Numbers 1

Tribe

1Reuben (Jacob’s* oldest son) 22-23 SIMEON... 0... e ene 24-25 Gad...... ec eae 26-27 Judah............. 28-29 Issachar 30-31 Zebulun 32-33 Ephraim son of Joseph............. 34-35 Manasseh son of Joseph.................cesceeeeeeeeeeetee 36-37 Benjamin —_ 38-39 Dan... ae 40-41 Asher..........000, 42-43 Naphtdli. 0.0... eee cece e rere eee “4These were the men registered by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of 1stael. all listed according to their ancestral descent. 45They were registered by famities—ail the Men of Israel who were twenty years old or older and able to go to war. “The total number Was 603,550. *7But this total did not include the Levites. 48For the LORD had said to Moses, 49D 0 not include the tribe of Levi in the registration; do not count them with the rest of the Israelites. 5°Put the Levites in charge of the Tabernacle of the Covenant,* along with ail its furnishings and equipment. They must carry the Tabernacle and all its furnishings as you travel, an they must take care of it and camp around it. 51 Whenever it is time for the Tabernacle to move, the Levites will take it down. And when it is time to stop, they will set it up again. But any unauthorized person who goes too near the Tabernacle must be put to death. °7Each tribe of Israel will camp in a designated area with its own family banner, sagut the Levites will camp around the Tabernacle of the Covenant to protect the community of Isra@! from the LORD’s anger. The Levites are responsible to stand guard around the Tabernaclé-” 54So the Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

Organization for Israel’s Camp

22 Then the LORD gave these instructions to Moses and Aaron: 2’When the Israelites set up camp, each tribe will be assigned its own area. The tribal divisions wit] c amp peneat their family banners on all four sides of the Tabernacle,* but at some distance frortt it- 3-4"The divisions of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun are to camp toward the sunrise ©" the east side of the Tabernacle, beneath their family banners. These are the names of the tibes, their leaders, and the numbers of their registered troops: Tribe Leader Number beeen tet ee eee es Nahshon son of Amminadab.......... «7 4,600 5-6... Nethanel son of Zuar 7-8 Eliab son of Helon 9So the total of all the troops on Judah’s side of the camp is 186,400. These three tri bes are to lead the way whenever the Israelites travel to a new campsite. 10-11"The divisions of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad are to camp on the south side of the Tabernacle, beneath their family banners. These are the names of the tribes, their 1@44erS, and the numbers of their registered troops: 1:20-21b Hebrew /srael’s. The names “Jacob” and “Israel” are often interchanged throughout the Old Testarve™ referring sometimes to the individual patriarch and sometimes to the nation. 1:50 Or Tabernacie of the Testimony; also in 1:53. 2:2 Hebrew the Tent of Meeting; also in 2:17,

Tribe Leader

Reuben..........02ee cere ee Elizur son of Shedeur.........- 0. sere eee ees 46,500 12-13 SIMEON.... es eee eee eee eee Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai..........-.+-++- 59,300 212 14-15 Gad.......eceee eee ener eee Eliasaph son of Deuel*..........+-++20see ee 45,650 944 Num 1:14 16S the total of all the troops on Reuben’s side of the camp is 151,450. These three tribes will be second in line whenever the Israelites travel. 17“Then the Tabernacle, carried by the Levites, will set out from the middle of thecamp. 2:17 |. All the tribes are to travel in the same order that they camp, each in position under the appropriate family banner. 18-19"The divisions of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin are to camp on the west side of the Tabernacle, beneath their family banners. These are the names of the tribes, their leaders, and the numbers of their registered troops: Tribe Leader Number Ephraim.........-...2265: Elishama son of Ammihud.........-+--++2+55 40,500 20-21 Manasseh........20++2 2005: Gamaliel son of Pedahzur........--.-05+ +555 32,200 2579 140 22-23 Benjamin.........--..-- ++ Abidan son of Gideoni.......--+--+-++s seers: 35,400 2:24 2480 the total of all the troops on Ephraim’s side of the camp is 108,100. These three tribes Num 10:22 will be third in line whenever the Israelites travel. 25-26"The divisions of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali are to camp on the north side of the 22°,.,, Tabernacle, beneath their family banners. These are the names of the tribes, their leaders, and the numbers of their registered troops: Tribe Leader Number Dan oo... eee e cece eee eens Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai...........-+-++- 62,700 27-28 ASheY......6 2c eee eee ees Pagiel son of Ocran.........-+.-soeeeree sees 41,500 227 14 29-30 Naphtali..........-.+-.205: Ahira son of Enan.........-00-cee seer ener ees 53,400, 31So the total of all the troops on Dan’s side of the camp is 157,600. These three tribes will 23) |... be last, marching under their banners whenever the Israelites travel.” a 32Jn summary, the troops of Israel listed by their families totaled 603,550. 33But as the Exod 38:26 um 1:490~ LORD had commanded, the Levites were not included in this registration. 34So the people of 3-33 Israel did everything as the LORD had commanded Moses. Each clan and family set up camp Num 1:47 and marched under their banners exactly as the LORD had instructed them. 2. The role of the Levites

