This verse from Numbers 1:36 is part of a census taken of the Israelite people shortly after their exodus from Egypt. Let's break down what it means:
"Of the children of Benjamin..." This indicates that the verse is specifically referring to the tribe of Benjamin, one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
"...their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses..." This highlights the organized and structured way the census was conducted. People were counted based on their lineage, tracing their ancestry back through their families and to the "fathers' houses" (clans or extended family groups). This established a clear family and tribal identity.
"...according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward..." This is the core of the census. Every male in the tribe of Benjamin who was twenty years old or older was counted individually by name.
"...all who were able to go out to war;" This clarifies the purpose of the census: to determine the number of men in the tribe who were fit for military service. Twenty years old was generally considered the age when a man was considered an adult and capable of fighting.
In summary, the verse means that a count was taken of all men in the tribe of Benjamin, aged twenty years or older, who were physically capable of serving in the army. The count was organized by families and clans to provide a clear record of the tribe's military strength.
The purpose of this census was likely twofold:
1. Military Strength: To assess the potential fighting force of the Israelite tribes in preparation for entering and conquering the land of Canaan.
2. Resource Allocation: To determine how resources (land, provisions, etc.) should be distributed among the tribes based on their population size.
This verse from Numbers 1:36 is part of a census taken of the Israelite people shortly after their exodus from Egypt. Let's break down what it means:
"Of the children of Benjamin..." This indicates that the verse is specifically referring to the tribe of Benjamin, one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
"...their generations, by their families, by their fathers' houses..." This highlights the organized and structured way the census was conducted. People were counted based on their lineage, tracing their ancestry back through their families and to the "fathers' houses" (clans or extended family groups). This established a clear family and tribal identity.
"...according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward..." This is the core of the census. Every male in the tribe of Benjamin who was twenty years old or older was counted individually by name.
"...all who were able to go out to war;" This clarifies the purpose of the census: to determine the number of men in the tribe who were fit for military service. Twenty years old was generally considered the age when a man was considered an adult and capable of fighting.
In summary, the verse means that a count was taken of all men in the tribe of Benjamin, aged twenty years or older, who were physically capable of serving in the army. The count was organized by families and clans to provide a clear record of the tribe's military strength.
The purpose of this census was likely twofold:
1. Military Strength: To assess the potential fighting force of the Israelite tribes in preparation for entering and conquering the land of Canaan.
2. Resource Allocation: To determine how resources (land, provisions, etc.) should be distributed among the tribes based on their population size.