Commentaria in Numeros
Note: The people were numbered three times in the desert. First, in Sinai before the making of the tabernacle, for the contribution toward making it, Exodus 38:25. Secondly, a few months after, namely after the tabernacle was made and set up, and that for a reason to be stated presently. This second census is treated in this chapter. Hence the total of the people here is the same as in the former census, Exodus 38:25. For although between the two censuses twenty-three thousand had been cut off for the adoration of the golden calf, yet as many others in the meantime took their places, who in those few months had completed their twentieth year. Thirdly, after many years Israel was numbered, not in Sinai but in the plains of Moab, and that for the distribution to them of the promised land, which they were just about to enter; of which below, chapter 26.
Why was the census of the people repeated here after a few months? I answer: This was done, first, for the ordering of the camp of the Hebrews, which was soon to be moved from Sinai, and for drawing up the battle-line of the warriors better and in good order. Secondly, that the census and number of the multitude of each tribe might be certainly and exactly known, so that the arrangement and distribution of all the tribes in the camp round the newly erected tabernacle might be orderly and fitting.
Note secondly: In this numbering each one numbered paid half a shekel. For so the Lord had commanded, Exodus 30:12.
Note thirdly: No proselytes, no Egyptians or men sprung from other nations, of whom there was a great multitude among the Hebrews, as is plain from Exodus 12:38, are numbered here; but only, and all, the male Israelites (the Levites excepted) who had completed their twentieth year. Why boys and women are not numbered in the divine reckonings: because by reason of weaker age or sex they are unfit for war, they are not fit, says Origen, homily 4; where he also assigns this tropological reason for it: “So long,” he says, “as any one of us has in him a boyish or slippery sense, or womanish and slack sloth, or bears Egyptian and barbarous manners, we do not deserve to be reckoned in the holy and consecrated number before God. For those are said by Solomon to be without number who perish, but all those who are saved are numbered”—namely those who fight against the enemy, strive and conquer. Hence Christ says to his own: “The very hairs of your head are all numbered”; and the Psalmist: “Who tells the number of the stars, and calls them all by their names.”
the age of warriors begins, and from there it extends to the sixtieth year, and further still; for all and only those are numbered here who were able to go forth to war, as is plain in the enumeration of the several tribes. Hence the plainly decrepit, for example octogenarians, were not counted here, although Abulensis would have it so.
OF ALL THE MEN THAT ARE ABLE TO GO FORTH TO WAR.—From this it is plain that all the Hebrew Israelites, by a wonderful providence of God in the desert, were strong, none weak, none sick; for all were numbered, and all who were numbered were strong, as is said here; and this is what the Psalmist sings: “There was no infirm person in their tribes.”
Verse 4. AND THERE SHALL BE WITH YOU THE PRINCES OF THE TRIBES.—The prince of a tribe was the firstborn who descended directly from the head of the tribe itself, or the patriarch, for example from Juda, by the line of firstborn sons; in like manner the princes of families, of whom in chapter 26, were the firstborn of that family. So also now in some kingdoms, especially in Scotland, Ireland and England, the princes of families are the firstborn and those who descend first from them, and to them as leaders the whole family adheres inseparably in civil affairs, in wars, and even in avenging injuries.
For in a camp almost the whole strength of war lies in the leader and prince. Hence an army of stags with a lion for leader is better and more formidable than an army of lions with a stag for leader. Brasidas in Thucydides “required three things in a good soldier: to will, to fear, to obey”; so “in a leader three things are required: wisdom, courage, vigilance.” Hence Charles V said that in camp he wished for an Italian leader; for the Italians are vigilant, shrewd and spirited. Such are often, or are presumed to be, the firstborn; therefore they are chosen here as leaders.
Except here the princes of the Levites: for these were not always the firstborn, but were appointed at pleasure; this is gathered from the fact that Elisaphan, prince of the Caathites, had for father Oziel, the youngest of the sons of Caath, son of Levi, as is plain from chapter …
… they represented the twelve Apostles and apostolic men, who led out all Israel, that is all the Gentiles, from Egypt, that is from the straits of sin, delivered them from Pharaoh, that is the devil, and brought them into Canaan, that is heaven. So Thomas led the Indians, Andrew the Greeks, John the Asians, Thaddeus the Mesopotamians, the Canaanean the Egyptians, Bartholomew the Armenians: let these be spurs to us. Let priests hear, let theologians hear, let pastors and prelates hear, let religious hear: “Twelve men,” he says, namely the Apostles, “leavened almost the whole lump of the world; consider in your mind how great is our wickedness and sloth, who, being now innumerable, cannot convert these remnants of the nations, we who ought to satisfy a thousand worlds.”
Look down upon us from on high, Lord Jesus, send upon us the fire which you came to send on the earth, and willed so earnestly to be kindled. You sent this fire upon Xavier, that he might lead the Indians and the Japanese; upon Gaspar Barzaeus, that he might lead the people of Ormuz; upon Andrew Oviedo, that he might lead the …; upon Joseph Anchieta, that he might lead the Brazilians: send the same upon us.
O Society of Jesus (for a son may be allowed to address the sweetest mother to whom he owes all that he has), you who labour to spread the kingdom of Jesus over the whole world, who received the apostolic spirit of Jesus from a Leo, who range over lands and seas as far as the Chinese and the Indians, who count yourself a citizen of the world, who bravely undergo for Jesus hunger, thirst, heat, cold, shipwrecks, persecutions, deaths, martyrdoms; who with the golden wings of charity embrace barbarous, poor and wretched nations; who deliver countless thousands of souls rushing into hell and carry them over into heaven: take courage, go on where you go, do bravely what you do, spare not your sweat, your blood, your life: “Proceed prosperously, and reign.” There will be fruit for your labour; there will be a reward for your work, and an exceeding great reward, when after you you lead flocks of souls to be saved, who for all eternity before God and the angels will owe their salvation to you.
Glory goes by a steep and difficult road.
that is, the forty-two [thousand]… the sons of Jacob are here reckoned in the order of birth. That is, first the sons of Jacob’s first wife, Lia, are numbered: first Ruben; second Simeon; third Juda; fourth Issachar; fifth Zabulon; then those of Rachel, namely sixth Ephraim, seventh Manasses, eighth Benjamin; third, those of the handmaids, namely ninth Dan, tenth Aser, eleventh Gad, twelfth Nephthali. Here note that the order is confused in the case of Nephthali; for Nephthali, like Dan, was the son of Bala, and consequently should have been placed before Aser and Gad, the son of Zelpha; for Jacob’s third wife was Bala, whom Rachel, being barren, substituted for herself; and Jacob’s fourth wife was Zelpha, whom Lia gave to Jacob when she ceased to bear.
The order of these tribes is different a little further on, verse 20 and following, where the numbering of heads is taken in the several tribes; for there the order of encampment is described, which each tribe had round the tabernacle. Hence there the first are Ruben, Simeon and Gad, who pitched their camp on the south of the tabernacle; the second are Juda, Issachar and Zabulon, who were on the east of the tabernacle; the third are the sons of Rachel, namely Ephraim, Manasses and Benjamin, who were on the west of the tabernacle; the fourth are Dan, Aser and Nephthali, who were on the north of the tabernacle; of which more in the following chapter.
Verse 10. AND OF THE SONS OF JOSEPH: OF EPHRAIM.—Note: The tribe of Joseph was divided by their father Jacob into two, namely Ephraim and Manasses, who were the two sons of Joseph, adopted by their grandfather Jacob, as I said on Genesis 48:5.