Numbers 1:46

“Even all they that were numbered, etc.] Of whom an account was taken, and their names set down in a book or register: were 603,550; which was exactly the number of them, when taken about seven months before this, when they were assessed for defraying the expenses of the tabernacle, (<023826>Exodus 38:26); so that it should seem not one person had died during that time; for though there were three that died a violent death in that compass of time, yet two of them were of the tribe of Levi, not now numbered; and the other was not an Israelite by the father’s side; (see <031001> Leviticus 10:1,2 24:11,23); but it is not very probable, among such a vast number of people, that not one above…”

“The enrollment, being taken principally for military purposes (compare Numbers 1:3, Numbers 1:20), would naturally be arranged by hundreds, fifties, etc. (cf. 2Ki 1:9, 2 Kings 1:11, 2 Kings 1:13). In eleven tribes the number enrolled consists of complete hundreds. The difference, in this respect, observable in the case of the tribe of Gad here Numbers 1:25, and of the tribe of Reuben at the later census Numbers 26:7, is probably to be accounted for by the pastoral, and consequently nomadic, habits of these tribes, which rendered it difficult to bring all their members together at once for a census. Judah already takes precedence of his brethren in point of numbers (compare Genesis 49:8…”

“What an astonishing increase from seventy persons who went down into Egypt about 215 years before, where they had latterly endured the greatest hardships! Such was the effect of God's promise, which cannot fail. Num 2:32, Num 23:10, Num 26:51; Gen 12:2, Gen 13:16, Gen 15:5, Gen 17:6, Gen 22:17, Gen 26:3, Gen 28:14; Gen 46:3, Gen 46:4; Exo 12:37, Exo 38:26; Deu 10:22; Kg1 4:20; Sa2 24:9; Ch1 21:5; Ch2 13:3, Ch2 17:14-19; Heb 11:11, Heb 11:12; Rev 7:4-9 Numbers 1:47”