marshaled the host in complete order in preparation for marching into the land of promise, and every man so numbered expected an inheritance there. Compared with the second numbering in Numbers 26 in the plains of Moab nearly forty years later, Issachar had increased by 9,900, yet apart from Caleb and Joshua none of the first generation lived to enter the land because those who rebelled died in the wilderness under God's judgment. The census was taken at the Lord's command, showing that numbering itself was not sinful, while David's later census was sin because he ordered it without the Lord's consent in pride and reliance on military strength.
First Census at Sinai
Numbers 1:28 belongs to the first numbering of Israel described in the opening chapters of Numbers. It was the census taken at Sinai at the beginning of the forty years in the wilderness, while the second numbering in Numbers 26 was taken in the plains of Moab thirty-eight to forty years later at the end of the forty years. The two numberings give the book its name.
The census came when Israel had been in the desert about one year. It came after the law had been proclaimed from the flaming mount, after the tabernacle had been erected with the ark containing God's law in its most holy place and the cloud of glory had taken possession of it, after God had given bread from heaven every morning and water from the smitten rock, while the pillar of cloud by day and of fire by night remained with the camp. In the connected story it comes after the building of the tabernacle and the establishing of its services and after the sin of Nadab and Abihu, and before leaving Mount Sinai.
The opening chapters to which the verse belongs are a continuation of Leviticus. Beginning with chapter 9 the narrative of Exodus that left Israel encamped at Sinai is resumed toward Kadesh-barnea, making the book the record of journeys, with the years in the wilderness marked only by moves of the camp from time to time. The title Numbers answers to the Greek Arithmoi, from which comes arithmetic, and careful reading shows the fitness of the title.
The verse counts the children of Issachar in a careful tribe-by-tribe numbering by generations, after families, by the house of fathers, according to the number of names. It includes every male from twenty years old and upward who was able to go forth to war. The numbering did not include the tribe of Levi, any females, or any under twenty years of age. With the other tribes it totaled 603,550 men of war.
Issachar's count in this first census was 54,400 men aged twenty and older who were able to go to war. Taking down all their names marshaled their host in complete order preparatory to marching into the land of promise. The work then seemed almost accomplished and speedy entrance into Canaan was indicated, and every man so numbered expected an inheritance in the land of promise and might have had it after such tokens of loving-kindness.
Comparison and Moral Lessons
The numbering in Numbers 1 is to be set beside the second numbering in Numbers 26, taken forty years later, to note the difference in the tribes. The two counts show how each tribe gained or lost during the forty years of wandering, with some tribes growing greatly while others declined. The count here is the first census count of Issachar, 54,400 men from twenty years old and upward who were able to go forth to war, counted by generations, after families, by the house of fathers, according to the number of names. Compared with the later census in Numbers 26, it shows whether Issachar gained or lost in the wilderness journey, for the tribe's later number had increased by 9,900.
Those numbered in this first census expected to inherit the promised land as Israel's fighting men prepared to enter it. The later census showed that, apart from Caleb and Joshua, none of that first generation lived to enter it. All who rebelled against God died in the wilderness under His judgment and did not receive the hoped-for inheritance. The census itself was taken at the Lord's command, showing that numbering Israel was not sinful in itself. David's later census was sinful because he ordered it without the Lord's consent, in pride and reliance on military strength.
In the connected story this numbering comes after the building of the tabernacle and the establishing of its services and after the sin of Nadab and Abihu, and before Israel's leaving Mount Sinai. It belongs to the whole Bible story from creation through the history of Israel. That whole story is told to children with practical moral lessons woven in where a child needs help to draw them.