Leviticus 1

Notes on the verses

Chap. I. Ver. 1—54. The tribes numbered, Levi excepted.—The mere enumeration of names and numbers, however interesting to the Jews themselves, can afford but little interest or instruction to us as Christians; there are, however, a few circumstances herewith connected that may be remarked. 1. Long and often had it been foretold, that Abraham’s seed should be multiplied like the stars of heaven, or the sands on the sea shore, and here we see the fulfilment of the promise.

Chap. I. Ver. 1. First day.—[As the tabernacle was erected on the first day of the first month in the second year of their departure from Egypt, (Exodus 40:17) and this happened on the first day of the second month, in the same year, it is evident, that the transactions related in the preceding book must all have taken place in the space of one month, and during the time the Israelites were encamped at mount Sinai.]—Bagster.

Ver. 2. Take ye the sum.—[This numbering was probably intended to illustrate the Divine faithfulness in thus increasing the seed of Abraham; to prepare them to preserve due order in their march; and to distinguish the tribes and families.]—Bagster.

Ver. 14. Deuel.—“Reuel,” says the margin, for so the name is spelt, (Leviticus 7:42, 47); x. 20. The fact is, the R and D in Hebrew, are as similar as the small Roman c and e, and often hardly to be distinguished.

Ver. 18. Twenty years, &c.—[In this census no women were reckoned, nor children nor minors, nor strangers, nor Levites, nor old men: which, collectively, must have formed an immense multitude; the Levites alone amounted to 22,300 men.]

It comprehends the history of between thirty-eight years; containing an account of the enumeration of the people, their formation into a regular camp; the census of the Levites, and their separation for the service of the tabernacle; the purification of the camp; the law of the Nazarites and form of blessing the people; the offerings of the princes; the consecration of the Levites; the celebration of the passover; regulations for fixing and removing the camp; the journey of the Israelites through the wilderness to the land of Moab; the transactions in the plains of Moab.]—Bagster.

A. M. 2514. B. C. 1490.

…son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

21 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.

22 Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war:

23 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.

24 Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

25 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.

26 Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

27 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

28 Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

29 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.

30 Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

31 Those that were numbered of them, even…

Jacob went down into Egypt with only seventy souls, and in four generations, come up with 600,000 men. When this was promised as a miraculous increase, it is in vain to look for examples in the ordinary course of nature, or to cavil at its impracticability, when the power of God is pledged to effect it.

2. The rapid increase of Abraham’s seed is continued in the wilderness. From comparing the totals here and in (Leviticus 26:37), it should seem that the increase was 3550 in one year: but collectively, must have formed an immense multitude; the Levites alone amounted to 22,300 men.]—Bagster.

Ver. 21. Tribe of Reuben, &c.—[By the table in the margin we find Judah the most populous tribe, and Manasseh the least; the difference between them being so great as 42,000. Jacob had given Judah the pre-eminence in his prophetic blessing; and that tribe was to have the precedency in the encampments of Israel; accordingly God had increased them more than any of their brethren. Ephraim and Manasseh, according to the same prophecy, were numbered as distinct tribes, Ephraim having the superiority as it was foretold: and Joseph, indeed, appears “a fruitful bough.”]—Bagster.

Ver. 21. Children of Gad.—[The tribe of Gad marched, along with that of Simeon, under the standard of Reuben, and it seems, on that account, to have been introduced in this order. The other tribes also, are here classed together according to their encampments, and the order of their subsequent march.]—Bagster.