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.