And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.
The verse closes the account of the first numbering and ordering of Israel in preparation for the journey to Canaan. That section is concerned with numbering the people, arranging the tribes' encampment, appointing tribal princes, assigning duties to Levites and priests, redeeming the firstborn, and other worship ceremonies. The chapter shows God's care in having His people numbered, with each tribe counted separately under careful census inspectors. The numbering records the counts of men of specified ages.
The verse affirms that Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses. It belongs to the first census at the beginning of the forty years of wandering, forty years before the second census in Numbers 26. That first numbering gives the counts of men of specified ages and provides a baseline for comparison with the later numbering after forty years in the wilderness. Compared with the second census in Numbers 26, it shows how some tribes grew and others declined during the wilderness journey.
Comparing the two censuses shows the difference in the tribes and how their numbers changed during the wilderness journey. Some tribes grew and prospered while others declined. The prosperity of some tribes and the decline of others reflects differences in faithfulness to God.
The verse closes the account of the first numbering and ordering of Israel in preparation for the journey to Canaan. That section is concerned with numbering the people, arranging the tribes' encampment, appointing tribal princes, assigning duties to Levites and priests, redeeming the firstborn, and other worship ceremonies. The chapter shows God's care in having His people numbered, with each tribe counted separately under careful census inspectors. The numbering records the counts of men of specified ages.
The verse affirms that Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses. It belongs to the first census at the beginning of the forty years of wandering, forty years before the second census in Numbers 26. That first numbering gives the counts of men of specified ages and provides a baseline for comparison with the later numbering after forty years in the wilderness. Compared with the second census in Numbers 26, it shows how some tribes grew and others declined during the wilderness journey.
Comparing the two censuses shows the difference in the tribes and how their numbers changed during the wilderness journey. Some tribes grew and prospered while others declined. The prosperity of some tribes and the decline of others reflects differences in faithfulness to God.