The First Census of Israel(A)

Now the Lord spoke to Moses (B)in the Wilderness of Sinai, (C)in the tabernacle of meeting, on the (D)first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying: (E)“Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male (F)individually, from (G)twenty years old and above—all who are able to go to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall number them by their armies. And with you there shall be a man from every tribe, each one the head of his father’s house.

“These are the names of the men who shall stand with you: from Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur; from Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai; from Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab; from Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar; from Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon; 10 from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur; 11 from Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni; 12 from Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai; 13 from Asher, Pagiel the son of Ocran; 14 from Gad, Eliasaph the son of (H)Deuel;[a] 15 from Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.” 16 (I)These were (J)chosen[b] from the congregation, leaders of their fathers’ tribes, (K)heads of the divisions in Israel.

17 Then Moses and Aaron took these men who had been [c]mentioned (L)by name, 18 and they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month; and they recited their (M)ancestry by families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, each one individually. 19 As the Lord commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the Wilderness of Sinai.

20 Now the (N)children of Reuben, Israel’s oldest son, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, every male individually, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war: 21 those who were numbered of the tribe of Reuben were forty-six thousand five hundred.

22 From the (O)children of Simeon, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, of those who were numbered, according to the number of names, every male individually, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war: 23 those who were numbered of the tribe of Simeon were fifty-nine thousand three hundred.

24 From the (P)children of Gad, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war: 25 those who were numbered of the tribe of Gad were forty-five thousand six hundred and fifty.

26 From the (Q)children of Judah, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war: 27 those who were numbered of the tribe of Judah were (R)seventy-four thousand six hundred.

28 From the (S)children of Issachar, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war: 29 those who were numbered of the tribe of Issachar were fifty-four thousand four hundred.

30 From the (T)children of Zebulun, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war: 31 those who were numbered of the tribe of Zebulun were fifty-seven thousand four hundred.

32 From the sons of Joseph, the (U)children of Ephraim, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war: 33 those who were numbered of the tribe of Ephraim were forty thousand five hundred.

34 From the (V)children of Manasseh, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war: 35 those who were numbered of the tribe of Manasseh were thirty-two thousand two hundred.

36 From the (W)children of Benjamin, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war: 37 those who were numbered of the tribe of Benjamin were thirty-five thousand four hundred.

38 From the (X)children of Dan, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war: 39 those who were numbered of the tribe of Dan were sixty-two thousand seven hundred.

40 From the (Y)children of Asher, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war: 41 those who were numbered of the tribe of Asher were forty-one thousand five hundred.

42 From the children of Naphtali, their genealogies by their families, by their fathers’ house, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war: 43 those who were numbered of the tribe of Naphtali were fifty-three thousand four hundred.

44 (Z)These are the ones who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, with the leaders of Israel, twelve men, each one representing his father’s house. 45 So all who were numbered of the children of Israel, by their fathers’ houses, from twenty years old and above, all who were able to go to war in Israel— 46 all who were numbered were (AA)six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.

47 But (AB)the Levites were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe; 48 for the Lord had spoken to Moses, saying: 49 (AC)“Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor take a census of them among the children of Israel; 50 (AD)but you shall appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the Testimony, over all its furnishings, and over all things that belong to it; they shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they shall attend to it (AE)and camp around the tabernacle. 51 (AF)And when the tabernacle is to go forward, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall set it (AG)up. (AH)The outsider who comes near shall be put to death. 52 The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, (AI)everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their armies; 53 (AJ)but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no (AK)wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall (AL)keep[d] charge of the tabernacle of the Testimony.”

54 Thus the children of Israel did; according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so they did.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 1:14 Reuel, Num. 2:14
  2. Numbers 1:16 called
  3. Numbers 1:17 designated
  4. Numbers 1:53 have in their care

A Census of Israel's Warriors

The Lord spoke to Moses (A)in the wilderness of Sinai, (B)in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, (C)“Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, (D)by fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head. (E)From twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them, (F)company by company. And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, each man being the head of the house of his fathers. And these are the names of the men who shall assist you. From Reuben, (G)Elizur the son of Shedeur; from Simeon, (H)Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai; from Judah, (I)Nahshon the son of Amminadab; from Issachar, (J)Nethanel the son of Zuar; from Zebulun, (K)Eliab the son of Helon; 10 from the sons of Joseph, from Ephraim, (L)Elishama the son of Ammihud, and from Manasseh, (M)Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur; 11 from Benjamin, (N)Abidan the son of Gideoni; 12 from Dan, (O)Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai; 13 from Asher, (P)Pagiel the son of Ochran; 14 from Gad, Eliasaph the son of (Q)Deuel; 15 from Naphtali, (R)Ahira the son of Enan.” 16 These were the ones (S)chosen from the congregation, (T)the chiefs of their ancestral tribes, the heads of the clans of Israel.

