17 Moses and Aaron took these men whose names had been specified,
17 And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names:
17 Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named,
17 Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named to help
17 Then Moses and Aaron took these men who had been mentioned by name,
17 So Moses and Aaron called together these chosen leaders,
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 1:17
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.