And the children of Reuben, Israel’s eldest 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;
The descendants of Reuben, Israel's oldest son, were counted by their family groups and ancestral houses. They recorded the names of every male who was twenty years old and older, all who were able to serve in battle.
This verse describes the beginning of counting all the fighting-age men from the tribe of Reuben, Israel's firstborn son.
📚 Historical Context
The Book of Numbers records the Israelites' experiences in the wilderness after receiving the Law at Mount Sinai, as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. In this specific verse, Moses is conducting a census of the men from the tribe of Reuben, Jacob's firstborn son, who were at least 20 years old and capable of military service. This census was part of a larger effort to organize the tribes for warfare and the challenges of their journey.
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