When there were but a few men in number— It is literally men of number; so few as easily to be numbered; in opposition to what their posterity afterwards were, as the sand of the sea without number. See Horace, Ars Poet. ver. 206.
Populus numerabilis, utpote parvus, &c. They might with ease be numbered, being a few, &c.— JONSON.
The word כמעט kimeat, rendered very few, in the next clause, signifies either small as to the number, or as to regard and esteem. Thus Isaiah 16:14. The remainder shall be מעט meat; i.e. contemptible and few. I take this idea to be concluded in the word here, their being insignificant and inconsiderable; as the fewness of their number is mentioned just before. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, were all strangers in the land of Canaan, and went about from one nation and kingdom to another, without being injured by those among whom they sojourned. Dr. Chandler.