The verse introduces the Lord's spoken instruction and command to Moses concerning the numbering of Israel. It belongs to the opening account of Numbers, which records the numbering of Israel and of the tribe of Levi and the duties of Levi's families. It is part of God's careful ordering and numbering of Israel, with each tribe counted separately under appointed census inspectors.
The numbering in Numbers 1 took place at the end of the first year in the wilderness, at the beginning of the forty years, when the people were being organized to march toward Canaan. The chapter records the number of men of certain ages in each tribe. Numbers 1 is the first numbering, made forty years before the second numbering in Numbers 26 at the end of the forty years.
The two numberings are to be compared to note the difference in the tribes and to see how they gained or lost. Some tribes grew greatly and increased, while others declined and fell off in number. The chapter's stated census facts have been condemned as absurd and fit to be rejected, yet the verse shows the record is presented as divinely commanded to Moses.
The verse introduces the Lord's spoken instruction and command to Moses concerning the numbering of Israel. It belongs to the opening account of Numbers, which records the numbering of Israel and of the tribe of Levi and the duties of Levi's families. It is part of God's careful ordering and numbering of Israel, with each tribe counted separately under appointed census inspectors.
The numbering in Numbers 1 took place at the end of the first year in the wilderness, at the beginning of the forty years, when the people were being organized to march toward Canaan. The chapter records the number of men of certain ages in each tribe. Numbers 1 is the first numbering, made forty years before the second numbering in Numbers 26 at the end of the forty years.
The two numberings are to be compared to note the difference in the tribes and to see how they gained or lost. Some tribes grew greatly and increased, while others declined and fell off in number. The chapter's stated census facts have been condemned as absurd and fit to be rejected, yet the verse shows the record is presented as divinely commanded to Moses.