Num 1:7 | KingComments | STEP | Not only the Lord Jesus sees who can serve as a warrior in His army, but also the heads of the tribes are involved. This can be applied to the responsible or leading brothers in a local church. They see which young people are spiritually twenty years and older. They participate in numbering by watching the spiritual development of young people. Timothy is one of those ‘numbered’ by older brothers: “He was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium” ( ). Names have their meaning in the Bible. We see in Hebrews 7 that we can learn spiritual lessons from this ( ). It is important, however, to remain vigilant that we do not fall into fantasy. Some names have multiple meanings. To be able to determine with a certain degree of certainty the meaning of a name, it is advisable to consult several biblical name books. If several name books give the same meaning, it is likely that this is the correct meaning. The names of the heads are also found in the Numbers 2, 7 and 10. In most of these names the Name of God resounds: ‘El’ means ‘God’. This shows that the Israelites did not forget their God during their stay in Egypt. In the names they gave their children, they have kept the memory of God. In order to give a meaning to the names that I think is plausible, I pass on the meaning that Grant gives of those names in his ‘Numerical Bible’. It is up to the reader to think about this further. 1. Head of Reuben is Elizur, ‘my God is a rock’, the son of Shedeur, ‘the Almighty is a flame’. 2. Head of the family of Simeon is Shelumiel, ‘in peace with God’, the son of Zurishaddai, ‘my rock is the Almighty’. 3. Head of Judah is Nahshon, ‘prophet’, the son of Amminadab, ‘people of the willing Giver’. 4. Head of Issachar is Nethanel, ‘gift of God’, the son of Zuar, ‘small’. 5. Head of Zebulun is Eliab ‘my God is Father’, the son of Helon (too uncertain meaning). 6. Head of Ephraim is Elishama, ‘my God has heard’, the son of Ammihud, ‘the people of Majesty’. 7. Head of Manasseh is Gamaliel, ‘God is a rewarder’, the son of Pedahzur, ‘the rock that redeems’. 8. Head of Benjamin is Abidan, ‘my Father is Judge’, the son of Gideoni, ‘cutter down’. 9. Head of Dan is Ahiezer, ‘brother of help’, the son of Ammishaddai, ‘the people of the Almighty’. 10. Head of Asher is Pagiel, ‘God has met me’, the son of Ochran, ‘tormented’. 11. Head of Gad is Eliasaph, ‘God has added’, the son of Deuel, ‘known by God’. 12. Head of Naphtali is Ahira, ‘brother of evil’, the son of Enan, ‘seeing’.

‏ Numbers 1:7

Who Has to Help with the Census

Not only the Lord Jesus sees who can serve as a warrior in His army, but also the heads of the tribes are involved. This can be applied to the responsible or leading brothers in a local church. They see which young people are spiritually twenty years and older. They participate in numbering by watching the spiritual development of young people. Timothy is one of those ‘numbered’ by older brothers: “He was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium” (Acts 16:1-2).

Names have their meaning in the Bible. We see in Hebrews 7 that we can learn spiritual lessons from this (Heb 7:1-3). It is important, however, to remain vigilant that we do not fall into fantasy. Some names have multiple meanings. To be able to determine with a certain degree of certainty the meaning of a name, it is advisable to consult several biblical name books. If several name books give the same meaning, it is likely that this is the correct meaning.

The names of the heads are also found in the Numbers 2, 7 and 10. In most of these names the Name of God resounds: ‘El’ means ‘God’. This shows that the Israelites did not forget their God during their stay in Egypt. In the names they gave their children, they have kept the memory of God.

In order to give a meaning to the names that I think is plausible, I pass on the meaning that Grant gives of those names in his ‘Numerical Bible’. It is up to the reader to think about this further.

1. Head of Reuben is Elizur, ‘my God is a rock’, the son of Shedeur, ‘the Almighty is a flame’.

2. Head of the family of Simeon is Shelumiel, ‘in peace with God’, the son of Zurishaddai, ‘my rock is the Almighty’.

3. Head of Judah is Nahshon, ‘prophet’, the son of Amminadab, ‘people of the willing Giver’.

4. Head of Issachar is Nethanel, ‘gift of God’, the son of Zuar, ‘small’.

5. Head of Zebulun is Eliab ‘my God is Father’, the son of Helon (too uncertain meaning).

6. Head of Ephraim is Elishama, ‘my God has heard’, the son of Ammihud, ‘the people of Majesty’.

7. Head of Manasseh is Gamaliel, ‘God is a rewarder’, the son of Pedahzur, ‘the rock that redeems’.

8. Head of Benjamin is Abidan, ‘my Father is Judge’, the son of Gideoni, ‘cutter down’.

9. Head of Dan is Ahiezer, ‘brother of help’, the son of Ammishaddai, ‘the people of the Almighty’.

10. Head of Asher is Pagiel, ‘God has met me’, the son of Ochran, ‘tormented’.

11. Head of Gad is Eliasaph, ‘God has added’, the son of Deuel, ‘known by God’.

12. Head of Naphtali is Ahira, ‘brother of evil’, the son of Enan, ‘seeing’.