Numbers 1:27 Study Bible: those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Judah, were sixty-four thousand six hundred.

◄ Numbers 1:27 ►

those registered to the tribe of Judah numbered 74,600.

From the descendants of Judah
The tribe of Judah holds a significant place in biblical history. The name "Judah" comes from the Hebrew "Yehudah," meaning "praise." Judah was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, and his descendants became one of the most prominent tribes of Israel. Historically, Judah is known for its leadership and strength, as well as being the tribe from which King David and ultimately Jesus Christ descended. This lineage underscores the fulfillment of God's promises and the messianic prophecy.

their lineage according to their clans and families
The emphasis on "lineage" and "clans and families" highlights the importance of genealogical records in ancient Israel. These records were crucial for maintaining tribal identity and inheritance rights. The Hebrew word for "lineage" is "toledot," which can also mean "generations" or "descendants." This meticulous recording reflects the Israelites' understanding of their covenant relationship with God, where each family and clan played a role in the larger narrative of God's people.

their numbered men
The act of numbering or taking a census was a significant event in Israelite society. The Hebrew word for "numbered" is "paqad," which can mean to count, muster, or appoint. This census was not merely for statistical purposes but was a way to organize the community for military and religious duties. It demonstrated the readiness and strength of the tribe, as well as their ability to fulfill God's commands in conquering and settling the Promised Land.

74,600
The specific number, 74,600, indicates the size and strength of the tribe of Judah at the time of the census. This large number reflects Judah's prominence among the tribes of Israel. In a broader theological context, it signifies God's blessing and faithfulness to His people, as He promised to multiply their descendants. The precision of this number also underscores the historical reliability of the biblical record, providing a tangible connection to the past.

Persons / Places / Events

1. Judah
Judah is one of the twelve tribes of Israel, named after the fourth son of Jacob and Leah. The tribe of Judah is significant in biblical history, as it is the tribe from which King David and ultimately Jesus Christ descended.

2. Moses and Aaron
These two leaders were responsible for conducting the census as commanded by God. Moses was the prophet and leader of the Israelites, and Aaron was his brother and the first high priest.

3. The Wilderness of Sinai
This is the location where the census took place. The Israelites were camped here after their exodus from Egypt and before their journey to the Promised Land.

4. Census
The event of counting the Israelite men able to go to war. This was a divine command to organize the people for their journey and future battles.

5. Israelites
The collective people of God, descendants of the twelve sons of Jacob, who were being prepared to enter the Promised Land.

Teaching Points

Significance of Obedience
The census was conducted in obedience to God's command. This teaches us the importance of following God's instructions, even in tasks that may seem mundane or administrative.

God's Sovereignty in Numbers
The specific number of 74,600 from the tribe of Judah shows God's detailed knowledge and care for His people. It reminds us that God is aware of every detail in our lives.

Legacy and Lineage
The tribe of Judah's prominence foreshadows the coming of the Messiah. Our spiritual legacy is important, and we should strive to live in a way that honors God and impacts future generations.

Preparation for Battle
The census was a preparation for future battles. As Christians, we are called to be spiritually prepared for the battles we face, equipped with the armor of God.

Bible Study Questions

1. What does the specific number of men from the tribe of Judah (74,600) tell us about God's attention to detail and His plans for His people?

2. How does the lineage of Judah, as seen in Numbers 1:27, connect to the prophecy and fulfillment of Jesus Christ's coming?

3. In what ways can we ensure that we are obedient to God's commands in our daily lives, even in tasks that seem routine?

4. How can understanding our spiritual heritage and legacy influence the way we live and make decisions today?

5. What steps can we take to be spiritually prepared for the battles we face, drawing parallels from the preparation of the Israelites in the wilderness?

Connections to Other Scriptures

Genesis 49:8-12
This passage contains Jacob's blessing to Judah, prophesying leadership and kingship, which connects to the prominence of the tribe of Judah in Numbers 1:27.

