And with them, by their generations, after the house of their fathers, were bands of soldiers for war, six and thirty thousand men: for they had many wives and sons.
Along with them, organized by their family lines and generations, were groups of soldiers ready for war—36,000 men in total. They had so many fighting men because they had many wives and sons.
This verse is explaining that one of Israel's tribes had 36,000 soldiers available for battle because their families were large with many wives and children.
📚 Historical Context
This passage is part of the genealogical records in 1 Chronicles, specifically describing the tribe of Issachar's military strength. In ancient Israel, having multiple wives was culturally acceptable and often seen as a sign of prosperity and God's blessing, as larger families meant more workers, defenders, and continuation of the family line. Military organization was typically based on tribal and family structures.
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