“And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,”
In that place of the wilderness that was near to mount Sinai. So called because of the diversity and multitude of numberings which are here chiefly contained, both of men’s names and places. Which contained part of April, and part of May.
“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;”
Cross references: : Exod. 30:12 Hebrew, by their heads .
“And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.”
That is, the chiefest man of every tribe.
“And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.”
And assist you when ye number the people.
“And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.”
In showing every man his tribe, and his ancestors.
“And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;”
These are the names of the twelve tribes, as first of Reuben. Or, as were able to bear weapons.
“But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.”
Which were warriors, but were appointed to the use of the Tabernacle.
“And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.”
Whosoever is not of the tribe of Levi.
“But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.”
By not having due regard to the Tabernacle of the Lord.