Numbers 1

God Commands Moses to Take a Census

1 Yahweh spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai, in the tent of assembly, on [the] first of the month, in the second year {after they came out}^[a] of the land of Egypt, saying,

2 "{Take a census of}^[b] the entire community of the {Israelites}^[c] according to their clans and {their families},^[d] according to [the] number of names, every male individually

3 from {twenty years old}^[e] and above, everyone in Israel who [is able] to go to war. You and Aaron must muster them^[f] for their wars.

4 A man from each tribe will be with you, each man the head of {his family}.^[g]

5 And these [are] the names of the men who will {assist you}:^[h] from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;

6 from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;

7 from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;

8 from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar;

9 from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon.

10 From the descendants of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.

11 From Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;

12 from Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;

13 from Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran;

14 from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;

15 [and] from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan."

16 These [are] the ones summoned from the community, the leaders of their ancestors'^[i] tribes; they [are] the heads of Israel's clans.

17 So Moses and Aaron took these men who had been designated by name,

18 and they summoned the entire community on [the] first day of the second month. And they registered themselves among their clans according to {their families},^[j] according to [the] number of names from {those twenty years old}^[k] and above individually,

19 just as Yahweh commanded Moses. And he counted them in the desert of Sinai.

20 The descendants of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, their genealogies according to their clans, according to {their families},^[l] according to [the] number of names, every male individually from {twenty years old}^[m] and above, everyone who [is able] to go to war:

21 those who were counted from the tribe of Reuben were forty-six thousand five hundred.

22 From the descendants of Simeon, their genealogies according to their clans, according to {their families},^[n] those who were counted according to [the] number of their names, every individual male from {twenty years old}^[o] and above, everyone who [is able] to go to war:

23 those who were counted from the tribe of Simeon were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.

24 From the descendants of Gad, their genealogies according to their clans, according to {their families},^[p] according to [the] number of names, from {those twenty years old}^[q] and above, everyone who [is able] to go to war:

25 those who were counted from the tribe of Gad were forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty.

26 From the descendants of Judah, their genealogies according to their clans, according to {their families},^[r] according to [the] number of names, from {those twenty years old}^[s] and above, everyone who [is able] to go to war:

27 those who were counted from the tribe of Judah were seventy-four thousand six hundred.

28 From the descendants of Issachar, their genealogies according to their clans, according to {their families},^[t] according to [the] number of names, from {those twenty years old}^[u] and above, everyone who [is able] to go to war:

29 those who were counted from the tribe of Issachar were fifty-four thousand four hundred.

30 From the descendants of Zebulun, their genealogies according to their clans, according to {their families},^[v] according to [the] number of names, from {those twenty years old}^[w] and above, everyone who [is able] to go to war:

31 those who were counted from the tribe of Zebulun were fifty-seven thousand four hundred.

32 From the descendants of Joseph: from the descendants of Ephraim, their genealogies according to their clans, according to {their families},^[x] according to [the] number of names, from {those twenty years old}^[y] and above, everyone who [is able] to go to war:

33 those who were counted from the tribe of Ephraim were forty thousand five hundred.

34 From the descendants of Manasseh, their genealogies according to their clans, according to {their families},^[z] according to [the] number of names, from {those twenty years old}^[aa] and above, everyone who [is able] to go to war:

35 those who were counted from the tribe of Manasseh were thirty-two thousand two hundred.

36 From the descendants of Benjamin, their genealogies according to their clans, according to {their families},^[ab] according to [the] number of names, from {those twenty years old}^[ac] and above, everyone who [is able] to go to war:

37 those who were counted from the tribe of Benjamin were thirty-five thousand four hundred.

38 From the descendants of Dan, their genealogies according to their clans, according to {their families},^[ad] according to [the] number of names, from {those twenty years old}^[ae] and above, everyone who [is able] to go to war:

39 those who were counted from the tribe of Dan were sixty-two thousand seven hundred.

