These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.
These were the renowned, х qªriy'eey (H7148) haa`eedah (H5712)] - the called of the congregation [Septuagint, epikleetoi], deputies who represented the people according to the order described above-for that is the proper meaning of haa`eedah, rendered "the congregation" (cf. Numbers 16:2 Numbers 16:2).
Heads of thousands in Israel - heads = princes. The two words are synonymous. The "thousands of Israel" is a phrase for the whole multitude of the people, arising out of that decimal arrangement both of tribes and armies which from time immemorial has obtained in Oriental countries, and in accordance with which the Hebrew princes are in several passages designated "heads of the thousands of Israel" (cf. Numbers 10:4; Joshua 22:21; Joshua 22:30). The very day the order was given, it was executed. It is obvious that not only the taking of this census must have been immensely facilitated by the convenient subdivision of the people into various orders, but that the art of writing must have been familiarly and extensively diffused ere such a register could have been made and kept. The Israelites must have become well acquainted with the practice of registry in Egypt, where it was carefully attended to.