4 And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.
4 One man from each tribe, each of them the head of his family, is to help you.
4 And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, each man being the head of the house of his fathers.
4 Pick one man from each tribe who is head of his family to help you.
4 And with you there shall be a man from every tribe, each one the head of his father's house.
4 and you will be assisted by one family leader from each tribe.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 1:4
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.