Bible Strands
Numbers 1:16
These men were appointed from the congregation; they were the leaders of the tribes of their fathers, the heads of the clans of Israel.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records the designated representatives of Israel’s tribes immediately after listing individual tribal names and before Moses and Aaron formally take these men. The words — קְרוּאֵי (ke.ri.'ei) denotes those formally called or appointed, while נְשִׂיאֵי (ne.si.'ei) identifies them as tribal leaders or chiefs. The thread — This designation pattern recurs in Exodus 18:21-25 where capable men are selected as heads over thousands and hundreds, and in Numbers 7:2 where these same tribal heads present offerings. Why it lands — The text establishes that Israel’s governance rests on named, congregation-appointed officials rather than informal assembly, requiring readers to recognize structured authority as the foundation for communal action.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.
Cross-references
- Exodus 18:21 Furthermore, select capable men from among the people—God-fearing, trustworthy men who are averse to dishonest gain. Appoint them over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
- Exodus 18:25 So Moses chose capable men from all Israel and made them heads over the people as leaders of thousands, of hundreds, of fifties, and of tens.
- Numbers 7:2 And the leaders of Israel, the heads of their families, presented an offering. These men were the tribal leaders who had supervised the registration.
- Numbers 26:9 and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. It was Dathan and Abiram, chosen by the congregation, who rebelled against Moses and Aaron with the followers of Korah who rebelled against the LORD.
- Numbers 1:4 And one man from each tribe, the head of each family, must be there with you.
- Numbers 16:2 a rebellion against Moses, along with 250 men of Israel renowned as leaders of the congregation and representatives in the assembly.
- 1 Chronicles 27:16 These officers were in charge of the tribes of Israel: Over the Reubenites was Eliezer son of Zichri; over the Simeonites was Shephatiah son of Maacah;
- Numbers 2:3 On the east side, toward the sunrise, the divisions of Judah are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Judahites is Nahshon son of Amminadab,
- Numbers 7:10 When the altar was anointed, the leaders approached with their offerings for its dedication and presented them before the altar.
- Numbers 10:14 First, the divisions of the camp of Judah set out under their standard, with Nahshon son of Amminadab in command.