Numbers — Chapter 1
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1And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
2Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls;
3From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
4And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.
5And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.
6Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
7Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
8Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar.
9Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon.
10Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
11Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni.
12Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
13Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran.
14Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
15Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.
16These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.
17And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names:
18And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.
19As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.
20And the children of Reuben, Israel’s eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
21Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
22Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
23Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
24Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
25Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.
26Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
27Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.
28Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
29Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
30Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
31Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
32Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
33Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.
34Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
35Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
36Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
37Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.
38Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
39Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.
40Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
41Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.
42Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
43Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
44These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers.
45So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel;
46Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
47But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.
48For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying,
49Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:
50But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.
51And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
52And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.
53But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.
54And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.
1And Jehovah spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
2Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, every male, by their polls;
3from twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel, thou and Aaron shall number them by their hosts.
4And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of his fathers` house.
5And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you. Of Reuben: Elizur the son of Shedeur.
6Of Simeon: Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
7Of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
8Of Issachar: Nethanel the son of Zuar.
9Of Zebulun: Eliab the son of Helon.
10Of the children of Joseph: Of Ephraim: Elishama the son of Ammihud. Of Manasseh: Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
11Of Benjamin: Abidan the son of Gideoni.
12Of Dan: Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
13Of Asher: Pagiel the son of Ochran.
14Of Gad: Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
15Of Naphtali: Ahira the son of Enan.
16These are they that were called of the congregation, the princes of the tribes of their fathers; they were the heads of the thousands of Israel.
17And Moses and Aaron took these men that are mentioned by name:
18And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month; and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.
19As Jehovah commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.
20And the children of Reuben, Israel`s first-born, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
21those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
22Of the children of Simeon, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, those that were numbered thereof, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
23those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
24Of the children of Gad, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
25those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.
26Of the children of Judah, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
27those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.
28Of the children of Issachar, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
29those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
30Of the children of Zebulun, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
31those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
32Of the children of Joseph, [namely], of the children of Ephraim, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
33those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.
34Of the children of Manasseh, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
35those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
36Of the children of Benjamin, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
37those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.
38Of the children of Dan, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
39those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.
40Of the children of Asher, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
41those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.
42Of the children of Naphtali, their generations, by their families, by their fathers` houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
43those that were numbered of them, of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
44These are they that were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: they were each one for his fathers` house.
45So all they that were numbered of the children of Israel by their fathers` houses, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel;
46even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
47But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.
48For Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
49Only the tribe of Levi thou shalt not number, neither shalt thou take the sum of them among the children of Israel;
50but appoint thou the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all the furniture thereof, and over all that belongeth to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the furniture thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.
51And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
52And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, according to their hosts.
53But the Levites shall encamp round about the tabernacle of the testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.
54Thus did the children of Israel; according to all that Jehovah commanded Moses, so did they.
1Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites departed from the land of Egypt. He said:
2“Take a census of the entire Israelite community by their clans and families, counting the name of every individual male.
3You and Aaron are to number all in Israel who can serve in the army, those who are twenty years old or older, by their divisions.
4And to help you there is to be a man from each tribe, each man the head of his family.
5Now these are the names of the men who are to help you: from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;
6from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;
7from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;
8from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar;
9from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon;
10from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;
11from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;
12from Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;
13from Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran;
14from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;
15from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.”
16These were the ones chosen from the community, leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the thousands of Israel.
17So Moses and Aaron took these men who had been mentioned specifically by name,
18and they assembled the entire community together on the first day of the second month. Then the people recorded their ancestry by their clans and families, and the men who were twenty years old or older were listed by name individually,
19just as the Lord had commanded Moses. And so he numbered them in the desert of Sinai.
20And they were as follows:The descendants of Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name individually.
21Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Reuben were 46,500.
22From the descendants of Simeon: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males numbered of them twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name individually.
23Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Simeon were 59,300.
24From the descendants of Gad: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.
25Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Gad were 45,650.
26From the descendants of Judah: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.
27Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Judah were 74,600.
28From the descendants of Issachar: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.
29Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Issachar were 54,400.
30From the descendants of Zebulun: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.
31Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Zebulun were 57,400.
32From the sons of Joseph: From the descendants of Ephraim: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.
33Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Ephraim were 40,500.
34From the descendants of Manasseh: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.
35Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Manasseh were 32,200.
36From the descendants of Benjamin: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.
37Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Benjamin were 35,400.
38From the descendants of Dan: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.
39Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Dan were 62,700.
40From the descendants of Asher: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.
41Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Asher were 41,500.
42From the descendants of Naphtali: According to the records of their clans and families, all the males twenty years old or older who could serve in the army were listed by name.
43Those of them who were numbered from the tribe of Naphtali were 53,400.
44These were the men whom Moses and Aaron numbered along with the twelve leaders of Israel, each of whom was from his own family.
45All the Israelites who were twenty years old or older, who could serve in Israel’s army, were numbered according to their families.
46And all those numbered totaled 603,550.
47But the Levites, according to the tribe of their fathers, were not numbered among them.
48The Lord had said to Moses,
49“Only the tribe of Levi you must not number or count with the other Israelites.
50But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, over all its furnishings and over everything in it. They must carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; and they must attend to it and camp around it.
51Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites must take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be reassembled, the Levites must set it up. Any unauthorized person who approaches it must be killed.
52“The Israelites will camp according to their divisions, each man in his camp, and each man by his standard.
53But the Levites must camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that the Lord’s anger will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the testimony.”
54The Israelites did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses—that is what they did.
1Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
2“Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, every male, one by one;
3from twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go out to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall count them by their divisions.
4With you there shall be a man of every tribe; everyone head of his fathers’ house.
5These are the names of the men who shall stand with you: Of Reuben: Elizur the son of Shedeur.
6Of Simeon: Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
7Of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
8Of Issachar: Nethanel the son of Zuar.
9Of Zebulun: Eliab the son of Helon.
10Of the children of Joseph: Of Ephraim: Elishama the son of Ammihud. Of Manasseh: Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
11Of Benjamin: Abidan the son of Gideoni.
12Of Dan: Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
13Of Asher: Pagiel the son of Ochran.
14Of Gad: Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
15Of Naphtali: Ahira the son of Enan.”
16These are those who were called of the congregation, the princes of the tribes of their fathers; they were the heads of the thousands of Israel.
17Moses and Aaron took these men who are mentioned by name.
18They assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month; and they declared their ancestry by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, one by one.
19As Yahweh commanded Moses, so he counted them in the wilderness of Sinai.
20The children of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, one by one, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
21those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Reuben, were forty-six thousand five hundred.
22Of the children of Simeon, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, those who were counted of it, according to the number of the names, one by one, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
23those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.
24Of the children of Gad, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
25those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Gad, were forty-five thousand six hundred fifty.
26Of the children of Judah, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
27those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Judah, were seventy-four thousand six hundred.
28Of the children of Issachar, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
29those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty-four thousand four hundred.
30Of the children of Zebulun, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
31those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty-seven thousand four hundred.
32Of the children of Joseph, of the children of Ephraim, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
33those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand five hundred.
34Of the children of Manasseh, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
35those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty-two thousand two hundred.
36Of the children of Benjamin, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
37those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty-five thousand four hundred.
38Of the children of Dan, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
39those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Dan, were sixty-two thousand seven hundred.
40Of the children of Asher, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
41those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Asher, were forty-one thousand five hundred.
42Of the children of Naphtali, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war;
43those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty-three thousand four hundred.
44These are those who were counted, whom Moses and Aaron counted, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: they were each one for his fathers’ house.
45So all those who were counted of the children of Israel by their fathers’ houses, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war in Israel;
46even all those who were counted were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty.
47But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not counted among them.
48For Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
49“Only the tribe of Levi you shall not count, neither shall you take a census of them among the children of Israel;
50but appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of the Testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They shall carry the tabernacle, and all its furnishings; and they shall take care of it, and shall encamp around it.
51When the tabernacle is to move, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall set it up. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.
52The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, according to their divisions.
53But the Levites shall encamp around the Tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall be responsible for the Tabernacle of the Testimony.”
54Thus the children of Israel did. According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so they did.
Summary
God commands a census of Israel's fighting men — 603,550 are counted from all tribes except Levi, who are set apart for Tabernacle service.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Wilderness of Sinai (v.1): Israel is still encamped at Mount Sinai. The census is taken "in the tabernacle of the congregation" at the base of the mountain.
- Israel has been at Sinai for approximately 13 months since leaving Egypt.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes that God counts His people because they matter to Him. The military census shows God preparing Israel for conquest — they are not merely wanderers but an organized army. He emphasizes the Levites' exclusion as showing that God's servants have a different calling.
- Charles Spurgeon: "God counts His people. Not one is overlooked. Not one is forgotten. He knows them by name, by family, by tribe. If God numbers the stars and calls them all by name (Psalm 147:4), how much more does He know every one of His redeemed? You are not lost in the crowd. You are numbered, named, and known."
Reflection
- 1. God numbers His people (v.2). You are not anonymous to God. He knows you by name, by family, by place. "The very hairs of your head are all numbered" (Matthew 10:30). In a world that makes you feel like a statistic, God counts you individually.
- 2. God organizes for purpose (vv.2-3). The census is not bureaucracy — it is preparation for conquest. God does not lead His people aimlessly. He numbers them because He has a mission for them. Are you prepared for what God has called you to do?
- 3. The Levites' different calling (vv.47-53). Not everyone fights the same battle. The Levites serve God in a different way — guarding the holy things. Different callings, equal importance. Do not despise your assignment because it looks different from others'.
- 4. "That there be no wrath" (v.53). The Levites stand between God's holiness and the people's sinfulness. Without mediation, God's presence brings judgment. This points to Christ — our mediator who stands between holy God and sinful man (1 Timothy 2:5).
- 5. "The children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses" (v.54). Simple obedience. They did what God said. The tragedy of Numbers is that this obedience will not last. Within chapters, they will complain, rebel, and refuse to enter the land. Obedience must be sustained, not merely started.