Numbers 2:9

The total number of men in the divisions of the camp of Judah is 186,400; they shall set out first.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — God gives Moses a directive for the camp arrangement and departure sequence of the tribes. The text records that the counted men of Judah's division number 186,400 and must march first.

The words — The term הַפְּקֻדִים (ha-p’qudîm) means "those enrolled," identifying the registered military force, and מְאַת אֶלֶף וּשְׁמֹנִים אֶלֶף (me'at 'elef ushmônîm 'elef) literally renders "one hundred thousand and eighty thousand."

The thread — This marching order is reiterated in Numbers 10:14, where Judah's divisions set out first under their standard with Nahshon commanding.

Why it lands — The verse establishes a fixed departure sequence before any theological implication is drawn, requiring the reader to acknowledge that communal movement follows a commanded order rather than human preference.

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

כָּֽל־kal-all הַפְּקֻדִ֞יםha./pe.ku.Dimthose/ enrolled לְמַחֲנֵ֣הle./ma.cha.Nehof/ [the] camp of יְהוּדָ֗הye.hu.DahJudah מְאַ֨תme.'At[were] one hundred אֶ֜לֶף'E.lefthousand וּשְׁמֹנִ֥יםu./she.mo.Nimand/ eighty אֶ֛לֶף'E.lefthousand וְשֵֽׁשֶׁת־ve./she.shet-and/ six אֲלָפִ֥ים'a.la.Fimthousand<s>וְאַרְבַּע־ve./'ar.ba'-and/ four מֵא֖וֹתme.'othundred<s>לְצִבְאֹתָ֑םle./tziv.'o.Ta/mto/ military groups/ their רִאשֹׁנָ֖הri.sho.Nahfirst יִסָּֽעוּ׃ סyi.Sa.'uthey will set out

King James Version

All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.

Cross-references

Numbers 10:14 First, the divisions of the camp of Judah set out under their standard, with Nahshon son of Amminadab in command.