Numbers 1
BBCNumbers 1:1
I. THE LAST DAYS AT SINAI (1:110:10) A. The Census and Arrangement of the Tribes (Chaps. 1, 2)1:1 As the book of Numbers opens, it is one year and one month after the children of Israel left Egypt and one month after the tabernacle was erected (Exo_40:17). As noted, the book received its name because the people are numbered twice (chaps. 1, 26). The census mentioned here is not the same as the one recorded in Exo_30:11-16. They were taken at different times and for different purposes. The second census (Num. 1) was probably based on the earlier census; hence the similar totals. 1:2, 3 The people of Israel were soon to begin their journey from Mount Sinai to the Promised Land. It was essential that they be arranged as orderly marching armies, and for this purpose God commanded that a census should be taken. The census would include all men twenty years old and aboveall who were able to go to war. 1:4-17 One man was appointed from every tribe to assist Moses with the census. Their names are given in verses 5-16. Verse 17 reads, “Then Moses and Aaron took these men who had been mentioned by name.“1:18-46 The results of the census were as follows:
TRIBEREFERENCENUMBERReubenvv. 20, 2146,500Simeonvv. 22, 2359,300Gadvv. 24, 2545,650Judahvv. 26, 2774,600Issacharvv. 28, 2954,400Zebulunvv. 30, 3157,400Ephraimvv. 32, 3340,500Manassehvv. 34, 3532,200Benjaminvv. 36, 3735,400Danvv. 38, 3962,700Ashervv. 40, 4141,500Naphtalivv. 42, 4353,400TOTAL603,550Notice that Ephraim is larger than Manasseh. This is in accordance with the blessing of Jacob in Gen_48:19-20. The tribes are listed beginning with Reuben, the firstborn, and his camp (south), then Judah and his camp (east), then Dan and his camp (north), and finally Ephraim and his camp (west). 1:47-54 The Levites were not numbered among the men of Israel who were to be warriors (v. 47). They were charged with the setting up and taking down of the tabernacle and with the ministry connected with it. By positioning themselves around the tabernacle, they protected it from desecration and thus protected the people from punishment (v. 53).