Numbers 1:32 - Of the children of Joseph, of the children of Ephraim, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;

Generated Verse: Numbers 1:32

What does "Numbers 1:32" mean?


This verse, Numbers 1:32, is part of a census being taken of the Israelites in the wilderness. Let's break down the meaning:

"Of the children of Joseph, of the children of Ephraim...": This verse focuses specifically on the tribe of Ephraim, one of the two tribes descended from Joseph (the other being Manasseh). The listing is segmented by familial lineage.
"...their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses...": This indicates the census was meticulously recorded based on lineage. It shows they were counting people according to their ancestry. "Families" here refers to extended family groups, and "fathers' houses" represents the smallest unit within those families, usually a household led by the patriarch.
"...according to the number of the names...": This simply means that the people were being counted individually by name.
"...from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war...": This is the key criteria for inclusion in this particular part of the census. The count was specifically targeting men aged 20 and older who were fit for military service. The purpose was to determine the size of the Israelite army.

In summary:

The verse describes a systematic recording of the men from the tribe of Ephraim, aged 20 or older and capable of serving in the army. The recording was done by family and lineage to ensure an accurate count of potential soldiers. The overall purpose of this census, as described in the broader context of Numbers 1, was to assess the military strength of the Israelite nation as they prepared to enter the Promised Land.

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