Numbers 1:37

Those that were numbred of them, euen of the tribe of Beniamin, were thirtie and fiue thousand, and foure hundred. Numbers 1:37 (KJV)

Numbers 1:37 is part of a larger passage in the book of Numbers that details the census of the Israelites. The verse specifically mentions the tribe of Benjamin and records that the number of men eligible for military service was thirty‑five thousand four hundred.

The book of Numbers records the period when Israel was wandering in the wilderness after their liberation from Egypt. God commanded Moses to take a census of the whole congregation, counting all able‑bodied men twenty years old and above. The purpose of the census was to determine the military strength of each tribe and to assign duties for the journey to the Promised Land.

The tribe of Benjamin was one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Benjamin, the youngest son of Jacob (also called Israel). The census showed that Benjamin contributed thirty‑five thousand four hundred eligible men, indicating a substantial role in the community’s defense and work.

This verse also serves as a reminder of God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises. Genesis 49:27 records Jacob’s prophecy concerning Benjamin: “Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.” While Genesis 35:11 records God’s promise to Jacob to increase his descendants, the large number of Benjamin’s men can be seen as an indication of that divine provision.

The census highlights the importance of each tribe’s specific role within Israel. Each tribe had its own unique contribution to the collective journey toward the Promised Land, and the numbers recorded underscore how God organized the people for service and worship.

Overall, Numbers 1:37 emphasizes the significance of the tribe of Benjamin within the broader Israelite community, underscores God’s faithfulness, and points to the necessity of fulfilling one’s designated role among the people of God.