(27) Threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.--The superiority of Judah in point of numbers over all the other tribes deserves notice in connection with the blessing pronounced on that tribe by Jacob in Genesis 49:8 : "Thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise." In like manner it should be observed that the number of the tribe of Ephraim (Numbers 1:33) exceeded that of the tribe of Manasseh (Numbers 1:35). (See Genesis 48:19-20.)

1:1-43 The people were numbered to show God's faithfulness in thus increasing the seed of Jacob, that they might be the better trained for the wars and conquest of Canaan, and to ascertain their families in order to the division of the land. It is said of each tribe, that those were numbered who were able to go forth to war; they had wars before them, though now they met with no opposition. Let the believer be prepared to withstand the enemies of his soul, though all may appear to be peace.Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred. 74,600 men. See Gill on Numbers 1:20.