There are five ways to write whole numbers.
1. Standard Form: 44,760
2. Word Form: Forty four thousand, seven hundred and sixty.
3. Short word form: 44 thousand, 760
4. Expanded Form: 4x10,000 + 4x1,000 + 7x100 + 6x10
5. Exponential Form: 4x10^4 + 4x10^3 + 7x10^2 + 6x10^1
War and Whole Numbers
1 Chronicles 5
18 The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh had valiant men who carried shield and sword, and drew the bow, expert in war, 44,760, able to go to war. 19 They waged war against the Hagrites, Jetur, Naphish, and Nodab. 20 And when they prevailed[b] over them, the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hands, for they cried out to God in the battle, and he granted their urgent plea because they trusted in him. 21 They carried off their livestock: 50,000 of their camels, 250,000 sheep, 2,000 donkeys, and 100,000 men alive. 22 For many fell, because the war was of God. And they lived in their place until the exile.
Notice the the number of men counted that could go to war is far more exact, than the number of sheep, camels, donkeys, and slaves after the war.
This makes sense. The leaders of the Israelite army would want a very precise answer to how many battle trained men they had available, while
the numbers of the spoils of war are rounded estimates now that the battle is over. The necessity of precision does not weigh as heavily on them after
the battle as it did before the battle.
Questions:
1. If you were responsible for counting how many men were available and trained to go to war, and you counted 75,678 men. What number would you give your leader? (Think estimates)
2. What if you knew you were off in your counting by about 50 men? What number would you give then? (Again think estimates)
3. Why would you never find Expanded or Exponential Form written in the Bible? Does this mean the Bible is inaccurate or not trustworthy?
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