Charles Ellicott Commentary Numbers 1:4

"And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of his fathers` house." — Numbers 1:4 (ASV)

Of every tribe. —Or, for every tribe.

Every one head ... — The words may be rendered every one a head ... There were many heads of fathers’ houses in each tribe; but it appears from Numbers 1:16 (Numbers 7:10–11) that in each case the tribal prince was selected to preside over the census.