Numbers 1:40

Verse

From the sons of Asher, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

American Standard Version (1901)

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

Bible in Basic English

The generations of the sons of Asher were numbered by their families and their fathers' houses, every male of twenty years old and over who was able to go to war;

Free Bible Version

The descendants of Asher, men aged twenty or older, were recorded by name according to the genealogical records of their tribe and families. All those registered who could serve in the army

King James (Authorized) Version

¶ Of the children of Asher, 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;

One Unity Resource Bible

Of the children of Asher [Happy], 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;

Unlocked Literal Bible

From the descendants of Asher were counted all the names of each and every man twenty years old or older able to go to war, from the records of their ancestor's clans and families.

Noah Webster Bible

Of the children of Asher, 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;

World English Bible

Of the children of Asher, 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:

Young's Literal Translation

Of the sons of Asher — their births, by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names, from a son of twenty years and upward, every one going out to the host —

Context

The Number of Every Tribe

³⁹those registered to the tribe of Dan numbered 62,700.⁴⁰From the sons of Asher, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,⁴¹those registered to the tribe of Asher numbered 41,500.

Summary

In Numbers 1:40, the Lord commands Moses to count all the firstborn males of the Israelites who are one month old and older. This census is significant because it establishes the Levites as a substitute for the firstborn males in the service of the tabernacle. This act symbolizes the consecration of the Levites to the Lord and highlights God's faithfulness in providing a way for the Israelites to fulfill their obligations without risking the lives of their firstborn sons. It also foreshadows the role of the Levites in the worship and maintenance of the tabernacle throughout the Israelites' journey in the wilderness.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

Of the children of Asher, by their generations,.... See Gill on Num 1:20. . Numbers 1:41 num 1:41 num 1:41 num 1:41Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred. 41,500 men. See Gill on Num 1:20.