Numbers 1:34
Of the children of Manasseh, 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 Manasseh, 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;
The verse records Manasseh's share in the first census at Sinai, counting by generations, families, paternal households and number of names the men from twenty years old and upward who were able to go forth to war. That numbering was commanded by God and excluded Levi, all females and all under twenty, reaching 603,550 men of war marshaled in complete order preparatory to marching into the land of promise, where every man so numbered expected an inheritance. It belongs to the first of the two numberings that give the book its name, made at Sinai forty years before the second numbering in the plains of Moab, the two to be compared to show how the tribes gained or lost during the wilderness journey. Manasseh rose from 32,200 to 52,700, an increase of 20,500, yet that first generation rebelled and died in the wilderness except Caleb and Joshua, so a new numbering took place. Moses numbered the people by the Lord's command, so this census was not sinful, whereas David's later census was wrong because he numbered without the Lord's consent and relied on military strength rather than God.
Census Method and Setting
Of the children of Manasseh the verse records one tribe's share in the first census, counting by generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, the men from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war. That first numbering excluded the tribe of Levi, all females, and all under twenty years of age, and its total was 603,550 men of war. It is an example of the careful numbering of each tribe separately, with each tribe counted separately under appointed inspectors.
The numbering was commanded by God and performed by Moses at Sinai when Israel had been in the desert about one year. It came after the law had been proclaimed from the mount, the tabernacle had been erected with the ark of God's law in its most holy place, the cloud of glory had taken possession of it, God had given bread from heaven every morning and water from the smitten rock, and the pillar of cloud by day and fire by night remained over the camp. It came after the building of the tabernacle and establishing its services and the sin of Nadab and Abihu, and before Israel left Mount Sinai. God took down all their names and marshaled their host in complete order preparatory to marching into the land of promise, with everything indicating their speedy entrance. Every man so numbered expected an inheritance in the land of promise and might have had it.
The verse belongs to the first of the two censuses that give the book its name, fitting the Greek name Arithmoi. These opening chapters continue Leviticus before the narrative of the journeys from Sinai toward Kadesh-barnea is resumed in chapter 9. They belong to the connected story of the whole Bible from creation to Revelation.
Second Numbering and Lessons
This numbering in Numbers 1 was made at Sinai, forty years before the second numbering in Numbers 26, which was made in the plains of Moab thirty-eight years later at the end of the forty years, and the two numberings are to be compared to note the difference in the tribes. It is part of the first of the two censuses that give the book its name, a census that would be repeated at the end of the forty years of wandering. It records Manasseh by generations, families, paternal households, and number of names, counting men from twenty years old and upward who were able to go forth to war.
The first count provides the baseline figure for each tribe against the second count at the end of the forty years. Brought together, the beginning numbering stands against the ending numbering to show how the tribes gained or lost during the wilderness journey, with some tribes increasing while others declined. For Manasseh the comparison shows growth, rising from 32,200 in the first census to 52,700 in the later census in Numbers 26, an increase of 20,500, nearly two-thirds.
The generation counted in this first numbering was expected to enter Canaan and might have received an inheritance there. Because the people rebelled against God the threatened judgment was fulfilled, so that all of that generation died in the wilderness except Caleb and Joshua, and a new numbering took place. That numbering by Moses was by the Lord's command and therefore was not sinful, whereas David's later census was wrong because it was made without the Lord's consent and rested on military strength rather than on God.