Levites Appointed for Service

This is the family line of Aaron and Moses as it was recorded when the LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai: 2The names of Aaron’s sons were Nadab (the oldest), Abihu, a2 26:60 Eleazar, and Ithamar.?These sons of Aaron were anointed and ordained to minister as_ 3:3 priests. 4But Nadab and Abihu died in the LORD’s presence in the wilderness of Sinai when *04 28:47 they burned before the LORD the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded. Bee 0:t-2 Since they had no sons, this left only Eleazar and Ithamar to serve as priests with their Num 26:61 father, Aaron. Num 8:6-22; 18:2-6 5Then the LORD said to Moses, & 6Call forward the tribe of Levi, and present them to Aaron ;::: 3:7 the priest to serve as his assistants. 7They will serve Aaron and the whole community, per- Num 3:41-12, 41; 8:16-18 2:14-15 As in many Hebrew manuscripts, Samaritan Pentateuch, and Latin Vulgate (see also 1:14); most Hebrew manuscripts read son of Reuel. 2:34 This must have been one of the biggest campsites the 3:4 See Leviticus 10:1, 2 for the story of Nadab and Abihu. world has ever seen! It would have taken about 12 square miles 3:5-13 At the time of the first Passover, God instructed every to set up tents for just the 600,000 fighting men—not to mention —_|sraelite family to dedicate its firstborn son to him (Exodus 13:2). the women and children. Moses must have had a difficutt time They were set apart to assist Moses and Aaron in ministering to managing such a group. In the early stages of the journey and atthe people. This was only a temporary measure, however. Here Mount Sinai, the people were generally obedient to both God and God chose all the men from the tribe of Levi to replace the first- Moses. But when the people left Mount Sinai and traveled across born sons from every Israelite tribe (3:40-51 and 8:16). These the rugged wilderness, they began to complain, grumble, and men, called Levites, were set apart to care for the Tabernacle and disobey. Soon problems erupted, and Moses could no longer minister to the people. All the priests had to belong to the tribe of effectively manage the Israelites. The books of Exodus, Leviticus, Levi, but not all Levites were priests. The Levites were to be 25 and Numbers present a striking contrast between how much we years old before entering service. They probably received five can accomplish when we obey God and how little we can accom- _years of on-the-job training before being admitted to full service plish when we don't. at age 30. forming their sacred duties in and around the Tabernacle.* 8They will also maintain all the furnishings of the sacred tent,* serving in the Tabernacle on behalf of all the Israelites. 9Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons. They have been given from among all the people of Israel to serve as their assistants. 10Appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood. But any unauthorized person who goes too near the sanctuary must be put to death.” 11And the LORD said to Moses, 12“Look, I have chosen the Levites from among the Israelites to serve as substitutes for all the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me, 13for all the firstborn males are mine. On the day I struck down all the firstborn sons of the Egyptians, I set apart for myself all the firstborn in Israel, both of people and of animals. They are mine; I am the LORD.”

