Bible Strands

Numbers 1:42

From the sons of Naphtali, 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 — The verse records the administrative census of the tribe of Naphtali immediately following Asher and preceding the final tally of Naphtali's total. This moment occurs during the initial military enrollment at Sinai, documented by Moses and the tribal leaders.

The words — The phrase בְּנֵי נַפְתָּלִי (benei Naphtali) literally denotes "sons of Naphtali," marking the specific lineage under registration. The terms תּוֹלְדֹתָם (tol'dotam) and מִשְׁפְּחֹתָם (mishpe'hotam) indicate that the enumeration depended on ancestral genealogies and clan subdivisions.

The thread — This tribal line originates in Genesis 30:7 through Bilhah, lists Naphtali's direct sons in Genesis 46:24, and receives Jacob's oracle in Genesis 49:21. The census structure mirrors the patriarchal family records that precede it.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition of how divine order operates through documented lineage and precise accounting. A reader must note that military readiness here is tied to verified family records rather than arbitrary selection.

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

בְּנֵ֣יbe.Nei[the] descendants ofנַפְתָּלִ֔יnaf.ta.LiNaphtaliתּוֹלְדֹתָ֥םtol.do.Ta/mgenealogies/ theirלְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֖םle./mish.pe.cho.Ta/mto/ clans/ theirלְבֵ֣יתle./Veitto/ [the] house ofאֲבֹתָ֑ם'a.vo.Ta/mancestors/ theirבְּמִסְפַּ֣רbe./mis.Parby/ [the] number ofשֵׁמֹ֗תshe.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 Naphtali, throughout 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