Definition and Context:
In biblical terms, "numbering" refers to the act of counting or taking a census of people, particularly the Israelites. This practice is documented in several instances throughout the Bible, often serving specific religious, military, or administrative purposes.

Biblical Instances:

1. The Census in the Wilderness:
The Book of Numbers derives its name from the censuses recorded within it. The first census was commanded by God and conducted by Moses and Aaron in the wilderness of Sinai. This census was to count all the men of Israel who were able to go to war, from twenty years old and upward (Numbers 1:2-3). The purpose was to organize the Israelites for their journey and eventual conquest of the Promised Land.

2. The Census by David:
Another significant instance of numbering is found in 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21, where King David orders a census of Israel and Judah. Unlike the census in the wilderness, this act was not commanded by God and was considered sinful. Joab, the commander of David's army, questioned the king's decision, but David insisted. As a result, God was displeased, and a plague was sent upon Israel as punishment (2 Samuel 24:10-15).

3. The Census for the Temple Tax:
In Exodus 30:11-16, God instructs Moses to take a census of the Israelites for the purpose of collecting a half-shekel as a ransom for each person counted. This was to prevent a plague among them and was used for the service of the Tent of Meeting. This census was a means of atonement and a reminder of God's ownership over His people.

Theological Significance:

· Divine Command and Human Obedience:
The censuses commanded by God, such as those in the Book of Numbers, highlight the importance of obedience to divine instructions. They were part of God's plan for organizing His people and preparing them for the tasks ahead.

· Human Pride and Divine Judgment:
The census conducted by David serves as a cautionary tale about human pride and the consequences of acting outside God's will. It underscores the belief that reliance on human strength and numbers, rather than on God, leads to divine judgment.

· Atonement and Redemption:
The census for the temple tax in Exodus illustrates the concept of atonement and the need for redemption. It reflects the theological principle that every individual is accountable to God and requires a means of reconciliation.

Cultural and Historical Context:

In the ancient Near East, censuses were common for administrative and military purposes. They were used to assess the population for taxation, labor, and military conscription. The biblical accounts of numbering reflect these practices but are imbued with theological significance, emphasizing God's sovereignty and the spiritual state of His people.

Conclusion:
The practice of numbering in the Bible serves as a multifaceted tool for understanding God's relationship with His people. It reveals themes of obedience, judgment, and redemption, and provides insight into the historical and cultural practices of the time.Numbering of the people

Besides the numbering of the tribes mentioned in the history of the wanderings in the wilderness, we have an account of a general census of the whole nation from Dan to Beersheba, which David gave directions to Joab to make (1 Chronicles 21:1). Joab very reluctantly began to carry out the king's command.

This act of David in ordering a numbering of the people arose from pride and a self-glorifying spirit. It indicated a reliance on his part on an arm of flesh, an estimating of his power not by the divine favour but by the material resources of his kingdom. He thought of military achievement and of conquest, and forgot that he was God's vicegerent. In all this he sinned against God. While Joab was engaged in the census, David's heart smote him, and he became deeply conscious of his fault; and in profound humiliation he confessed, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done." The prophet Gad was sent to him to put before him three dreadful alternatives (2 Samuel 24:13; for "seven years" in this verse, the LXX. and 1 Chronicles 21:12 have "three years"), three of Jehovah's four sore judgments (Ezek. 14:21). Two of these David had already experienced. He had fled for some months before Absalom, and had suffered three years' famine on account of the slaughter of the Gibeonites. In his "strait" David said, "Let me fall into the hands of the Lord." A pestilence broke out among the people, and in three days swept away 70,000. At David's intercession the plague was stayed, and at the threshing-floor of Araunah (q.v.), where the destroying angel was arrested in his progress, David erected an altar, and there offered up sacrifies to God (2 Chronicles 3:1).

The census, so far as completed, showed that there were at least 1,300,000 fighting men in the kingdom, indicating at that time a population of about six or seven millions in all. (see CENSUS.)

(p. pr & vb. n.) of Number.NUMBERING

See DAVID; QUIRINIUS.

