‘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).