John Gill's Bible Commentary Ver. 2. Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel , etc.] Excepting the Levites, who were to be numbered by themselves, and at a different age; this sum was to be taken, that it might appear that all of the old generation that came out of Egypt, of the age at which this sum was taken, were now dead, excepting two, as the Lord had threatened; and partly that as they were now about to enter the land of Canaan, it might be divided to them according to their number; as well as to show the faithfulness of God to his word and promise, that he would multiply and make them fruitful, notwithstanding all their provoking sins and transgressions: from twenty years old and upwards, throughout their father’s house ; all of that age in every tribe, house, and family: all that are able to go to war in Israel ; for which they must prepare, being about to enter the land of Canaan, and dispossess and drive out the inhabitants of it.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 1-51 - Moses did not number the people but when God commanded him. We have here the families registered, as well as the tribes. The total wa nearly the same as when numbered at mount Sinai. Notice is here take of the children of Korah; they died not, as the children of Dathan an Abiram; they seem not to have joined even their own father i rebellion. If we partake not of the sins of sinners, we shall no partake of their plagues. (Nu 26:52-56)
Original Hebrew שׂאו5375 את853 ראשׁ7218 כל3605 עדת5712 בני1121 ישׂראל3478 מבן1121 עשׂרים6242 שׁנה8141 ומעלה4605 לבית1004 אבתם1 כל3605 יצא3318 צבא6635 בישׂראל׃3478
