Bible Strands

Numbers 1:24

From the sons of Gad, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Moses and Aaron conduct a military census of Israel at Sinai, recording the registration of each tribe’s fighting men. The verse specifically addresses the sons of Gad, noting their registration according to clan and family records.

The words — תּוֹלְדֹתָם (tol.do.Ta/m) means "their genealogies" or "records," establishing the administrative basis for the count. בְּ/מִסְפַּר (be./mis.Par) translates to "by the number," indicating a precise, itemized tally of names.

The thread — The clan structure of Gad reappears in Numbers 26:15 during the second wilderness census and traces back to Leah’s servant Zilpah in Genesis 30:10 and Genesis 46:16. These references show the continuity of Gad’s family lines across generations.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition of God’s ordered preparation of a people for covenant service through systematic documentation. It requires the reader to see military readiness as rooted in genealogical accountability and divine instruction.

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

לִבְנֵ֣יli/v.Neiof/ [the] descendants ofגָ֔דGadGadתּוֹלְדֹתָ֥םtol.do.Ta/mgenealogies/ theirלְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖םle./mish.pe.cho.Ta/mto/ clans/ theirלְבֵ֣יתle./Veitto/ [the] house ofאֲבֹתָ֑ם'a.vo.Ta/mancestors/ theirבְּמִסְפַּ֣רbe./mis.Parby/ [the] number ofשֵׁמ֗וֹתshe.Motnamesמִבֶּ֨ןmi./Benfrom/ a son ofעֶשְׂרִ֤ים'es.Rimtwentyשָׁנָה֙sha.Nahyear[s]וָמַ֔עְלָהva./Ma'.la/hand/ up/ -wardsכֹּ֖לkoleveryיֹצֵ֥אyo.Tze'[one who] goes forthצָבָֽא׃tza.Va'warfare

King James Version

Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

Cross-references