Bible Commentaries

SECTION 1. THE PREPARATIONS TO GO FORWARD FROM SINAI WITH YAHWEH’S PROVISIONS RELATED THERETO (1:1-10:10).

The Mobilisation of the Army of Israel, and the Preparation of the Levites For Their Work of Bearing the Ark and Dwellingplace of Yahweh (1:1-4:49).

The first stage towards entry into the land had to be the mobilisation of the army of Israel, both of its fighting men, and of its ‘servants of the dwellingplace of Yahweh’. That is what is in mind in the first four chapters.

The description of this follows a general chiastic pattern indicated by the letters a to d and can be divided up as follows:

a The taking of the sum of the tribes and their responsibility (to war) (Numbers 1:1-46).

b The Levites’ responsibility for the Dwellingplace (Numbers 1:47-54).

c Positioning and arrangements for travel of the people (Numbers 2:1-32).

d The consecration of the priests to Yahweh (Numbers 3:1-4).

d The dedication of the Levites to the priests and to Yahweh (Numbers 3:5-13)

c Positioning and arrangements for travel of the Levites (Numbers 3:14-51).

b The priests’ responsibility for the Dwellingplace (Numbers 4:5-15).

a The taking of the sum of the Levites and their responsibilities (Numbers 4:1-4; Numbers 4:21-49).

Chapter 1 Preparation For The Journey: The Army Is Numbered For War

The numbering of an army was always preparatory to action. Thus the numbering here of the men of war was preparation for what lay ahead. They were now to go forward to make war in order to conquer the land and possess it. The resultant total will then be used later in the book in order to demonstrate that, in spite of failure on the part of Israel, the people leave the wilderness after all their troubles as numerous as when they entered it, the old having been replaced with the new (Numbers 26). Man’s purposes may fail but God’s never do.

But it was also a way of describing the organisation of the fighting men of Israel into military units, without too much regard for the actual literal quantity. These units were then to be set around the people on the move in fighting array. They had learned their lesson from the Amalekite attack at Rephidim (Exodus 17:8-16; Deuteronomy 25:17-18), and were determined to prevent it happening again. And they were especially to surround the Dwellingplace of Yahweh on all four sides, forming a square around it, as did the Egyptian armies of Rameses II around the Pharaoh’s tent. This was a typical second millennium BC formation.

In this we have a picture of the ‘church militant’, the true people of God on earth, preparing themselves for battling with the great Enemy (e.g. Ephesians 6:10-18). They are a number which no man can number, and yet each is numbered before God (Revelation 7). Indeed the very hairs of their head are all numbered (Matthew 10:30; Luke 12:7). Not one of them is forgotten before Him.

The Call To Number The Tribes and To Prepare for War, excluding Levi (Numbers 1:1-46).

Numbers 1:1

‘And Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,’

From the commencement the book stresses that in it we are dealing with what results from the word of Yahweh given to Moses, spoken in the Tent of Meeting. Thus this heading to the record declares whom the record is about. It then gives place and date. It is a typical heading to a written record from those days, as can be seen by comparison with other written records discovered. Note the immediate reference to the land of Egypt. This is the continuing story of deliverance from Egypt.

Taking place one month after the Dwellingplace had been consecrated, it stresses that the people of Israel are setting out from the wilderness of Sinai, where they have spent a year in their dealings with Yahweh. They had commenced their journey from Egypt in the first month of the first year, and had arrived at the wilderness of Sinai in the third month of the first year (Exodus 19:1). Now in the second month of the second year the army is to be mustered (‘numbered’) ready for going forward.

A glance ahead to Numbers 3:1 reveals there a typical closing colophon to a document, whereas this is a typical heading. It would appear therefore that at one stage this record from Numbers 1:1 to Numbers 3:1 originally stood on its own as a record of the military mobilisation and organisation of the troops readied for going forward, a record made at the time. It was then later incorporated into Numbers.

‘Take you (ye) the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, every male, by their heads, from twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel, you (thou) and Aaron shall number them by their hosts.’

The command is given to ‘take the sum’ of all men of military age in the twelve tribes (excluding Levi), in ‘the congregation of the children of Israel’, numbering them in their different regiments (‘hosts’). The intention was in order to organise the different sections of the army. This was ‘the Lord’s army’. What pride there probably was in its being numbered. What sad failure would result when as a result of unbelief it would flee from the Amorites. And yet God’s purposes would go forward and success would come in the end, not through the size of that army but through God’s power at work through weakness.