Matthew 1:1-3
The genealogy of Jesus Christ, which traces His lineage back to Judah, highlighting the fulfillment of the prophecy and the significance of Judah's descendants.

Revelation 5:5
Refers to Jesus as the "Lion of the tribe of Judah," connecting the Old Testament tribe to the New Testament revelation of Christ.

Sermons

The First Army of Israel, an Illustration of the Church Militant	W. Jones.	Numbers 1:20-46
The Necessity of War	H. W. Beecher.	Numbers 1:20-46

People

Aaron, Abidan, Ahiezer, Ahira, Ammihud, Amminadab, Ammishaddai, Asher, Benjamin, Dan, Deuel, Eliab, Eliasaph, Elishama, Elizur, Enan, Gad, Gamaliel, Gideoni, Helon, Israelites, Issachar, Joseph, Levi, Levites, Manasseh, Moses, Nahshon, Naphtali, Nethaneel, Ocran, Pagiel, Pedahzur, Reuben, Reuel, Shedeur, Shelumiel, Simeon, Zebulun, Zuar, Zurishaddai

Places

Egypt, Sinai

Topics

74, 600, Hundred, Judah, Numbered, Ones, Seventy, Seventy-four, Six, Sixty-four, Thousand, Threescore, Tribe

Dictionary of Bible Themes

Numbers 1:1-49

5249 census

Numbers 1:20-43

7266 tribes of Israel

Library

The Consolation
Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received at the LORD 's hand double for all her sins. T he particulars of the great "mystery of godliness," as enumerated by the Apostle Paul, constitute the grand and inexhaustible theme of the Gospel ministry, "God manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on …
John Newton—Messiah Vol. 1

The Census of Israel
Thirty-eight years had passed away since the first numbering at Sinai, and the people had come to the borders of the Promised Land; for they were in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. The time had come for another census. The wisdom which commanded the counting of Israel at the beginning of the wilderness journey, also determined to count them at the end of it. This would show that he did not value them less than in former years; it would afford proof that his word of judgment had been fulfilled …
Charles Haddon Spurgeon—Spurgeon's Sermons Volume 37: 1891

The Child-Life in Nazareth
THE stay of the Holy Family in Egypt must have been of brief duration. The cup of Herod's misdeeds, but also of his misery, was full. During the whole latter part of his life, the dread of a rival to the throne had haunted him, and he had sacrificed thousands, among them those nearest and dearest to him, to lay that ghost. [1084] And still the tyrant was not at rest. A more terrible scene is not presented in history than that of the closing days of Herod. Tormented by nameless fears; ever and again …
Alfred Edersheim—The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah

Genealogy According to Luke.
^C Luke III. 23-38. ^c 23 And Jesus himself [Luke has been speaking about John the Baptist, he now turns to speak of Jesus himself], when he began to teach, was about thirty years of age [the age when a Levite entered upon God's service--Num. iv. 46, 47], being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son [this may mean that Jesus was grandson of Heli, or that Joseph was counted as a son of Heli because he was his son-in-law] of Heli, 24 the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the …
J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines, …
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6

And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah
"And thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, too little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall come forth unto Me (one) [Pg 480] to be Ruler in Israel; and His goings forth are the times of old, the days of eternity." The close connection of this verse with what immediately precedes (Caspari is wrong in considering iv. 9-14 as an episode) is evident, not only from the [Hebrew: v] copulative, and from the analogy of the near relation of the announcement of salvation to the prophecy of disaster …
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Numbers
Like the last part of Exodus, and the whole of Leviticus, the first part of Numbers, i.-x. 28--so called,[1] rather inappropriately, from the census in i., iii., (iv.), xxvi.--is unmistakably priestly in its interests and language. Beginning with a census of the men of war (i.) and the order of the camp (ii.), it devotes specific attention to the Levites, their numbers and duties (iii., iv.). Then follow laws for the exclusion of the unclean, v. 1-4, for determining the manner and amount of restitution …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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