Numbers 1–2

The First Census of Israel

1^*On the first day of the second month in the second year after the people of Israel left Egypt, the Lord spoke to Moses there in the Tent of his presence in the Sinai Desert. He said, ^2*“You and Aaron are to take a census of the people of Israel by clans and families. List the names of all the men ^3*twenty years old or older who are fit for military service. ^4*Ask one clan chief from each tribe to help you.” ^5–16*These are the men, leaders within their tribes, who were chosen from the community for this work:

Tribe Clan Chief

Reuben Elizur son of Shedeur;

Simeon Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;

Judah Nahshon son of Amminadab;

Issachar Nethanel son of Zuar;

Zebulun Eliab son of Helon;

Ephraim Elishama son of Ammihud;

Manasseh Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;

Benjamin Abidan son of Gideoni;

Dan Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;

Asher Pagiel son of Ochran;

Gad Eliasaph son of Deuel;

Naphtali Ahira son of Enan.

^17*With the help of these twelve men Moses and Aaron ^18*called together the whole community on the first day of the second month and registered all the people by clans and families. The names of all the men twenty years old or older were recorded and counted, ^19*as the Lord had commanded. In the Sinai Desert, Moses registered the people. ^20–46*The men twenty years old or older who were fit for military service were registered by name according to clan and family, beginning with the tribe of Reuben, Jacob’s eldest son. The totals were as follows:

Tribe

Number

Reuben

46,500

Simeon

59,300

Gad

45,650

Judah

74,600

Issachar

54,400

Zebulun

57,400

Ephraim

40,500

Manasseh

32,200

Benjamin

35,400

Dan

62,700

Asher

41,500

Naphtali

53,400

Total: 603,550

⁴⁷The Levites were not registered with the other tribes, ⁴⁸because the Lord had said to Moses, ⁴⁹“When you take a census of the men fit for military service, do not include the tribe of Levi. ⁵⁰Instead, put the Levites in charge of the Tent of my presence and all its equipment. They shall carry it and its equipment, serve in it, and set up their camp round it. ⁵¹Whenever you move your camp, the Levites shall take the Tent down and set it up again at each new camping place. Anyone else who comes near the Tent shall be put to death. ⁵²The rest of the Israelites shall set up camp, company by company, each man with his own group and under his own banner. ⁵³But the Levites shall camp round the Tent to guard it, so that no one may come near and cause my anger to strike the community of Israel.” ⁵⁴So the people of Israel did everything that the Lord had commanded Moses.

The Arrangement of Tribes in Camp

2The Lord gave Moses and Aaron the following instructions. ²When the Israelites set up camp, each man will camp under the banner of his division and the flag of his own clan. The camp is to be set up all round the Tent.

^3–9On the east side, those under the banner of the division of Judah shall camp in their groups, under their leaders, as follows:

Tribe

Leader

Number

Judah

Nahshon son of Amminadab

74,600

Issachar

Nethanel son of Zuar

54,400

Zebulun

Eliab son of Helon

57,400

Total:

186,400

The division of Judah shall march first.

^10–16On the south, those under the banner of the division of Reuben shall camp in their groups, under their leaders, as follows:

Tribe

Leader

Number

Reuben

Elizur son of Shedeur

46,500

Simeon

Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai

59,300

Gad

Eliasaph son of Deuel

45,650

Total:

151,450

The division of Reuben shall march second.

¹⁷Then, between the first two divisions and the last two the Levites are to march carrying the Tent. Each division shall march in the same order as they camp, each in position under its banner.

^18–24On the west, those under the banner of the division of Ephraim shall camp in their groups, under their leaders, as follows:

Tribe

Leader

Number

Ephraim

Elishama son of Ammihud

40,500

Manasseh

Gamaliel son of Pedahzur

32,200

Benjamin

Abidan son of Gideoni

35,400

Total:

108,100

The division of Ephraim shall march third. ^25–31On the north, those under the banner of the division of Dan shall camp in their groups, under their leaders, as follows:

Tribe

Leader

Number

Dan

Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai

62,700

Asher

Pagiel son of Ochran

41,500

Naphtali

Ahira son of Enan

53,400

Total:

157,600

The division of Dan shall march last.

³²The total number of the people of Israel enrolled in the divisions, group by group, was 603,550. ³³As the Lord had commanded Moses, the Levites were not registered with the rest of the Israelites.

³⁴So the people of Israel did everything the Lord had commanded Moses. They camped, each under his own banner, and they marched, each with his own clan.