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God Commands Moses to Take a Census

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, 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 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. A man from each tribe will be with you, each man the head of his family.[g] And these are the names of the men who will assist you:[h] from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur; from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai; from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab; from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar; 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.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 1:1 Literally “of their coming out”
  2. Numbers 1:2 Literally “Lift up the head of”
  3. Numbers 1:2 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  4. Numbers 1:2 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  5. Numbers 1:3 Literally “a son of twenty years”
  6. Numbers 1:3 Or “count them,” or “summon them,” or “enroll them”
  7. Numbers 1:4 Literally “the house of his father”
  8. Numbers 1:5 Literally “stand with you”
  9. Numbers 1:16 Or “fathers’”
  10. Numbers 1:18 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  11. Numbers 1:18 Literally “a son of twenty years”
  12. Numbers 1:20 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  13. Numbers 1:20 Literally “a son of twenty years”
  14. Numbers 1:22 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  15. Numbers 1:22 Literally “a son of twenty years”
  16. Numbers 1:24 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  17. Numbers 1:24 Literally “a son of twenty years”
  18. Numbers 1:26 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  19. Numbers 1:26 Literally “a son of twenty years”
  20. Numbers 1:28 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  21. Numbers 1:28 Literally “a son of twenty years”
  22. Numbers 1:30 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  23. Numbers 1:30 Literally “a son of twenty years”
  24. Numbers 1:32 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  25. Numbers 1:32 Literally “a son of twenty years”
  26. Numbers 1:34 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  27. Numbers 1:34 Literally “a son of twenty years”
  28. Numbers 1:36 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  29. Numbers 1:36 Literally “a son of twenty years”
  30. Numbers 1:38 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  31. Numbers 1:38 Literally “a son of twenty years”
  32. Numbers 1:40 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  33. Numbers 1:40 Literally “a son of twenty years”
  34. Numbers 1:42 Literally “their fathers”
  35. Numbers 1:42 Literally “a son of twenty years”
  36. Numbers 1:44 Or “counted,” or “summoned,” or “enrolled”
  37. Numbers 1:44 Literally “the house of his fathers”
  38. Numbers 1:45 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  39. Numbers 1:45 Literally “the house of their fathers”
  40. Numbers 1:45 Literally “a son of twenty years”
  41. Numbers 1:47 Or “fathers’”
  42. Numbers 1:47 Or “counted,” or “summoned,” or “enrolled”
  43. Numbers 1:49 Or “count,” or “summon,” or “enroll”
  44. Numbers 1:49 Literally “Lift up the head of”
  45. Numbers 1:49 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  46. Numbers 1:50 Or “count,” or “summon,” or “enroll”
  47. Numbers 1:50 Other modern translations read “tabernacle of the covenant”
  48. Numbers 1:51 Literally “lower it”
  49. Numbers 1:51 Or “outsider”
  50. Numbers 1:52 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  51. Numbers 1:52 Hebrew “his” or “its”
  52. Numbers 1:53 Other modern translations read “tabernacle of the covenant”
  53. Numbers 1:53 Literally “sons/children of Israel”
  54. Numbers 1:53 Other modern translations read “tabernacle of the covenant”
  55. Numbers 1:54 Literally “sons/children of Israel”

The Census

The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting(A) in the Desert of Sinai(B) on the first day of the second month(C) of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt.(D) He said: “Take a census(E) of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families,(F) listing every man by name,(G) one by one. You and Aaron(H) are to count according to their divisions all the men in Israel who are twenty years old or more(I) and able to serve in the army.(J) One man from each tribe,(K) each of them the head of his family,(L) is to help you.(M) These are the names(N) of the men who are to assist you:

from Reuben,(O) Elizur son of Shedeur;(P)

from Simeon,(Q) Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;(R)

from Judah,(S) Nahshon son of Amminadab;(T)

from Issachar,(U) Nethanel son of Zuar;(V)

from Zebulun,(W) Eliab son of Helon;(X)

10 from the sons of Joseph:

from Ephraim,(Y) Elishama son of Ammihud;(Z)

from Manasseh,(AA) Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;(AB)

11 from Benjamin,(AC) Abidan son of Gideoni;(AD)

12 from Dan,(AE) Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;(AF)

13 from Asher,(AG) Pagiel son of Okran;(AH)

14 from Gad,(AI) Eliasaph son of Deuel;(AJ)

15 from Naphtali,(AK) Ahira son of Enan.(AL)

16 These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders(AM) of their ancestral tribes.(AN) They were the heads of the clans of Israel.(AO)

17 Moses and Aaron took these men whose names had been specified, 18 and they called the whole community together on the first day of the second month.(AP) The people registered their ancestry(AQ) by their clans and families,(AR) and the men twenty years old or more(AS) were listed by name, one by one, 19 as the Lord commanded Moses. And so he counted(AT) them in the Desert of Sinai:

20 From the descendants of Reuben(AU) the firstborn son(AV) of Israel:

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. 21 The number from the tribe of Reuben(AW) was 46,500.

22 From the descendants of Simeon:(AX)

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were counted and listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. 23 The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.(AY)

24 From the descendants of Gad:(AZ)

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 25 The number from the tribe of Gad(BA) was 45,650.

26 From the descendants of Judah:(BB)

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 27 The number from the tribe of Judah(BC) was 74,600.

28 From the descendants of Issachar:(BD)

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 29 The number from the tribe of Issachar(BE) was 54,400.(BF)

30 From the descendants of Zebulun:(BG)

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 31 The number from the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.(BH)

32 From the sons of Joseph:(BI)

From the descendants of Ephraim:(BJ)

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 33 The number from the tribe of Ephraim(BK) was 40,500.

34 From the descendants of Manasseh:(BL)

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 35 The number from the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.

36 From the descendants of Benjamin:(BM)

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 37 The number from the tribe of Benjamin(BN) was 35,400.

38 From the descendants of Dan:(BO)

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 39 The number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700.(BP)

40 From the descendants of Asher:(BQ)

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 41 The number from the tribe of Asher(BR) was 41,500.

42 From the descendants of Naphtali:(BS)

All the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. 43 The number from the tribe of Naphtali(BT) was 53,400.(BU)

44 These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron(BV) and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. 45 All the Israelites twenty years old or more(BW) who were able to serve in Israel’s army were counted according to their families.(BX) 46 The total number was 603,550.(BY)

47 The ancestral tribe of the Levites,(BZ) however, was not counted(CA) along with the others. 48 The Lord had said to Moses: 49 “You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. 50 Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle(CB) of the covenant law(CC)—over all its furnishings(CD) and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. 51 Whenever the tabernacle(CE) is to move,(CF) the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it.(CG) Anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death.(CH) 52 The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each of them in their own camp under their standard.(CI) 53 The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle(CJ) of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall(CK) on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law.(CL)

54 The Israelites did all this just as the Lord commanded Moses.