This numbering was to be done ‘by their families, by their father’s houses’, in other words ‘wider family by wider family’, and ‘tribe by tribe’. Each section would number its men available for action and the numbering would then be accumulated to give the number for the tribe. The numbering was to be of those available to ‘go forth to war’.

“The congregation of Israel.” A regular description for the tribes of Israel as a whole seen as one in their submission to Yahweh, seen as a people ‘gathered’ to serve Him. Sometimes it can refer to the mature menfolk, or sometimes to the whole of Israel.

“According to the number of the names.” This may refer to the names of the twelve tribes. But more probably it simply refers to the people as ‘names’ as it refers to them as ‘heads’ and ‘every male’ (compare Numbers 1:17). They are not just numbers, they have names. Compare Numbers 26:53.

We note that the command was given to Moses, but that Aaron was also to be involved in the matter in his new position as ‘the Priest’ (the High Priest). This linking is stressed in the passage Numbers 1:1 to Numbers 3:1 related to numbering (see Numbers 1:3; Numbers 1:17; Numbers 1:44; Numbers 2:1), although Moses alone is mentioned where Yahweh’s direct command is stressed (Numbers 1:19; Numbers 1:48; Numbers 1:54; Numbers 2:33-34). This is officially ‘the history of Moses and Aaron’ as confirmed by the colophon (Numbers 3:1).

‘And with you (ye) there shall be a man of every tribe, every one head of his fathers’ house.’

Furthermore twelve men were to be called on to assist, one from each of the twelve tribes, each to be the head of his father’s house, the prince of the tribe. Each would be responsible for the ‘numbering’ his tribe.

“Of his father”s house.’ This is a fluid term. In this case the house of his fathers is the tribe over which he is head seen in terms of its founder. (Later it will signify the larger families which make up the clan which itself is a section of the tribe).

‘And these are the names of the men who will stand with you. Of Reuben: Elizur the son of Shedeur. Of Simeon: Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai. Of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab. Of Issachar: Nethanel the son of Zuar. Of Zebulun: Eliab the son of Helon. Of the children of Joseph, of Ephraim: Elishama the son of Ammihud, of Manasseh: Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur. Of Benjamin: Abidan the son of Gideoni. Of Dan: Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai. Of Asher: Pagiel the son of Ochran. Of Gad: Eliasaph the son of Deuel. Of Naphtali: Ahira the son of Enan.’

The names of the twelve chieftains are given. The preponderance of names including ‘El’ or ‘Shaddai’ (Shedeur, Zurishaddai, Ammishaddai) should be noted. As yet the use of Yah was rare in names, although Moses’ ‘maternal ancestor’ was named Yo-chebed (Numbers 26:59; Exodus 6:20) This confirms the early date of the list. Elizur signifies ‘My God (El) is a rock.’ Shedeur means ‘Shaddai is my light’, Shelumiel means ‘God is my friend’. Zurishaddai means ‘Shaddai is my rock’. Nahshon probably means ‘serpentlike’ or ‘enchanter’. Eliab means ‘my God is father’. Ammishaddai means ‘Shaddai is my kinsman’. And so on.

‘These are they who were called by the congregation the princes of the tribes of their fathers, they were the heads of the thousands of Israel.’

These twelve men were the recognised great chieftains of the tribes, ‘the princes of the tribes of their fathers’. They were the titular heads of the fighting men of Israel, who would themselves be seen in terms of their military units, or of their ‘family groupings’.

“Heads of the ”lph of Israel.’ ’lph can signify ‘thousands, families, subtribes, clans, military units, military officers, chieftains’. Here the ’lph of Israel are the sub-tribes which make up the tribe or alternatively the military units which compose their fighting force. In fact in terms of those days the two were almost synonymous. The fighting force was made up of the men of Israel, and the tribes were mainly seen in terms of the men of Israel. It is only in later times that standing armies would be set up.

‘And Moses and Aaron took these men who are mentioned by name, and they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees (their ‘begetting’) after their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their heads.’

These chieftains, these ‘men who are mentioned by name’ because of their prominence, then returned to their tribes and gathered them on the day in question and each of the male members of the tribe ‘declared their begetting’, that is, their claim to connection with the tribe, clan group by clan group, in their tribes, according to the number of names, for all those of twenty years old and upwards. In other words each tribe mobilised its fighting men, identifying them with the tribe. By now those of the mixed multitude (Exodus 12:38) who had determined to become Yahwists (Exodus 12:48) would have been incorporated into the tribes by adoption, and have become ‘children of Israel’, and members of a chosen tribe, ‘descended’ from the tribal patriarch.

