those listed of the tribe of Asher were 41,500.
English Standard Version (ESV)
While this verse simply states a number, it's a reminder that God's people are counted and known, even in their specific tribal identity, as they prepare for the journey ahead. This detailed census highlights that every individual, and indeed every tribe, had a specific place and purpose in God's grand design for them.
those listed of the tribe of Asher were 41,500.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This chapter begins a census of all Israelite men twenty years and older who were able to serve in the military. God commands Moses and Aaron to conduct this census by tribe, with representatives from each tribe assisting. The numbers for each tribe are then listed sequentially, culminating in the count for Asher.
Why did God command such a detailed census of Israel? It wasn't just for record-keeping.
This extensive numbering of Israel wasn't merely an administrative task; it was deeply theological. God commanded it in Numbers 1 for several crucial reasons:
Each number, like Asher's 41,500 fighting men, represented a vital piece in God's unfolding plan for His people.
The census wasn't just about population; it was about military readiness. What does this tell us about Asher?
The census in Numbers 1 specifically counted men 'able to go forth to war.' For the tribe of Asher, this meant 41,500 men were ready to serve in Israel's armies.
This highlights several things:
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Even in the wilderness, their lives were oriented towards action and fulfilling God's commands, including the challenging task of taking the land.
Understand the original words
matteh · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the descendants of a common ancestor, functioning as a primary unit of social and political organization in ancient Israel, often associated with tribal allotments.
This census wasn't just a headcount; it was a divine act of organization and preparation for conquest, demonstrating God's power to multiply His people and prepare them for their destiny.
c. 1446 BC
Israelites Depart Egypt
Following the Exodus, the Israelites begin their journey towards the Promised Land, eventually reaching the wilderness of Sinai.
c. 1445 BC
Tabernacle Erected in Sinai
The Tabernacle, the portable sanctuary of God's presence, is set up in the Sinai wilderness. This marks a central point for Israel's worship and organization.
First day of the second month, second year after the Exodus— this verse
First National Census Ordered
God commands Moses and Aaron to conduct a census of all eligible men in Israel, beginning from age twenty and upward, to determine those able to go to war.
Second year after the Exodus
Tribal Numbers Recorded
The census results are tallied by tribe, revealing the military strength and population of each clan. The tribe of Asher is recorded with 41,500 men.
Ongoing
Preparation for Promised Land
The census is part of the preparation for Israel's conquest and settlement of the land of Canaan, providing a basis for organization and division of territory.
This verse offers a prophetic glimpse into Asher's future prosperity, suggesting abundant blessings and rich food, which resonates with the tribe's substantial numbers in the census.
Joshua 19:24-31This passage details the inheritance and territory allotted to the tribe of Asher, illustrating how the census numbers directly informed the division of the Promised Land.
1 Kings 4:4This verse mentions Asher as a region known for its blessings and resources, echoing the sense of abundance and prosperity implied by Asher's significant population count.
Matthew 13:12Jesus speaks about having more given to those who have much, which can be seen as a spiritual parallel to how God blesses fruitful tribes and individuals with further abundance.
gillNumbers 1:41: "Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred."
Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred. 41,500 men. See Gill on Numbers 1:20 .
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…
While this verse simply states a number, it's a reminder that God's people are counted and known, even in their specific tribal identity, as they prepare for the journey ahead. This detailed census highlights that every individual, and indeed every tribe, had a specific place and purpose in God's grand design for them.
This chapter begins a census of all Israelite men twenty years and older who were able to serve in the military. God commands Moses and Aaron to conduct this census by tribe, with representatives from each tribe assisting. The numbers for each tribe are then listed sequentially, culminating in the count for Asher.
This chapter begins a census of all Israelite men twenty years and older who were able to serve in the military. God commands Moses and Aaron to conduct this census by tribe, with representatives from each tribe assisting. The numbers for each tribe are then listed sequentially, culminating in the count for Asher.
"those listed of the tribe of Asher were 41,500." — While this verse simply states a number, it's a reminder that God's people are counted and known, even in their specific tribal identity, as they prepare for the journey ahead. This detailed census h…
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Last reviewed October 2026