17 Moses and Aaron took these men (U)who had been named, 18 and on the first day of the second month, they assembled the whole congregation together, who registered themselves by clans, by fathers' houses, according to the number of names from twenty years old and upward, head by head, 19 as the Lord commanded Moses. So he listed them in the wilderness of Sinai.

20 The people of (V)Reuben, Israel's firstborn, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war: 21 those listed of the tribe of Reuben were (W)46,500.

22 Of the people of Simeon, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, those of them who were listed, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war: 23 those listed of the tribe of Simeon were (X)59,300.

24 Of the people of Gad, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war: 25 those listed of the tribe of Gad were (Y)45,650.

26 Of the people of Judah, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 27 those listed of the tribe of Judah were (Z)74,600.

28 Of the people of Issachar, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 29 those listed of the tribe of Issachar were (AA)54,400.

30 Of the people of Zebulun, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 31 those listed of the tribe of Zebulun were (AB)57,400.

32 Of the people of Joseph, namely, of the people of Ephraim, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 33 those listed of the tribe of Ephraim were (AC)40,500.

34 Of the people of Manasseh, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 35 those listed of the tribe of Manasseh were (AD)32,200.

36 Of the people of Benjamin, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 37 those listed of the tribe of Benjamin were (AE)35,400.

38 Of the people of Dan, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 39 those listed of the tribe of Dan were (AF)62,700.

40 Of the people of Asher, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 41 those listed of the tribe of Asher were (AG)41,500.

42 Of the people of Naphtali, their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war: 43 those listed of the tribe of Naphtali were (AH)53,400.

44 (AI)These are those who were listed, whom Moses and Aaron listed with the help of the chiefs of Israel, twelve men, each representing his fathers' house. 45 So all those listed of the people of Israel, by their fathers' houses, from twenty years old and upward, every man able to go to war in Israel— 46 all those listed were (AJ)603,550.

Levites Exempted

47 But (AK)the Levites were not listed along with them by their ancestral tribe. 48 For the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 49 “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not list, and you shall not take a census of them among the people of Israel. 50 (AL)But appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings, and over all that belongs to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it (AM)and shall camp around the tabernacle. 51 (AN)When the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down, and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up. (AO)And if any outsider comes near, he shall be put to death. 52 The people of Israel shall pitch their tents by their companies, each man in his own camp and (AP)each man by his own standard. 53 But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there may be no (AQ)wrath on the congregation of the people of Israel. (AR)And the Levites shall keep guard over the tabernacle of the testimony.” 54 Thus did the people of Israel; they did according to all that the Lord commanded Moses.

The Fourth Book of Moses, called [a]Numbers

2 Moses and Aaron with the twelve princes of the tribes are commanded of the Lord to number them that are able to go to war. 49 The Levites are exempted for the service of the Lord.

The Lord spake again unto Moses in the wilderness of [b]Sinai, in the Tabernacle of the Congregation, in the first day of the [c]second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

(A)Take ye the sum of all the Congregation of the children of Israel, after their families and households of their fathers, with the number of their names: to wit, all the males, [d]man by man:

From twenty years old and above, all that go forth to the war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them throughout their armies.

And with you shall be [e]men of every tribe, such as are the heads of the house of their fathers.

And these are the names of the men that shall [f]stand with you, of the tribe of Reuben, Elizur, the son of Shedeur:

Of Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai:

Of Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab:

Of Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar:

Of Zebulun, Eliab, the son of Helon:

10 Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh, Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur:

11 Of Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideoni:

12 Of Dan, Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai:

13 Of Asher, Pagiel, the son of Ocran:

14 Of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Deuel:

15 Of Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.

16 These were famous in the Congregation, [g]princes of the tribes of their fathers, and heads over thousands in Israel.

17 ¶ Then Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names.

18 And they called all the Congregation together in the first day of the second month, who declared [h]their kindred by their families, and by the houses of their fathers according to the number of their names, from twenty years old and above, man by man.

