1 Samuel 11:8
And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
Original Language Analysis
וַֽיִּפְקְדֵ֖ם
And when he numbered
H6485
וַֽיִּפְקְדֵ֖ם
And when he numbered
Strong's:
H6485
Word #:
1 of 12
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
וַיִּֽהְי֤וּ
H1961
וַיִּֽהְי֤וּ
Strong's:
H1961
Word #:
3 of 12
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
בְנֵֽי
the children
H1121
בְנֵֽי
the children
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
4 of 12
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵל֙
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
5 of 12
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
שְׁלֹ֣שׁ
were three
H7969
שְׁלֹ֣שׁ
were three
Strong's:
H7969
Word #:
6 of 12
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
אָֽלֶף׃
thousand
H505
אָֽלֶף׃
thousand
Strong's:
H505
Word #:
8 of 12
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
וְאִ֥ישׁ
and the men
H376
וְאִ֥ישׁ
and the men
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
9 of 12
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
יְהוּדָ֖ה
of Judah
H3063
יְהוּדָ֖ה
of Judah
Strong's:
H3063
Word #:
10 of 12
jehudah (or judah), the name of five israelites; also of the tribe descended from the first, and of its territory
Historical Context
Bezek was located approximately 15 miles from the Jordan River, providing an assembly point for forces from across Israel. The ten-to-one ratio between northern and southern tribes roughly corresponds to their relative populations, though the specific numbers may reflect military-unit terminology rather than exact headcounts.
Questions for Reflection
- How should believers respond when God turns situations from hopeless to hopeful?
- What early signs of division in a community should prompt attention and prayer?
Related Resources
Explore related topics, people, and study resources to deepen your understanding of this passage.
Analysis & Commentary
And when he numbered them in Bezek, the children of Israel were three hundred thousand, and the men of Judah thirty thousand.
The mustering at Bezek, strategically positioned for the Jordan crossing to reach Jabesh-gilead, demonstrates effective military organization. The separate numbering of Israel (300,000) and Judah (30,000) foreshadows the eventual division of the kingdom. This distinction, maintained throughout the narrative, suggests tribal tensions that Solomon's son Rehoboam would fatally exacerbate. The large numbers, while possibly representative or using different counting methods, emphasize the complete reversal from despair to overwhelming force.