54 And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 did H6213 according to all that the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses, H4872 so did H6213 they.
Beware H8104 of H6440 him, and obey H8085 his voice, H6963 provoke H4843 him not; for he will not pardon H5375 your transgressions: H6588 for my name H8034 is in him. H7130 But if thou shalt indeed H8085 obey H8085 his voice, H6963 and do H6213 all that I speak; H1696 then I will be an enemy H340 unto thine enemies, H341 and an adversary H6887 unto thine adversaries. H6696
Thus did H6213 Moses: H4872 according to all that the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 him, so did H6213 he.
When they went H935 into the tent H168 of the congregation, H4150 and when they came near H7126 unto the altar, H4196 they washed; H7364 as the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses. H4872
And the children H1121 of Israel H3478 did H6213 according to all that the LORD H3068 commanded H6680 Moses: H4872 so they pitched H2583 by their standards, H1714 and so they set forward, H5265 every one H376 after their families, H4940 according to the house H1004 of their fathers. H1
What thing H1697 soever I command H6680 you, observe H8104 to do H6213 it: thou shalt not add H3254 thereto, nor diminish H1639 from it.
And Samuel H8050 said, H559 Hath the LORD H3068 as great delight H2656 in burnt offerings H5930 and sacrifices, H2077 as in obeying H8085 the voice H6963 of the LORD? H3068 Behold, to obey H8085 is better H2896 than sacrifice, H2077 and to hearken H7181 than the fat H2459 of rams. H352
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Numbers 1
Commentary on Numbers 1 Matthew Henry Commentary
An Exposition, With Practical Observations, of
The Fourth Book of Moses, Called Numbers
Chapter 1
Israel was now to be formed into a commonwealth, or rather a kingdom; for "the Lord was their King' (1 Sa. 12:12), their government a theocracy, and Moses under him was king in Jeshurun, Deu. 33:5. Now, for the right settlement of this holy state, next to the institution of good laws was necessary the institution of good order; and account therefore must be taken of the subjects of this kingdom, which is done in this chapter, where we have,
Num 1:1-16
Num 1:17-43
We have here the speedy execution of the orders given for the numbering of the people. It was begun the same day that the orders were given, The first day of the second month; compare v. 18 with v. 1. Note, When any work is to be done for God it is good to set about it quickly, while the sense of duty is strong and pressing. And, for aught that appears, it was but one day's work, for many other things were done between this and the twentieth day of this month, when they removed their camp, ch. 10:11. Joab was almost ten months numbering the people in David's time (2 Sa. 24:8); but then they were dispersed, now they lived closely together; then Satan proposed the doing of it, now God commanded it. It was the sooner and more easily done now because it had been done but a little while ago, and they needed but review the old books, with the alterations since made, which probably they had kept an account of as they occurred.
In the particulars here left upon record, we may observe,
Num 1:44-46
We have here the sum total at the foot of the account; they were in all 600,000 fighting men, and 3550 over. Some think that when this was their number some months before (Ex. 38:26) the Levites were reckoned with them, but now that tribe was separated for the service of God, yet so many more had by this time attained to the age of twenty years as that still they were the same number, to show that whatever we part with for the honour and service of God it shall certainly be made up to us one way of other. Now we see what a vast body of men they were. Let us consider,
Num 1:47-54
Care is here taken to distinguish from the rest of the tribes the tribe of Levi, which, in the matter of the golden calf, had distinguished itself, Ex. 32:26. Note, Singular services shall be recompensed with singular honours. Now,