those listed of the tribe of Dan were 62,700.
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's easy to just see the numbers, but the census here, including Dan's 62,700, is primarily about God's faithfulness in multiplying His people. This detailed count, for every able-bodied man, wasn't just a headcount; it was a powerful declaration of God's promise to Abraham to make his descendants a great nation, ready for their inheritance.
those listed of the tribe of Dan were 62,700.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This chapter begins a census of all the Israelite men able to go to war, taken by Moses and Aaron at God's command in the Sinai wilderness. The purpose was to organize them for their journey to the Promised Land and to establish their military strength, tribe by tribe, with Dan's tribe listing over 62,000 men. This meticulous accounting sets the stage for their future organization and eventual conquest of Canaan.
Why did God command Moses to count every man capable of military service? It wasn't just about numbers.
This census in Numbers chapter 1 served several crucial purposes:
The tribe of Dan stands out with a significant number. What does this tell us about their role?
The tribe of Dan, despite being one of the younger tribes, numbered 62,700 able-bodied men. This considerable force was not accidental.
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This census, taken in the wilderness of Sinai, was crucial for organizing the Israelites as a nation ready to conquer and settle the Promised Land, demonstrating God's faithfulness in multiplying His people.
c. 1446 BC
Exodus from Egypt
The Israelites escape slavery in Egypt, beginning their journey to the Promised Land.
c. 1445 BC
Tabernacle Erected
The Tabernacle, God's dwelling place among His people, is set up in the wilderness of Sinai.
c. 1445 BC— this verse
First Census Ordered
God commands Moses to take a census of all the men of Israel, twenty years and older, capable of military service.
c. 1445 BC
Tribal Levies Recorded
The census results are recorded, listing the number of able-bodied men for each of the twelve tribes, totaling over 600,000.
c. 1445 BC
Levites Numbered Separately
The Levites are not included in the general census, as they are set apart for service related to the Tabernacle.
c. 1445 BC
Preparation for the Journey
The census provides the organizational structure for the Israelite encampment and march, preparing them for their onward journey.
This passage describes the allotment of land to the tribe of Dan after the conquest of Canaan, showing where they settled and highlighting the eventual challenges they faced in occupying their territory.
Judges 18:1-31This narrative details the tribe of Dan's migration and conquest of Laish, illustrating a period where they acted independently and sought territory for themselves, which relates to their later struggles.
Genesis 49:16-17Jacob's prophecy about Dan foretold that he would 'rule his people' and be 'a serpent in the way,' which can be seen as foreshadowing both Dan's strength and potential future issues or divisions within the tribe.
1 Kings 12:29-30This passage shows Jeroboam setting up golden calves in Dan and Bethel, indicating Dan's significance as a religious center in the northern kingdom of Israel, even as it represented a departure from true worship.
calvinNumbers 1:1-54: "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,"
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,
Loquutus est autem Jehova ad Mosen in deserto Sinai, in…
pooleNumbers 1:39: "Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred."
No text from Poole on this verse.
It's easy to just see the numbers, but the census here, including Dan's 62,700, is primarily about God's faithfulness in multiplying His people. This detailed count, for every able-bodied man, wasn't just a headcount; it was a powerful declaration of God's promise to Abraham to make his descendants a great nation, ready for their inheritance.
This chapter begins a census of all the Israelite men able to go to war, taken by Moses and Aaron at God's command in the Sinai wilderness. The purpose was to organize them for their journey to the Promised Land and to establish their military strength, tribe by tribe, with Dan's tribe listing over 62,000 men. This meticulous accounting sets the stage for their future organization and eventual conquest of Canaan.
This chapter begins a census of all the Israelite men able to go to war, taken by Moses and Aaron at God's command in the Sinai wilderness. The purpose was to organize them for their journey to the Promised Land and to establish their military strength, tribe by tribe, with Dan's tribe listing over 62,000 men. This meticulous accounting sets the stage for their future organization and eventual conquest of Canaan.
"those listed of the tribe of Dan were 62,700." — It's easy to just see the numbers, but the census here, including Dan's 62,700, is primarily about God's faithfulness in multiplying His people. This detailed count, for every able-bodied man, wasn't…
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Last reviewed October 2026