Numbers 2:32

32 This the numbering of the children of Israel according to the houses of their families: all the numbering of the camps with their forces, six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty.

Numbers 2:32 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 2:32

These [are] those that were numbered of the children of
Israel by the house of their fathers
As the number was taken by Moses and Aaron, assisted by twelve princes of the tribe, who were now constituted captains over them, as so many hosts or armies:

all those that were numbered of the camp throughout their hosts:
of the four camps, of Judah, Reuben, Ephraim, and Dan, throughout the respective tribes or hosts that belonged to each of them,

[were] six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and
fifty;
603,550 men, which is exactly the sum total of them, as taken ( Numbers 1:46 ) . It is a large number, considering in how short a time, and that great part of it a state of bondage, from seventy persons, they rose unto it; but the spiritual Israel of God, consisting of his people of all nations, is a number which no man can number, ( Revelation 7:9 ) ; besides, the number of the sealed ones, of every tribe, ( Numbers 2:4-8 ) ; Now this encampment of the people of Israel was an emblem of the form and order of the spiritual Israel or church of God, under the Gospel dispensation. Christ in human nature is the tabernacle, who is in the midst of his people by his gracious presence; as the heart and life of the congregation of his saints, in whom they all centre and terminate, and where he sits enthroned as King of saints; and as the Levites encamped in four squadrons next unto the tabernacle, all around it, to these answer the living creatures in ( Ezekiel 1:5 ) ( Revelation 4:6 ) ; which design the ministers of the word, who are in the highest place in the church, between Christ and the congregation, and are near to him, to be supplied by him; then encamped the whole body of the people of Israel by their standards, with their ensigns, to whom answer the wheels in ( Ezekiel 1:15 ) ( 10:9 ) ; and the twenty four elders in ( Revelation 4:4 ) ; all which show the church to be militant, and that there is an order in Gospel churches, which makes them both comely and terrible, ( Song of Solomon 6:4 ) ( Colossians 1:5 ) ; and may teach every member to abide by his standard, and follow his ensign and ensign bearer, ( Isaiah 11:10 ) ( Revelation 14:4 ) ( 1 Corinthians 11:1 ) .

Numbers 2:32 In-Context

30 His forces that were numbered were fifty-three thousand and four hundred.

31 All that were numbered of the camp of Dan, a hundred and fifty-seven thousand and six hundred: they shall set out last according to their order.

32 This the numbering of the children of Israel according to the houses of their families: all the numbering of the camps with their forces, six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty.

33 But the Levites were not numbered with them, as the Lord commanded Moses.

34 And the children of Israel did all things that the Lord commanded Moses; thus they encamped in their order, and thus they began their march in succession each according to their divisions, according to the houses of their families.