Numbers 1

“And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of…” Naming Egypt and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their…” Naming Israel and Take keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.” Naming Shelumiel and Simeon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.” Naming Amminadab and Judah keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar.” Naming Issachar and Nethaneel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon.” Naming Eliab and Helon keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.” Naming Ammihud and Elishama keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni.” Naming Abidan and Benjamin keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.” Naming Ahiezer and Ammishaddai keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran.” Naming Asher and Ocran keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.” Naming Deuel and Eliasaph keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.” Naming Ahira and Enan keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.” Naming Israel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names:” Naming Aaron and Moses keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the children of Reuben, Israel’s eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.” The number fifty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.” The number thousand makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.” The number fifty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.” The number fifty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.” The number forty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers…” The number twenty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.” The number fifty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each…” The number twelve makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old…” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.” The number six makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.” Naming Levites keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying,” This line supplies a reason, result, or conclusion. It should stay attached to the claim or action that gives it meaning.

“Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:” Naming Israel and Levi keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.