Numbers 2:4

Authorized King James Version

And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וּצְבָא֖וֹ
And his host
a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized for war (an army); by implication, a campaign, literally or figuratively (speci
#2
וּפְקֻֽדֵיהֶ֑ם
and those that were numbered
to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care for, miss, deposit, etc
#3
אַרְבָּעָ֧ה
of them were threescore and fourteen
four
#4
וְשִׁבְעִ֛ים
seventy
#5
אֶ֖לֶף
thousand
hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand
#6
וְשֵׁ֥שׁ
and six
six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ordinal, sixth
#7
מֵאֽוֹת׃
hundred
a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine revelation contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

This passage must be understood within the political and social structures of the biblical period. The author writes to address believers seeking to understand God's will and purposes, making the emphasis on salvation particularly relevant. Historical documents from this period show cultural practices and social structures that would have been familiar to the original readers, illuminating the verse's original impact.

Questions for Reflection

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