Numbers 1:42 - Of the children of Naphtali, 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;
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What does "Numbers 1:42" mean?
This verse, Numbers 1:42, is part of a census taken in the Book of Numbers, specifically for the purpose of military organization. Let's break down what each part of the verse means:
"Of the children of Naphtali..." This indicates that the following information pertains specifically to the tribe of Naphtali, one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
"...their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses..." This highlights the meticulous organization of the census. They are counting people according to their lineage:
Generations: Referring to the overall descendants.
Families: Smaller units within the tribe.
Fathers' houses: The smallest unit, likely a household or clan descended from a specific male ancestor. This emphasizes the patriarchal structure of the society.
"...according to the number of the names..." This means they were counting individuals, taking a specific count of each person.
"...from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;" This is the crucial point. The census isn't just a general population count. It's focused on identifying and counting all men aged 20 and older who are fit for military service. This age was considered the age of military readiness. "Able to go out to war" implies physical fitness and capability to bear arms.
In summary:
The verse is stating that a count was taken of all men in the tribe of Naphtali, age 20 and older, who were fit for military service. This was done by carefully organizing the count according to their family lineage and recording individual names. The purpose was to determine the tribe's strength in terms of potential soldiers for the Israelite army. This census served as a way to organize the tribes for military and administrative purposes, indicating the importance of military strength in the early history of Israel.
Numbers 1:42 - Of the children of Naphtali, 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;
What does "Numbers 1:42" mean?
This verse, Numbers 1:42, is part of a census taken in the Book of Numbers, specifically for the purpose of military organization. Let's break down what each part of the verse means:
"Of the children of Naphtali..." This indicates that the following information pertains specifically to the tribe of Naphtali, one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
"...their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses..." This highlights the meticulous organization of the census. They are counting people according to their lineage:
Generations: Referring to the overall descendants.
Families: Smaller units within the tribe.
Fathers' houses: The smallest unit, likely a household or clan descended from a specific male ancestor. This emphasizes the patriarchal structure of the society.
"...according to the number of the names..." This means they were counting individuals, taking a specific count of each person.
"...from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;" This is the crucial point. The census isn't just a general population count. It's focused on identifying and counting all men aged 20 and older who are fit for military service. This age was considered the age of military readiness. "Able to go out to war" implies physical fitness and capability to bear arms.
In summary:
The verse is stating that a count was taken of all men in the tribe of Naphtali, age 20 and older, who were fit for military service. This was done by carefully organizing the count according to their family lineage and recording individual names. The purpose was to determine the tribe's strength in terms of potential soldiers for the Israelite army. This census served as a way to organize the tribes for military and administrative purposes, indicating the importance of military strength in the early history of Israel.