“After their clans, by their fathers” houses, according to the number (assessment) of the names.’ Note the division into clans, and then into wider families (fathers’ houses), and then into smaller groupings (the ‘assessment of the names’).

‘As Yahweh commanded Moses, so he numbered (assessed) them in the wilderness of Sinai.’

Thus did Moses fulfil Yahweh’s command and mobilise the fighting men of Yahweh ready for moving forward. The numbering of Israel was an act of faith and obedience to Yahweh. It was a declaration that Yahweh had a purpose to fulfil through them in possessing the land, which could be to them the hoped for ‘Kingdom of priests’ (Exodus 19:6), the equivalent of the Kingdom of God, if only they would be faithful to Him. The army of Yahweh would move forward with Yahweh Himself among them on His earthly throne, the Ark of the covenant of Yahweh (Numbers 10:33-36), accompanied by the cloud which would move under His direction and veil His presence (Numbers 9:15-23; Numbers 10:11-12; Numbers 10:34). And if they continued faithful He would be among them as the great Deliverer, the One Whose will nothing could thwart.

The same can be true for us although in our case the goal is a heavenly Kingdom. We too are called on to ‘march forward’ and to look to the invisible One on His throne. But the question we must ask ourselves as we read these words is, are we mobilised as true and obedient ‘fighting men of Yahweh’, or are we only simply excess baggage?

The Numbering or Assessment of the Tribes (excluding Levi).

(For more detail on these ‘numbers’ see the Book Comments in e-Sword).

The tribes were now assessed tribe by tribe in order to give a total picture, (L=sons of Leah, R=sons of Rachel, B=sons of Bilhah, Z=sons of Zilpah), commencing with Jacob’s firstborn, Reuben. The order is slightly unusual. Reuben (L), Simeon (L), Gad (Z), Judah (L), Issachar (L), Zebulun (L), Ephraim (R), Manasseh (R), Benjamin (R), Dan (B), Asher (Z), Naphtali (B). While on the whole the sons of the full wives are mentioned first, Gad (born of Zilpah) replaces Levi among the sons of Leah (L) for no obvious reason except that one of the concubine tribes had to join the Leah tribes in order to make up the ‘threes’ once Levi dropped out, and Gad were noted for their resilience, fierceness and righteousness for Yahweh (Genesis 49:19; Deuteronomy 33:20-21). The ‘sons’ of Rachel (R) then follow. After them come the other sons of the concubines Bilhah (B) and Zilpah (Z), not in sequence but seen as combined

Numbers 1:20-21

‘And the children of Reuben, Israel’s first-born, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, by their heads, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war, those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.’

The ‘numbering’ or ‘assessment’, whatever it actually involved, was carried out methodically according to their family history (toledoth) commencing with the clan, then with the wider family groupings, then with the smaller groupings (the number of the names, compare Numbers 1:18), then with the individuals (‘the heads’). All in the tribe of Reuben were mobilised amounting to forty six ’lph (wider families/ military officers) and five ‘hundreds’ (men in five military or social units) ready for war.

We note here that Reuben is named first, and declared to be ‘the firstborn of Israel’, distinguishing his status (see also Numbers 26:5). Thus the sons of Rachel and the concubines were not seen as including ‘firstborns’. There was only one firstborn in the family, the firstborn of the father.

Numbers 1:22-23

‘Of the children of Simeon, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, those that were numbered of them according to the number of the names, by their heads, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war, those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.’

A similar mobilisation took place for the tribe of Simeon, amounting to fifty nine wider families/military officers and three ‘hundreds’ (men in three military or social units) ready for war.

Note again the grading downwards. Clans, fathers’ houses, the number of the names, the ‘heads’ (individuals).

Numbers 1:24-25

‘Of the children of Gad, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war, those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.’

A similar mobilisation took place for the tribe of Gad, amounting to forty five wider families/military officers and six ‘hundreds’ (men in six military or social units) and a ‘fifty’ (a smaller military or social unit). The addition of the fifty may confirm that this is a serious ‘numbering’, that while it is not a strict head count, it is not just a rough estimate. But it may be that the people would have expected that there would be this odd unit attached to one of the tribes, possibly representing the total of non-Israelite non-absorbed resident aliens combining with the army. Or it may be intended to signify covenant connection of the whole (five intensified). The fact that the Levites also contained a fifty suggests the second is nearer to the truth.

