That a comparative view may be easily taken of the state of the tribes, we will here produce them, compared with that of the second census (Numbers 26:1), in their decreasing proportion, beginning with the greatest and proceeding to the least. Thus we find Judah the most populous tribe, and Manasseh the least so; the difference between them being as great as 42,000. Jacob had given Judah the pre-eminence in his prophetic blessing; and that tribe was to have the precedency in the encampments of Israel. Accordingly God had increased them more than any of their brethren. Ephraim and Manasseh, according to the same prophecy, were numbered as distinct tribes, Ephraim having the superiority, as it was foretold; and Joseph indeed appears "a fruitful bough."
Bible Commentary
Numbers 1:21
Numbers 1:21
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Canne, Browne, Blayney, Scott, and others · Public Domain
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