Numbers 1 continued — controversy over translation of the Hebrew word ’elef as ‘thousand’

Some Jewish and Messianic scholars are feverishly debating whether the word “elef” (Strongs 504 and 505) in Numbers 1 and the counting of the fighting men of the 12 tribes means “clans” or “thousands.” There’s more controversy in Judaism over this one Hebrew word than any other Hebrew word in the Tanak. Richard explains the controversy and gives us some tools on how to wade through all the scholarly debates on this issue. Judges 6 and the book of Chronicles gives us some insight into this controversy as well.

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Some Jewish and Messianic scholars are feverishly debating whether the word “elef” (Strong’s lexicon Nos. 504 and 505) in Numbers 1 and the counting of the fighting men of the 12 tribes means “clans” or “thousands.” There’s more controversy in Judaism over this one Hebrew word than any other Hebrew word in the TaNaK.

Richard explains the controversy and gives us some tools on how to wade through all the scholarly debates on this issue. Judges 6 and the book of Chronicles gives us some insight into this controversy as well.

For more on this topic, see the study “Does ‏אלף ’elef mean ‘thousand’ or ‘clan’ in Exodus and Numbers?“