19 As the Lord had commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.

20 So were the sons of [i]Reuben Israel’s eldest son by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers according to the number of their names, man by man, every male from twenty years old and above, as many as [j]went forth to war:

21 The number of them, I say, of the tribe of Reuben, was six and forty thousand, and five hundred.

22 Of the sons of Simeon by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, the sum thereof by the number of their names, man by man, every male from twenty years old, and above, all that went forth to war:

23 The sum of them, I say, of the tribe of Simeon was nine and fifty thousand and three hundred.

24 ¶ Of the sons of Gad by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the number of their names, from twenty years old and above, all that went forth to war:

25 The number of them, I say, of the tribe of Gad was five and forty thousand, and six hundred and fifty.

26 ¶ Of the sons of Judah by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the number of their names, from twenty years old and above, all that went forth to war:

27 The number of them, I say, of the tribe of Judah, was three score and fourteen thousand, and six hundred.

28 ¶ Of the sons of Issachar by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the number of their names, from twenty years old and above, all that went forth to war:

29 The number of them also of the tribe of Issachar was four and fifty thousand, and four hundred.

30 ¶ Of the sons of Zebulun by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the number of their names, from twenty years old and above: all that went forth to war:

31 The number of them also of the tribe of Zebulun was seven and fifty thousand and four hundred.

32 ¶ Of the sons of Joseph, namely of the sons of Ephraim by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the number of their names, from twenty years old and above, all that went forth to war:

33 The number of them also of the tribe of Ephraim was forty thousand and five hundred.

34 ¶ Of the sons of Manasseh by their generations, by their families and by the houses of their fathers, according to the number of their names, from twenty years old and above, all that went forth to war:

35 The number of them also of the tribe of Manasseh was two and thirty thousand and two hundred.

36 Of the sons of Benjamin by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the number of their names, from twenty years old and above, all that went forth to war:

37 The number of them also of the tribe of Benjamin was five and thirty thousand and four hundred.

38 Of the sons of Dan by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the number of their names, from twenty years old and above, all that went forth to war:

39 The number of them also of the tribe of Dan was three score and two thousand, and seven hundred.

40 ¶ Of the sons of Asher by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the number of their names, from twenty years old and above, all that went forth to war:

41 The number of them also of the tribe of Asher was one and forty thousand and five hundred.

42 ¶ Of the children of Naphtali, by their generations, by their families, and by the houses of their fathers, according to the number of their names, from twenty years old and above, all that went to the war:

43 The number of them also of the tribe of Naphtali was three and fifty thousand, and four hundred.

44 These are the [k]sums which Moses, and Aaron numbered, and the Princes of Israel, the twelve men which were every one for the house of their fathers.

45 So this was all the sum of the sons of Israel, by the houses of their fathers, from twenty years old and above, all that went to the war in Israel.

46 And all they were in number six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.

47 But the Levites, after the tribes of their fathers were not numbered among [l]them.

48 For the Lord had spoken unto Moses, and said,

49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel.

50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the Tabernacle of the Testimony, and over all the instruments thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the Tabernacle, and all the instruments thereof, and shall minister in it, and shall [m]dwell round about the Tabernacle.

51 And when the Tabernacle goeth forth, the Levites shall take it down: and when the Tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: for the [n]stranger that cometh near, shall be slain.

52 Also the children of Israel shall pitch their tents every man in his camp, and every man under his standard throughout their armies.

53 But the Levites shall pitch round about the Tabernacle of the Testimony, lest vengeance [o]come upon the Congregation of the children of Israel, and the Levites shall take the charge of the Tabernacle of the Testimony.

54 So the children of Israel did according to all that the Lord had commanded Moses: so did they.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 1:1 So called because of the diversity and multitude of numberings which are here chiefly contained, both of men’s names and places.
  2. Numbers 1:1 In that place of the wilderness that was near to mount Sinai.
  3. Numbers 1:1 Which contained part of April, and part of May.
  4. Numbers 1:2 Hebrew, by their heads.
  5. Numbers 1:4 That is, the chiefest man of every tribe.
  6. Numbers 1:5 And assist you when ye number the people.
  7. Numbers 1:16 Or captains, and governors.
  8. Numbers 1:18 In showing every man his tribe, and his ancestors.
  9. Numbers 1:20 These are the names of the twelve tribes, as first of Reuben.
  10. Numbers 1:20 Or, as were able to bear weapons.
  11. Numbers 1:44 Or, full count.
  12. Numbers 1:47 Which were warriors, but were appointed to the use of the Tabernacle.
  13. Numbers 1:50 Hebrew, camp.
  14. Numbers 1:51 Whosoever is not of the tribe of Levi.
  15. