Rolf (@RolfNelson)

I was thinking about Numbers, chapter 1. Verse 3: "You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army." He is not just asking about "how many need to be fed?" He's asking "do you know exactly big an army you can field, by house, clan, and tribe?" Not all professional soldiers, obviously, but militia. Question: Is it a reasonable reading of Numbers 1 that God expects all able-bodied men to be fit and fitted out as an active militia, ready for military service if and when the Lord calls on them? Yes, he'd give them victory over his enemies, like knocking the walls down at Jericho, but he expect them to act like an army, marching out under arms doing their part physically, as well as holding firm to faith. https://biblehub.com/bsb/numbers/1.htm