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Numbers 1:5-15

King James Version (KJV)

“In our prayers we talk to God, in our Bible study God talks to us, and we had better let God do most of the talking.”
— D.L. Moody

Scripture focus

5. And these [are] the names of the men that shall stand with you: of [the tribe of] Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur. 6. Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. 7. Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab. 8. Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar. 9. Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon. 10. Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. 11. Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni. 12. Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. 13. Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran. 14. Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel. 15. Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.

Numbers 1:5-15 — KJV

Commentary

Commentary on Numbers 1:5

Theological / Devotional

The names. Verses 5-15 contain a list of 12 chief men, whose names recur in chs. 2, 7, and 10. Most of the names have meanings, as Elizur, “God is a rock.” Several of the names appear in the NT, some in slightly different forms. Eight of these men had names that are compounds of ’El, a title of God, but only one of their fathers’ names (Deuel in v. 14) has ’El in it. This sudden increase in ’El- names suggests an increased interest in the God of their forefathers as the leaders of the Israelites looked forward to the deliverance promised by God (’Elohim) to Joseph (Gen. 50:24, 25).

By SdaBc