4 and with you there is a man for a tribe, each is a head to the house of his fathers. 5 'And these 'are' the names of the men who stand with you: 'For Reuben—Elizur son of Shedeur. 6 'For Simeon—Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai. 7 'For Judah—Nahshon son of Amminadab. 8 'For Issachar—Nathaneel son of Zuar. 9 'For Zebulun—Eliab son of Helon. 10 'For the sons of Joseph—for Ephraim: Elishama son of Ammihud: for Manasseh—Gamaliel son of Pedahzur. 11 'For Benjamin—Abidan son of Gideoni. 12 'For Dan—Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai. 13 'For Asher—Pagiel son of Ocran. 14 'For Gad—Eliasaph son of Deuel. 15 'For Naphtali—Ahira son of Enan.' 16 These 'are' those called of the company, princes of the tribes of their fathers; they 'are' heads of the thousands of Israel.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 1:4-16
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.