“By their clans, by their fathers” houses, according to the number of the names.’ We note that at this point the ‘heads’ are dropped out. The concern is with units not individuals.

Numbers 1:26-27

‘Of the children of Judah, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war, those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.’

A similar mobilisation took place for the tribe of Judah, amounting to seventy four families/military officers and six ‘hundreds’ (men in six military units) ready for war.

Numbers 1:28-29

‘Of the children of Issachar, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war, those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.’

A similar mobilisation took place for the tribe of Issachar, amounting to fifty four families/military officers and four ‘hundreds’ (men in four military units) ready for war.

Numbers 1:30-31

‘Of the children of Zebulun, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war, those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.’

A similar mobilisation took place for the tribe of Zebulun, amounting to fifty seven families/military officers and four ‘hundreds’ (men in four military units) ready for war.

Numbers 1:32-33

‘Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war, those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.’

A similar mobilisation took place for the tribe of Ephraim, of Joseph, amounting to forty families/military officers and five ‘hundreds’ (men in five military units) ready for war.

Numbers 1:34-35

‘Of the children of Manasseh, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war, those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.’

A similar mobilisation took place for the tribe of Manasseh (of Joseph) amounting to thirty two families/military officers and two ‘hundreds’ (men in two military units) ready for war.

Numbers 1:36-37

‘Of the children of Benjamin, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war, those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.’

A similar mobilisation took place for the tribe of Benjamin, amounting to thirty five families/military officers and four ‘hundreds’ (men in four military units) ready for war.

Numbers 1:38-39

‘Of the children of Dan, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war, those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.’

A similar mobilisation took place for the tribe of Dan, amounting to sixty two families/military officers and seven ‘hundreds’ (men in seven military units) ready for war.

‘Of the children of Asher, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war, those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.’

A similar mobilisation took place for the tribe of Asher, amounting to forty one families/military officers and five ‘hundreds’ (men in five military units) ready for war.

‘Of the children of Naphtali, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war, those who were numbered of them, of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.’

A similar mobilisation took place for the tribe of Naphtali, amounting to fifty three families/military officers and four ‘hundreds’ (men in four military units) ready for war.

‘These are they who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men, they were each one for his fathers’ house.’

This then was a description of those who were mobilised for military duty, by their twelve chieftains representing their tribes, under the authority of Moses and Aaron. The Levites were omitted because they were not liable for military service

‘So all those who were numbered of the children of Israel by their fathers’ houses, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go forth to war in Israel, even all those who were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.’

So all the adult males among the children of Israel, apart from the Levites, were numbered ‘by their fathers’ houses’ in readiness for war. And their number (assessment) was ‘six hundred thousand and three thousand, five hundred and fifty’. This possibly represented 598 mighty men (or families/military officers), combined with five large units, five medium units and a fifty. Compare Exodus 13:18 where marching was ‘by fives’. The general numbers all convey symbolism. By combining the 598 mighty men with the five large units we get the numbers 603. Six is twice three and therefore completeness intensified, while three is emphasising that completeness. This is a perfectly complete army. The multiples of five stress their place among the covenant people. This is the essence of the number. They are the complete covenant army. Its agreement with the amount of silver used in the Sanctuary also meant that they were represented in the Sanctuary by the silver used there. They were a sacred army and ever in Yahweh’s presence through the silver contained in the Dwellingplace, which among other things acted as an atonement for them once they had been numbered (see Introduction and Exodus 30:11-16).

The Levites’ Responsibility for the Dwellingplace (Numbers 1:47-54).

Numbers 1:47

‘But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.’

But the Levites were not numbered among these fighting men. They were descendants of Levi who had been chosen through the calling of Moses and Aaron. It was not theirs to go forth to war. They were responsible for the protection of the Dwellingplace of Yahweh and its maintenance and its carriage, and its final defence. They were Yahweh’s ‘aide-de-camps’.

Numbers 1:48

‘For Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying, “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, neither shall you take the sum of them among the children of Israel,” ’

This was in accordance with the direct command of Yahweh. They were not intended to be mobilised for war. They were not to be added among the fighting men. They were set aside to Yahweh. (This brings out the significance of the ‘numbering’. It was in order to mobilise to war).

This is the first historical reference to such an actual setting aside of Levi, although they were seen as set aside in Leviticus 25:32-33. We are never given a reason why it was they who were set aside. It was most probably because they were related to Moses and Aaron, but accentuated by their faithfulness to Moses and to Yahweh in the incident of the molten calf (Exodus 32:25-29), which no doubt partly arose from that relationship, and the subsequent dedication to Yahweh that it produced. For the encamped priests would want to be among their tribal brothers, and it was necessary that their companions also be separated to Yahweh. With Moses and Aaron both from the tribe of Levi, the selection of the Levites for holy service was an almost inevitable result, given that they proved suitable.

Numbers 1:50

‘But appoint you the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furniture, and over all that belongs to it. They shall bear the tabernacle, and all its furniture, and they shall minister to it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.’

The Levites were to be appointed by divine command to take responsibility for ‘the Dwellingplace which bore witness to the covenant’ (the tabernacle of the testimony - ‘tabernacle’ is mishkan which means ‘dwellingplace’) and its furniture and all connected with it. They were to carry it when necessary, generally look after it, and encamp around it to guard it. But the carrying was only allowable once the furniture had been covered by the priests. Only the priests could touch the furniture and cover it. The Levites simply did the carrying. By this its supreme holiness was emphasised. It was ‘God’s stuff’. In the same way the Levites could not enter the Sanctuary while it was functioning.

Numbers 1:51

‘And when the tabernacle sets forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up; and the stranger who comes near shall be put to death.’

When the cloud moved from the Dwellingplace, and the divinely appointed time had come to continue their journey, and ‘the tabernacle set forward’, it was the Levites who were responsible for dismantling the Dwellingplace, and when the cloud stopped to indicate the new campsite chosen by Yahweh, it was the Levites who would again erect the Dwellingplace in the place that He chose. No non-Levite must approach for the purpose. Should they do so they must be put to death. The Dwellingplace and all its contents were sacred, and no non-Levite must touch them. By this was indicated that while Yahweh dwelt among them they must remember His ‘otherness’ (His non-earthiness and heavenliness) as the invisible and holy God, present among them but not fully accessible, except once a year on the Day of Atonement through the High Priest, and by prayer at a distance. The task of the Levites was thus a sacred and awesome one, and would be carried out with great reverence, at least initially.

Numbers 1:52

‘And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, according to their hosts.’

All the Israelites were to pitch their tents in the camps of their tribes, under their tribal standard (or ‘in their tribal ranks’ - the meaning of the word is not certain although its significance is clear), to the north, south, east and west of the Dwellingplace, in their military units (see Numbers 2). They were not to be a ragbag army, but disciplined and organised.

The word translated ‘standard’ may simply indicate ‘tribal ranks, companies’. But any large camp would certainly require some kind of indication as to who were sited where, so it quite likely does indicate tribal standards, and clan banners.

Numbers 1:53

‘But the Levites shall encamp round about the tabernacle of the testimony, that there be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel. And the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.’

The Levites, on the other hand, were to encamp in an inner square around the Dwellingplace as its guardians. That was their ‘standard’. And they were to keep the charge of it, preventing men from approaching it lightly without due reason, so that the wrath of Yahweh should not fall on the people with its resulting consequences. This ‘wrath’ signifies His aversion to sin and to all attitudes which treat Him lightly. Against such He must act in judgment. Later those who touched the Ark of the covenant casually would die (1 Samuel 6:19; 2 Samuel 6:6-7). The purpose was that men should recognise the ‘otherness’ and holiness of Yahweh. He was never to be taken for granted. Such an attitude would be the grossest of sins.

Numbers 1:54

‘Thus did the children of Israel. According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so did they.’

And so it is doubly stressed that the children of Israel, fully obedient at this stage, did all that Yahweh commanded Moses.

For us the lesson of Numbers 1 is clear. We are all soldiers of Christ, set apart to His service, and must ever be ready immediately to do His will. We are called to warfare (2 Corinthians 10:4; Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Timothy 2:4; 1 Peter 2:11), and must be disciplined. We must respond to our being ‘numbered’ by Him. But in the course of that we must ever remember His holiness and not approach Him lightly. Our approach must be through the blood of Christ, through the new and living way which He has prepared for us through His flesh (Hebrews 10:19-25), a constant acknowledgement of His holiness. It is because many have lost this recognition that faith is often at such a low level.

Some are also called to be ‘Levites’, serving in a more intimate capacity, while others still are called to serve the inner sanctuary. All take their place in the place assigned to them by God. But as we shall see later. All can become God’s specially dedicated ones (6).