Numbers Chapter 1

Conversational Yahveh Covenant

Census of Israel’s Troops

          ¹ On the first day, second month, second year after they left Egypt, Yahveh told Moses at Sinai in the Tent of Meeting,

² “Take a census by families. Count the men ³ 20 years old and up that can go to war. You and Aaron count them by armies. ⁴ To help you, appoint one man from each tribe as head of his ancestor’s house. ⁵ They’ll stand with you:

from Reuben, Elizur Ben-Shedeur;

                      ⁶ from Simeon, Shelumiel Ben-Zurishaddai;

                      ⁷ from Judah, Nahshon Ben-Amminadab;

                      ⁸ from Issachar, Nethanel Ben-Zuar;

                      ⁹ from Zebulun, Eliab Ben-Helon;

                      ¹⁰ from Joseph’s son Ephraim, Elishama Ben-Ammihud;

                       from Joseph’s son Manasseh, Gamaliel Ben-Pedahzur;

                      ¹¹ from Benjamin, Abidan Ben-Gideoni;

                      ¹² from Dan, Ahiezer Ben-Ammishaddai;

                      ¹³ from Asher, Pagiel Ben-Ochran;

                      ¹⁴ from Gad, Eliasaph Ben-Deuel;

                      ¹⁵ from Naphtali, Ahira Ben-Enan.

                ¹⁶Those are the appointed leaders by tribes, the heads of clans in Israel.”       

Num 1:1-16

          ¹⁷ Moses and Aaron took the men God had designated ¹⁸ and gathered the community on the first day, second month. [ ¹⁹ ]

          ²⁰ The count came out as follows:

                      ²¹ 46,500 from Reuben, Israel’s firstborn;

                      ^22-23 59,300 from Simeon,

                      ^24-25 45,650 from Gad,

                      ^26-27 74,600 from Judah,

                      ^28-29 54,400 from Issachar,

                      ^30-31 57,400 from Zebulun,

                      ^32-33 40,500 from Ephraim,

                      ^34-35 32,300 from Manasseh,

                      ^36-37 35,400 from Benjamin,

                      ^38-39 62,700 from Dan

                      ^40-41 41,500 from Asher,

                      ^42-43 53,400 from Naphtali,

^44-46 The total was 603,550.                                                                                            

Num 1:17-46

          ⁴⁷ They didn’t count the Levites in the military census. ⁴⁸ Yahveh told Moses,

⁴⁹ “Don’t count the Levites. ⁵⁰ Put them in charge of the Tabernacle and everything associated with it. They’ll transport it and its furnishings, take care of it, and camp around it. ⁵¹ When it sets out, they’ll dismantle it. When it camps, they’ll assemble it. Execute any layman that comes near. ⁵² The Israelites will camp in groups by their standard in their armies. ⁵³ But the Levites will camp around the Tabernacle so there won’t be any wrath on the Israelites. [^54a]

Israel did everything Yahveh commanded Moses.

Num 1:47-54