Tag: issachar

45.q. “Wilderness” – 9.w. “So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai”

 

Num 1:19  as the LORD commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai.

Num 1:21 those listed of the tribe of Reuben were 46,500.

Num 1:23 those listed of the tribe of Simeon were 59,300.

Num 1:25 those listed of the tribe of Gad were 45,650.

Num 1:27 those listed of the tribe of Judah were 74,600.

Num 1:29 those listed of the tribe of Issachar were 54,400.

Num 1:31 those listed of the tribe of Zebulun were 57,400.

Num 1:33 those listed of the tribe of Ephraim were 40,500.

Num 1:35 those listed of the tribe of Manasseh were 32,200.

Num 1:37 those listed of the tribe of Benjamin were 35,400.

Num 1:39 those listed of the tribe of Dan were 62,700.

Num 1:41 those listed of the tribe of Asher were 41,500.

Num 1:43  those listed of the tribe of Naphtali were 53,400. all those listed were 603,550.

The people were numbered to show God’s faithfulness in thus increasing the seed of Jacob, that they might be the better trained for the wars and conquest of Canaan, and to ascertain their families in order to the division of the land. It is said of each tribe, that those were numbered who were able to go forth to war; they had wars before them, though now they met with no opposition. (Henry)

There is nothing material to observe, or anything different from what is in these verses, but the particular sums of each tribe numbered in which may be observed the various increase of the tribes, agreeably to divine predictions, and according to the sovereign will and infinite wisdom of God. (Gill)

600,000 men of age for battle but not ready for battle. It would be another 38 years before they would step into battle and start to claim the Promised Land. 

After we take inventory or thought to what we have we may think we are ready for something or to do something, Yet there is a timing of which God ordains as perfect. In this perfection is His purpose, will, plans, and timing. All of God’s plans and purposes are perfect. God can and does direct the paths of those called according to His purpose, of which, Honoring and Glorifying Jesus Christ is most certainly first. We come into all kinds of problems when we live apart from this purpose. Direction from God does not fall on deaf ears and hardened hearts of stone. Plans made in this state of neglect will be outside of His plans and purpose. Oh, they may seem like they are right and worthy, but are they of God’s direction? Only you know. You know if you are walking with God, living to honor and glorify Jesus Christ, growing and maturing in the knowledge of God’s Holiness and the sinfulness of sin, or if you are living apart from Him in a lukewarm commitment. You know if you are complacent, seeking more of the worldly than godly, letting the busyness of life consume your time and give you an excuse to be neglectful and complacent.  You know. 

45.p. “Wilderness” – 9.v. “The names of the men who shall assist you”

 

Numbers 1:5-18.   And these are the names of the men who shall assist you. From Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur; from Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai; from Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab; from Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar; from Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon; from the sons of Joseph, from Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud, and from Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur; from Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni; from Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai; from Asher, Pagiel the son of Ochran; from Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel; from Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.” These were the ones chosen from the congregation, the chiefs of their ancestral tribes, the heads of the clans of Israel. Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named, and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the whole congregation together, who registered themselves by clans, by fathers’ houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head, as the LORD commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai.

In general, the names have a significant and positive spiritual meaning, saying something good about the spiritual life of the Israeli community that left Egypt. These are Hebrew names. believing names; not Egyptian names. Most all the names make reference to God (Elohim).

 From the tribe of Reuben, Elizur– whose name can mean, (My) God Is a Rock.

· From the tribe of Simeon, Shelumiel– whose name can mean, (My) Peace Is God.

· From the tribe of Judah, Nahshon– whose name can mean, (My) People Are Noble.

· From the tribe of Issachar, Nethanel– whose name can mean, Gift of God.

· From the tribe of Zebulun, Eliab– whose name can mean, (My) God Is Father.

· From the tribe of Ephraim, Elishama– whose name can mean, (My) God Hears. This man was the grandfather of Joshua · From the tribe of Manasseh, Gamaliel– whose name can mean, Reward of God.

· From the tribe of Benjamin, Abidan– whose name can mean, (My) Father Is Judge.

· From the tribe of Dan, Ahiezer– whose name can mean, (My) Brother Is a Helper.

· From the tribe of Asher, Pagiel– whose name can mean, Met by God.

· From the tribe of Gad, Eliasaph– whose name can mean, (My) God Has Added, Multiplied.

· From the tribe of Naphtali, Ahira– whose name can mean, (My) Brother Is Evil.

