Numbers 1 | » |
1 The Lord spoke to Moses in the Sinai desert, in the meeting tent on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt. The Lord said,
2 "Number all the people of Israel, by their families, by those of their fathers' houses. Write down the names of every male, head by head,
3 twenty years old and older. You and Aaron number by their armies whoever in Israel is able to go out to war.
4 A man from each family should be with you to help you. Each one should be the head of his father's house.
5 These are the names of the men who will help you: Shedeur's son Elizur from Reuben,
6 Zurishaddai's son Shelumiel from Simeon,
7 Amminadab's son Nahshon from Judah,
8 Zuar's son Nethanel from Issachar,
9 and Helon's son Eliab from Zebulun.
10 From the sons of Joseph there will be Ammihud's son Elishama from Ephraim, and Pedahzur's son Gamaliel from Manasseh.
11 There will be Gideoni's son Abidan from Benjamin,
12 Ammishaddai's son Ahiezer from Dan,
13 Ochran's son Pagiel from Asher,
14 Deuel's son Eliasaph from Gad,
15 and Enan's son Ahira from Naphtali."
16 These were the ones chosen from the people. They were the leaders of their fathers' families, the heads of thousands in Israel.
17 Moses and Aaron took these men who had been chosen by name.
18 And they gathered all the people together on the first day of the second month. The people gave their names by families, by their fathers' houses, by the number of names from twenty years old and older, head by head.
19 They did just as the Lord had told Moses. So he numbered them in the desert of Sinai.
20 The sons of Reuben, Israel's firstborn, were numbered by their families, by their fathers' houses, by the number of names. Every male twenty years old and older was numbered, whoever was able to go out to war.
21 The number of the family of Reuben was 46,500.
22 The sons of Simeon were numbered by their families, by their fathers' houses, by the number of names. Every male twenty years old and older was numbered, whoever was able to go out to war.
23 The number of the family of Simeon was 59,300.
24 The sons of Gad were numbered by their families, by their fathers' houses, by the number of names. Every male twenty years old and older was numbered, whoever was able to go out to war.
25 The number of the family of Gad was 45,650.
26 The sons of Judah were numbered by their families, by their fathers' houses, by the number of names. Every male twenty years old and older was numbered, whoever was able to go out to war.
27 The number of the family of Judah was 74,600.cf1 h4Numbers 1/h4
The New Life Version (NLV)
The New Life Version (NLV) is a unique English translation of the Bible designed to be exceptionally easy to read and understand. First published in 1969, the NLV was created by Gleason Ledyard, a missionary and linguist, to make the Scriptures accessible to people who have limited English proficiency or are new to the language. Ledyard’s aim was to provide a Bible that even those with minimal education could read and comprehend, thus opening the door for a wider audience to engage with the biblical texts.
A defining characteristic of the New Life Version is its use of a limited vocabulary of about 850 basic English words, along with some necessary theological terms. This restricted vocabulary ensures that the language remains simple and straightforward, making the text accessible to young readers, new Christians, and those for whom English is a second language. The translators also avoided idiomatic expressions and complex sentence structures, further enhancing clarity and understanding. This makes the NLV a particularly valuable resource for educational and missionary work.
The NLV also emphasizes faithfulness to the original texts, despite its simplified language. The translation aims to maintain the integrity and message of the original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek manuscripts. By carefully choosing words that accurately convey the meaning of the original texts while ensuring simplicity, the NLV provides a balance between accessibility and fidelity. Additionally, the NLV includes explanatory footnotes and cross-references that help readers understand the context and deeper meanings of the passages, making it a useful tool for both personal study and group teaching.
However, the New Life Version is not without its critics. Some scholars and traditionalists argue that the limited vocabulary and simplified language can lead to a loss of nuance and depth found in the original texts. They suggest that the NLV’s focus on simplicity may sometimes oversimplify complex theological concepts. Despite these criticisms, the New Life Version remains a valuable translation for its intended audience, offering a clear and approachable rendition of the Bible that helps a wide range of readers engage with the Scriptures and grow in their faith.