Registration of the Levites

1414The LORD spoke again to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai. He said, 15“Record the names of the members of the tribe of Levi by their families and clans. List every male who is one month old or older.” 16So Moses listed them, just as the LORD had commanded. 17Levi had three sons, whose names were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. 18The clans descended from Gershon were named after two of his descendants, Libni and Shimei. 18The clans descended from Kohath were named after four of his descendants, Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 20The clans descended from Merari were named after two of his descendants, Mahli and Mushi. These were the Levite clans, listed according to their family groups. 21The descendants of Gershon were composed of the clans descended from Libni and Shimei. 22There were 7,500 males one month old or older among these Gershonite clans. 23They were assigned the area to the west of the Tabernacle for their camp. 24The leader of the Gershonite clans was Eliasaph son of Lael. 25These two clans were responsible to care for the Tabernacle, including the sacred tent with its layers of coverings, the curtain at its entrance, 26the curtains of the courtyard that surrounded the Tabernacle and altar, the curtain at the courtyard entrance, the ropes, and all the equipment related to their use. 27The descendants of Kohath were composed of the clans descended from Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel. 2®There were 8,600* males one month old or older among these 3:7 Hebrew around the Tent of Meeting, doing service at the Tabemacie. 3:8 Hebrew the Tent of Meeting; also in 3:25. 3:28 Some Greek manuscripts read 8,300; see total in 3:39. Kohathite clans. They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary, 29and they were assigned the area south of the Tabernacle for their camp. 2°The leader of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan son of Uzziel. 31These four clans were responsible for the care of the Ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the various articles used in the sanctuary, the inner curtain, and all the equipment related to their use. $*Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, was the chief administrator over all the Levites, with special responsibility for the oversight of the sanctuary. 33The descendants of Merari were composed of the clans descended from Mahli and 3:38 19 Mushi. 24There were 6,200 males one month old or older among these Merarite clans. 35They were assigned the area north of the Tabernacle for their camp. The leader of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail. 3SThese two clans were responsible for the care of the frames supporting the Tabernacle, the crossbars, the pillars, the bases, and all the equipment related to their use. 37They were also responsible for the posts of the courtyard and all their bases, pegs, and ropes. 38The area in front of the Tabernacle, in the east toward the sunrise,* was reserved for O88 ost: 3:10 the tents of Moses and of Aaronand his sons, who had the final responsibility for the sanc- - tuary on behalf of the people of Israel. Anyone other than a priest or Levite who went too near the sanctuary was to be put to death. 39When Moses and Aaron counted the Levite clans at the LORD’s command, the total a6 036-60 number was 22,000 males one month old or older.,

Redeeming the Firstborn Sons

4040Then the LORD said to Moses, “Now count all the firstborn sons in Israel who are one month old or older, and make a list of their names. 41The Levites must be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn sons of Israel; I am the LORD. And the Levites’ livestock must be reserved for me as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the whole nation of Israel.” 42S9 Moses counted the firstborn sons of the people of Israel, just as the LORD had commanded. 43The number of firstborn sons who were one month old or older was 22,273. 44Then the LORD said to Moses, 45“Take the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn sons of the people of Israel. And take the livestock of the Levites as substitutes for the firstborn livestock of the people of Israel. The Levites belong to me; I am the LORD. 46There are 473 more firstborn sons of Israel than there are Levites. To redeem these extra firstborn sons, 47collect five pieces of silver* for each of them (each piece weighing the same as the sanctuary shekel, which equals twenty gerahs). 48Give the silver to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the extra firstborn sons.” 49So Moses collected the silver for redeeming the firstborn sons of Israel who exceeded the number of Levites. 50He collected 1,365 pieces of silver* on behalf of these firstborn sons of Israel (each piece weighing the same as the sanctuary shekel). 51And Moses gave the silver for the redemption to Aaron and his sons, just as the LORD had commanded.

Duties of the Kohathite Clan

Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, 2“Record the names of the members of the clans and families of the Kohathite division of the tribe of Levi. $List all the men between the ages of thirty and fifty who are eligible to serve in the Tabernacle.* 4"The duties of the Kohathites at the Tabernacle will relate to the most sacred objects. sWhen the camp moves, Aaron and his sons must enter the Tabernacle first to take down the inner curtain and cover the Ark of the Covenant* with it. 6Then they must cover the inner curtain with fine goatskin leather and spread over that a single piece of blue cloth. Finally, they must put the carrying poles of the Ark in place. nee 4:2 The Kohathites, Gershonites (4:21), and Merarites detail. In fact, failure to do so would mean death (4:20). This (4:29) were families of Levites who were assigned special contrasted greatly from the religious practices of the Egyptians tasks in Israel's worship. For the jobs described in this chapter, who could purchase amulets and potions. Their idols could a Levite had to be between 30 and 50 years old. He was be handled. The God of the Hebrews was not to be handed expected to carry out his duties as described here in every or reduced to common elements. He is greater than anything in his creation. Worshiping our holy God must not be taken lightly.