16 These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.
16 These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel.
16 These were the ones chosen from the congregation, the chiefs of their ancestral tribes, the heads of the clans of Israel.
16 These were the men chosen from the congregation, leaders of their ancestral tribes, heads of Israel's military divisions.
16 These were chosen from the congregation, leaders of their fathers' tribes, heads of the divisions in Israel.
16 These are the chosen leaders of the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes, the heads of the clans of Israel."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 1:16
Commentary on Numbers 1:1-43
(Read Numbers 1:1-43)
The people were numbered to show God's faithfulness in thus increasing the seed of Jacob, that they might be the better trained for the wars and conquest of Canaan, and to ascertain their families in order to the division of the land. It is said of each tribe, that those were numbered who were able to go forth to war; they had wars before them, though now they met with no opposition. Let the believer be prepared to withstand the enemies of his soul, though all may appear to be peace.