?Sheish Me?os Elef va?Alef Sh?va Me?os u?Sheloshim?. Whom did this incorporate?
R. Bachye: This number and the number in Bamidbar 1:46, incorporate all healthy men (who were eligible to be conscripted over the age of twenty. 1
The total number of Yisrael - whose numbers are without limit - is never revealed - either in any of the two crrent locations -or anywhere else. No doubt there were many old men and men who were sick among the over twenties (over and above the children and the men who were under twenty). See also R. Chavel?s footnotes
Why does the Torah nefer give us the full total of Yisrael?
R. Bachye: Yisrael cannot be counted, because they are constantly subject to Divine blessing; Hashem promised Avraham that they will be as numerous as the stars ?S?for es ha?Kochavim ? Koh Yih?yeh Zar?echa!?, 1 2 and as numerous as the sand by the seashore, ?Vesamti es Zar?acha ke?Chol ha?Yam asher Lo Yisafer me?Rov?. 3 4
R. Bachye: Indeed, Hashem said to Moshe - in Devarim 1:10 - ?ve?Hinchem ha?Yom ke?Chochvei ha?Shamayim la?Rov?.
See R. Bachye who elaborates at length.