40 From the descendants of Asher, their genealogies according to their clans, according to {their families},^[af] according to [the] number of names, from {those twenty years old}^[ag] and above, everyone who [is able] to go to war:

41 those who were counted from the tribe of Asher were forty-one thousand five hundred.

42 From the descendants of Naphtali, their genealogies according to their clans, according to {their families},^[ah] according to [the] number of names, from {those twenty years old}^[ai] and above, everyone who [is able] to go to war:

43 those who were counted from the tribe of Naphtali were fifty-three thousand four hundred.

44 These [are] the ones counted whom Moses and Aaron mustered,^[aj] with the twelve leaders of Israel, each one from {his family}.^[ak]

45 So all those who were counted from the {Israelites}^[al] according to {their families},^[am] from {those twenty years old}^[an] and above, everyone in Israel who [is able] to go to war.

46 All of the ones counted were six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty.

47 The Levites from their ancestors'^[ao] tribe were not mustered^[ap] in their midst.

48 And Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

49 "You will not muster^[aq] the tribe of Levi, and you will not {take a census of}^[ar] them in the midst of the {Israelites}.^[as]

50 You will {appoint}^[at] them over the tabernacle of the testimony,^[au] over all its vessels, and over all that belongs to it. They will carry the tabernacle and all its vessels, and they will care for it; and they will camp around the tabernacle.

51 And when the tabernacle is set out, the Levites will {take it down},^[av] and when encamping the tabernacle the Levites will set it up; the stranger^[aw] that approaches [it] will be put to death.

52 The {Israelites}^[ax] will encamp, each in their own camp, and each by their^[ay] own banner according to their divisions.

53 But the Levites will encamp around the tabernacle of the testimony,^[az] and there will not be wrath on the community of the {Israelites};^[ba] and the Levites will keep the requirements of the tabernacle of the testimony."^[bb]

54 And the {Israelites}^[bc] did thus; they did everything that Yahweh commanded Moses.

Numbers 1 Commentary

Chapter 1

This book is called NUMBERS from the several numberings of the people contained in it. It extends from the giving of the law at Sinai, till their arrival in the plains of Jordan. An account is given of their murmuring and unbelief, for which they were sentenced to wander in the wilderness nearly forty years; also some laws, both, moral and ceremonial. Their trials greatly tended to distinguish the wicked and hypocrites from the faithful and true servants of God, who served him with a pure heart.

The numbering of the Israelites. (1-43) The number of the people. (44-46) The Levites not numbered with the rest. (47-54)

Verses 1-43 The people were numbered to show God's faithfulness in thus increasing the seed of Jacob, that they might be the better trained for the wars and conquest of Canaan, and to ascertain their families in order to the division of the land. It is said of each tribe, that those were numbered who were able to go forth to war; they had wars before them, though now they met with no opposition. Let the believer be prepared to withstand the enemies of his soul, though all may appear to be peace.

Verses 44-46 We have here the sum total. How much was required to maintain all these in the wilderness! They were all provided for by God every day. When we observe the faithfulness of God, however unlikely the performance of his promise may appear, we may take courage as to those which yet remain to be fulfilled to the church of God.

Verses 47-54 Care is here taken to distinguish the tribe of Levi, which, in the matter of the golden calf, had distinguished itself. Singular services shall be recompensed by singular honours. It was to the honour of the Levites, that to them was committed the care of the tabernacle and its treasures, in their camps and in their marches. It was for the honour of the holy things that none should see them, or touch them, but those who were called of God to the service. We all are unfit and unworthy to have fellowship with God, till called by his grace into the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord; and so, being the spiritual seed of that great High Priest, we are made priests to our God. Great care must be taken to prevent sin, for preventing sin is preventing wrath. Being a holy tribe, they were not reckoned among other Israelites. They that minister about holy things, should neither entangle themselves, nor be entangled, in worldly affairs. And let every believer seek to do what the Lord has commanded.

