And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.
God's order to number Israel came with careful limits: males of war age only, family by family, so each man knew his place and the government knew where to find him. When David numbered the people without commission long after, he paid dearly for it. The church is militant, and only those enlisted as soldiers of Jesus Christ are true members.
AI summary
Commenting on Numbers 1:1-16
And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you,.... Be present with Moses and Aaron when numbering the people; not merely as spectators of the affair, and inspectors of the accounts, but as assistants in the work; each man in his tribe, being best acquainted with the families and houses in it; and these men were not pitched upon by Moses...
these are the names of the men that shall stand with you, &c.--Each is designated by adding the name of the ancestors of his tribe, the people of which were called "Beni-Reuben," "Beni-Levi," sons of Reuben, sons of Levi, according to the custom of the Arabs still, as well as other nations which are divided into clans, as the Macs of Scotland, the Aps of...