God’s guidance to Israel gave attention to both the individual and to the community. Both aspects were important and continue to be important today. “Under the New Covenant there is a distribution of grace to every one, an endowment of each according to his faith with priestly and even kingly powers…. [Yet] The commission each receives is not to be a free- lance in the Divine warfare, but to take his right place in the ranks; and that place he must find.” (Guzik)

It will be another 38-39 years before they go into battle in the promised land. Establishing numbers, ranks, order, and will not only affect these men but those born over the next 38 years. In establishing order there is not only purpose but a joining together, but a uniting of spirit for the cause. Plans are developed and actions taken based on rank and order. Unity in purpose is a strong bond that will overcome doubts. Having God lead, guide, and teach them in the wilderness about godliness, sin, obedience, and faith will take time for them to mature as a unified nation before moving into take the promised land.

40.i. “But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly”

 

 

Exodus 1:1 These are the names of the sons of Israel who came to Egypt with Jacob, each with his household: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. All the descendants of Jacob were seventy persons; Joseph was already in Egypt. Then Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong, so that the land was filled with them.

From the call of Abraham, when God first told him he would make him a great nation, to the deliverance of his seed out of Egypt, were four hundred and thirty years; during the first two hundred and fifteen of which they were increased to seventy, but in the latter half, those seventy multiplied to six hundred thousand fighting men.(Benson)

During more than 200 years, while Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob lived at liberty, the Hebrews increased slowly; only about seventy persons went down into Egypt. There, in about the same number of years, though under cruel bondage, they became a large nation. This wonderful increase was according to the promise long before made unto the fathers. Though the performance of God’s promises is sometimes slow, it is always sure.(Henry)

The first verses of Exodus reach back some 430 years. The story of the Exodus begins where the story Genesis ends: a large family with a crucial place in God’s plan of the ages and their migration to Egypt. Joseph was the remarkable great-grandson of Abraham who saved Egypt – and the world – from terrible famine because he listened to God’s voice speaking through Pharaoh’s dream. Because of his wisdom and administration, he was lifted to high and honored office in Egypt. Yet eventually, Joseph died and the status his family enjoyed died with him. (Guzik)

The promise given to Abraham concerning a great nation coming from his family was God’s plan and promise. We look at the time from promise to Abraham until Joseph and there are 70 up till then. In three plus generations the family grew to 70 and were put in a place of protection and blessings in Egypt. These blessing continued for many years until the heart of the Egyptian Pharaoh at that time became hard against them.  This time laps (~430 years) brings us to the Exodus. God’s chosen are now going to start their journey to the promised land that was proclaimed to Abraham.

Never let circumstances and time give you reason to doubt the promises of God.  He is God and all of His plans and purposes will come to be in His perfect timing.

39.t. “Zebulun and Issachar”

 

 

Genesis 49:13  “Zebulun shall dwell at the shore of the sea; he shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall be at Sidon. “Issachar is a strong donkey, crouching between the sheepfolds. He saw that a resting place was good, and that the land was pleasant, so he bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant at forced labor.

Jacob now skipped the birth order, moving to the tenth-born and ninth-born sons, but keeping his focus on the sons born of Leah. The tribe of Zebulun was noted for its faithfulness to David, supplying the largest number of soldiers to David’s army of any single tribe: Of Zebulun there were fifty thousand who went out to battle, expert in war with all weapons of war, stouthearted men who could keep ranks (1 Chronicles 12:33).

Issachar was a large tribe – third in size according to the Numbers 26 census. “The meaning seems to be that Issachar was strong, but docile and lazy. He would enjoy the good land assigned him but would not strive for it. Therefore, eventually he would be pressed into servitude and the mere bearing of burdens for his masters.” (Leupold)

Concerning Zebulun: if prophecy says, Zebulun shall be a haven of ships, be sure Providence will so plant him. God appoints the bounds of our habitation. It is our wisdom and duty to accommodate ourselves to our lot, and to improve it; if Zebulun dwell at the heaven of the sea, let him be for a haven of ships. Concerning Issachar: he saw that the land was pleasant, yielding not only pleasant prospects, but pleasant fruits to recompense his toils. Let us, with an eye of faith, see the heavenly rest to be good, and that land of promise to be pleasant; this will make our present services easy. Dan should, by art, and policy, and surprise, gain advantages against his enemies, like a serpent biting the heel of the traveller. Jacob, almost spent, and ready to faint, relieves himself with those words, I have waited for thy salvation, O Lord! The salvation he waited for was Christ, the promised Seed; now that he was going to be gathered to his people, he breathes after Him to whom the gathering of the people shall be. He declared plainly that he sought heaven, the better country, Heb 11:13,14. Now he is going to enjoy the salvation, he comforts himself that he had waited for the salvation. Christ, as our way to heaven, is to be waited on; and heaven, as our rest in Christ, is to be waited for. It is the comfort of a dying saint thus to have waited for the salvation of the Lord; for then he shall have what he has been waiting for. (HENRY)