Numbers

The Census

The Lord spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they departed from the land of Egypt. He said:

“Take a census of the whole community of Israel, by clans and families, taking a count of the names of all the males, head by head.

You and Aaron will enlist all men of Israel, twenty years of age and older, who are capable of military service.

From each tribe, you shall take a man, the head of his family, to help you.

These are the names of those who will be your helpers: For Reuben, Elizur, son of Shedeur.

For Simeon, Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai.

For Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab.

For Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar.

For Zebulun, Eliab, son of Helon.

Of the sons of Joseph: for Ephraim, Elishama, son of Ammihud; for Manasseh, Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur.

For Benjamin, Abidan, son of Gideoni.

For Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

For Asher, Pagiel son of Ochran.

For Gad, Eliasaph, son of Reuel.

For Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.”

These men were elected by public acclamation; they were leaders of their ancestral clans, chiefs of Israel’s hosts.

Moses and Aaron took these men who had been named,

and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the entire community. The sons of Israel listed their names according to their clans and families, and one by one, the names of all men twenty years and older were recorded and counted.

As the Lord had commanded, Moses took a census of them in the desert of Sinai.

When the tribe of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, had been listed by clans and families, the names of all the males twenty years and older, able to give military service, were recorded one by one.

The total of these for the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.

When clans and families had listed the tribe of Simeon, the names of all the males twenty years and older, able to give military service, were recorded one by one.

The total of these for the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.

When clans and families had listed the tribe of Gad, the names of all the males twenty years and older, able to give military service, were recorded one by one.

The total for the tribe of Gad was 45,650.

When clans and families had listed the tribe of Judah, the names of all the males twenty years and older, able to give military service, were recorded one by one.

The total of these for the tribe of Judah was 74,600.

When clans and families had listed the tribe of Issachar, the names of all the males twenty years and older, able to give military service, were recorded one by one.

The total of these for the tribe of Dan was 62,700.

The total of these for the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.

When clans and families had listed the tribe of Zebulun, the names of all the males twenty years and older, able to give military service, were recorded individually.

The total of these for the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.

The descendants of Joseph: when clans and families had listed the tribe of Ephraim, the names of all the males twenty years and older, able to give military service, were recorded individually.

The total of these for the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500.

When clans and families had listed the tribe of Manasseh, the names of all the males twenty years and older, able to give military service, were recorded one by one.

The total of these for the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.

When clans and families had listed the tribe of Benjamin, the names of all the males twenty years and older, able to give military service, were recorded one by one.

The total of these for the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400.

When clans and families had listed the tribe of Dan, the names of all the males twenty years and older, able to give military service, were recorded individually.

When clans and families listed the tribe of Asher, the names of all the males twenty years and older who could serve in the military were recorded individually.

The total number of these for the tribe of Asher was 41,500.

When clans and families had listed the tribe of Naphtali, the names of all the males twenty years and older, able for military service, were recorded one by one.

The total of these for the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400.

Such were the men registered by Moses, Aaron, and the twelve leaders of Israel, each representing his tribe.

Every man of Israel of twenty years and older, able to serve in the military, was counted according to his tribe.

Altogether, the total was 603,550.

But the Levites and their tribe were not included in the count.

The Lord spoke to Moses and said:

“Do not take any census of the Levites or register them among the sons of Israel.

You must enlist the Levites to serve the Holy Tent of the Testimony and to look after its furnishings and belongings. They are to carry the Holy Tent and all its furnishings, take care of it, and set up their camp around it.

Whenever the Holy Tent is to be moved, the Levites shall take it down; whenever the Holy Tent is to be set up again, they shall do this. Any layman coming near it must be put to death.

The sons of Israel are to set up their tents in formation, each man with his own group and under his own banner.

But the Levites are to set up their tents around the Holy Tent of the Testimony, lest God’s anger fall on the whole community of Israel. The Levites will take care of the Holy Tent of the Testimony.”

The sons of Israel did exactly as the Lord had commanded Moses.