3003. legion -- a legion
... legion Phonetic Spelling: (leg-eh-ohn') Short Definition: a legion, very large number
Definition: properly: a division of the Roman army, numbering about 6,000 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3003.htm - 6k

5250. huperpleonazo -- to abound exceedingly
... 5250 ("-abounded beyond numbering") is only used in 1 Tim 1:14. Here Paul testifies
of the Lord's grace, causing and in his life to (be very great in number). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5250.htm - 7k

3700. optanomai -- to appear
... Cognate: 3700 (or , likely a later cognate of 3708 ) -- () See 3708 (). [Some forms
of Strong's numbering systems designate as 3708.]. Word Origin from a prim. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3700.htm - 8k

5610. sephar -- enumeration, census
... Word Origin from the same as sepher Definition enumeration, census NASB Word Usage
census (1). numbering. From caphar; a census -- numbering. see HEBREW caphar. ...
/hebrew/5610.htm - 6k

4557. mispar -- number, tally
... 1), enumeration (1), few (7), infinite* (1), innumerable* (1), limit (1), list
(2), many (2), measure (1), number (102), numbered (3), numbering (4), numbers ( ...
/hebrew/4557.htm - 6k

Children Numbering their Days.
... ORIGINAL HYMNS HYMN CCCXXVIII. Children numbering their Days. 6.6.8.6 James Montgomery.
Children numbering their Days. The pure and peaceful mind,. ...
/.../montgomery/sacred poems and hymns/hymn cccxxviii children numbering their.htm

Again, when one Speaks of the Holy Spirit as an Object Made Holy.. ...
... belies the fountain of sanctification, the Holy Spirit, who denudes Him of the power
of sanctifying, and he will thus be precluded from numbering Him with the ...
/.../section v again when one.htm

Whether this is a Good Definition of Eternity, "The Simultaneously ...
... of simple things by way of compound things, so must we reach to the knowledge of
eternity by means of time, which is nothing but the numbering of movement by ...
//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether this is a good.htm

The Syrian Enrollment in 8 Bc
... The emphasis laid on the number suggests (though it does not demonstrate) that the
numbering of the total population was the chief object of the Apamean "census ...
/.../ramsay/was christ born in bethlehem/chapter 8 the syrian enrollment.htm

King Herod's Enrollment
... doubtless, request time; and he would have little or no difficulty in obtaining
leave from the Roman governor, Saturninus, to postpone the numbering, until he ...
/.../ramsay/was christ born in bethlehem/chapter 9 king herods enrollment.htm

Luke's Account of the Enrollment
... From this passage, then, it appears that Luke's conception of the procedure in the
Roman empire was as follows: Augustus ordered a systematic numbering to be ...
/.../ramsay/was christ born in bethlehem/chapter 6 lukes account of.htm

Principal Authorities Referred To
... JRSAI Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland: references
to volumes according to the consecutive numbering. Jaffe. ...
/.../principal authorities referred to.htm

Epistle xxiii. To the Clergy, on the Letters Sent to Rome, and ...
... The numbering of the epistles has hitherto been in accordance with Migne's edition
of the text: but as he here follows a typographical error in numbering the ...
/.../cyprian/the epistles of cyprian/epistle xxiii to the clergy.htm

Of the Predicted Rejection of Idols.
... For their country was replenished with silver and gold, neither was there any numbering
of their treasures; their land also is full of horses, neither was ...
/.../the harmony of the gospels/chapter xxviii of the predicted rejection.htm

Against those who Say that the Holy Ghost is not to be Numbered ...
... If then you number each by itself, you cause an equality value by numbering them
in the same way but, if you join them, you make their value one by numbering ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/chapter xvii against those who.htm

Numbering (35 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary Numbering of the people. ... This act of David in ordering
a numbering of the people arose from pride and a self-glorifying spirit. ...
/n/numbering.htm - 19k

Numbers (136 Occurrences)
... It is so called because it contains a record of the numbering of the people in the
wilderness of Sinai (1-4), and of their numbering afterwards on the plain of ...
/n/numbers.htm - 71k

Numbereth (9 Occurrences)
... 2 Chronicles 2:17 And Solomon numbereth all the men, the sojourners who 'are' in
the land of Israel, after the numbering with which David his father numbered ...
/n/numbereth.htm - 9k

Census (24 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A numbering of the people in a country, and valuation of their estate, for
the purpose of imposing taxes, etc.; -- usually made once in five years. ...
/c/census.htm - 15k

Sum (34 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 24:9 Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: and
there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword ...
/s/sum.htm - 17k

Commandments (181 Occurrences)
... They are obviously "ten" in number, but their division is not fixed, hence
different methods of numbering them have been adopted. ...
/c/commandments.htm - 65k

Valiant (66 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 24:9 Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: and
there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword ...
/v/valiant.htm - 28k

Searching (111 Occurrences)
... Wonderful, till there is no numbering. (YLT). ... (BBE). Job 9:10 Doing great things
till there is no searching, And wonderful, till there is no numbering. (YLT). ...
/s/searching.htm - 35k

Reported (104 Occurrences)
... 2 Samuel 24:9 Joab gave up the sum of the numbering of the people to the king: and
there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword ...
/r/reported.htm - 34k

Quirin'i-us (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Quirin'i-us (1 Occurrence). Luke 2:2 This was the first
numbering, which was made when Quirinius was ruler of Syria. (See RSV). ...
/q/quirin'i-us.htm - 6k

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