Footnotes

• [a]. Literally "of their coming out"
• [b]. Literally "Lift up the head of"
• [c]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [d]. Literally "the house of their fathers"
• [e]. Literally "a son of twenty years"
• [f]. Or "count them," or "summon them," or "enroll them"
• [g]. Literally "the house of his father"
• [h]. Literally "stand with you"
• [i]. Or "fathers'"
• [j]. Literally "the house of their fathers"
• [k]. Literally "a son of twenty years"
• [l]. Literally "the house of their fathers"
• [m]. Literally "a son of twenty years"
• [n]. Literally "the house of their fathers"
• [o]. Literally "a son of twenty years"
• [p]. Literally "the house of their fathers"
• [q]. Literally "a son of twenty years"
• [r]. Literally "the house of their fathers"
• [s]. Literally "a son of twenty years"
• [t]. Literally "the house of their fathers"
• [u]. Literally "a son of twenty years"
• [v]. Literally "the house of their fathers"
• [w]. Literally "a son of twenty years"
• [x]. Literally "the house of their fathers"
• [y]. Literally "a son of twenty years"
• [z]. Literally "the house of their fathers"
• [aa]. Literally "a son of twenty years"
• [ab]. Literally "the house of their fathers"
• [ac]. Literally "a son of twenty years"
• [ad]. Literally "the house of their fathers"
• [ae]. Literally "a son of twenty years"
• [af]. Literally "the house of their fathers"
• [ag]. Literally "a son of twenty years"
• [ah]. Literally "their fathers"
• [ai]. Literally "a son of twenty years"
• [aj]. Or "counted," or "summoned," or "enrolled"
• [ak]. Literally "the house of his fathers"
• [al]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [am]. Literally "the house of their fathers"
• [an]. Literally "a son of twenty years"
• [ao]. Or "fathers'"
• [ap]. Or "counted," or "summoned," or "enrolled"
• [aq]. Or "count," or "summon," or "enroll"
• [ar]. Literally "Lift up the head of"
• [as]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [at]. Or "count," or "summon," or "enroll"
• [au]. Other modern translations read "tabernacle of the covenant"
• [av]. Literally "lower it"
• [aw]. Or "outsider"
• [ax]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [ay]. Hebrew "his" or "its"
• [az]. Other modern translations read "tabernacle of the covenant"
• [ba]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"
• [bb]. Other modern translations read "tabernacle of the covenant"
• [bc]. Literally "sons/children of Israel"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS

This book has its name from the account it gives of the "numbers" of the children of Israel, twice taken particularly; which name it has with this Greeks and Latins, and so with the Syriac and Arabic versions; but with the Jews it is called sometimes "Vajedabber", from the first word of it, "and the Lord spake"; and sometimes "Bemidbar", from the fifth word of the first verse, "in the wilderness", and sometimes "Sepher Pikkudim"; or, as with Origen {a}, "Ammesphkodim", the book of musters or surveys. That it was written by Moses is not to be doubted; and is indeed suggested by our Lord himself, Joh 5:46 compared with Nu 3:14, and the references to it, in the New Testament, fully ascertain to us Christians the authenticity of it, as that of our Lord hinted at, and those of the apostle in 1Co 10:4, Heb 9:13,14. It contains an history of the affairs of the Israelites, and of their travel in the wilderness for the space of thirty eight years; though the principal facts it relates were done in the second year of their coming out of Egypt, and in the last of their being in the wilderness; and it is not merely historical, but gives a particular account of several laws, ceremonial and judicial, to be observed by the people of Israel, as well as has many things in it very instructive, both of a moral and evangelical nature.

\\INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 1\\

In this chapter orders are given to Moses to take the number of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upwards, Nu 1:1-3; and the men that were to assist in this work, one of each tribe are mentioned by name, Nu 1:4-16; all which was accordingly done, Nu 1:17-19; and the particular numbers of each tribe are recorded, as they were taken, Nu 1:20-44; and the sum total is given, Nu 1:45,46; the Levites being excepted, who were employed about the tabernacle, and so not to be employed in military service, Nu 1:47-51; they encamped about that, while the Israelites pitched their tents every man by his own camp and standard, Nu 1:52-54.

{a} Apud Euseb. Hist. Ecclesiast. l. 6. c. 25.