This verse is part of a larger census being conducted in the Book of Numbers, specifically chapter 1. Let's break down the meaning:
"Of the children of Issachar, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses..." This identifies the group being counted: descendants of the tribe of Issachar. It specifies that they are being organized and counted by their ancestral lines (generations), within their immediate family groups (families), and further broken down by their paternal lineage (father's houses).
"...according to the number of the names..." This indicates that the census is a head count of individuals. Each person is being recorded by name.
"...from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;" This is the crucial detail. Only men aged 20 and older are being counted, and the defining characteristic is their fitness for military service. They are being counted because they are potential soldiers. The phrase "able to go out to war" means they are physically capable of fighting.
In summary, the verse means:
The verse describes a portion of a military census conducted among the tribe of Issachar. They are counting all men from the tribe of Issachar, aged 20 and older, who are fit for military service, organizing them by their families and paternal lineage, and recording their names for the purpose of assessing the tribe's fighting strength.
This verse is part of a larger census being conducted in the Book of Numbers, specifically chapter 1. Let's break down the meaning:
"Of the children of Issachar, their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses..." This identifies the group being counted: descendants of the tribe of Issachar. It specifies that they are being organized and counted by their ancestral lines (generations), within their immediate family groups (families), and further broken down by their paternal lineage (father's houses).
"...according to the number of the names..." This indicates that the census is a head count of individuals. Each person is being recorded by name.
"...from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;" This is the crucial detail. Only men aged 20 and older are being counted, and the defining characteristic is their fitness for military service. They are being counted because they are potential soldiers. The phrase "able to go out to war" means they are physically capable of fighting.
In summary, the verse means:
The verse describes a portion of a military census conducted among the tribe of Issachar. They are counting all men from the tribe of Issachar, aged 20 and older, who are fit for military service, organizing them by their families and paternal lineage, and recording their names for the purpose of assessing the tribe's fighting strength.