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I. THE AUTHORITY FOR THIS NUMBERING. Leaders of men should be well assured of two things in the movements which they inaugurate —

1. That they have the Divine approval of their undertakings. The movement which is approved by God, and well prosecuted, shall advance to splendid triumph.

2. That they are actuated by worthy motives in their undertakings. A sinful, selfish motive will vitiate our enterprises and mar our works. "The Lord looketh at the heart." Let us scrutinise our motives.

II. THE PLACE OF THIS NUMBERING. "In the wilderness of Sinai."

1. In a desert.

(1)  Privation.

(2)  Peril.

(3)  Perplexity.

2. In a desert where the tabernacle of God was.

III. THE TIME OF THIS NUMBERING. Exactly one month after the setting up of the tabernacle (Exodus 40:2, 17) and about eleven months from the time of their arrival in the desert of Sinai. The people abode in this desert nearly a whole year (comp. Exodus 19:1 with Numbers 1:1 and Numbers 10:11). What was the reason of this protracted halt? That they might be instructed in their relations to God and to each other; that they might learn lessons of duty and worship; that they might be taught to reverence and obey God. There are times and circumstances in which standing still is the speediest advance.

IV. THE MANNER OF THIS NUMBERING. They were to take account of —

1. Only the males.

2. Only the males above twenty years old.

3. Only the males above twenty years old who were in vigorous health — "able to go forth to war."

4. They were to be numbered "after their families," that it might be known of what tribe and of what particular house every able man was.

5. The numbering was to be individual, and by name.The census was minute.

(1)  The Lord chooses fit instruments for the accomplishment of His purposes.

(2)  The Lord is perfectly acquainted with every one who is fitted for His work.

V. THE DESIGN OF THIS NUMBERING.

1. The organisation of the army.

2. To manifest the Divine faithfulness.

3. To show the Divine power.

4. To the promotion of order.

5. To exhibit, on the coming of the Messiah, the correspondence of the event with the predictions concerning it.

6. To illustrate the care of God for His people generally and particularly. The Lord's care over His people is most minute and constant and tender.

(W. Jones.)

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KJV: Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls;

WEB: "Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, every male, one by one;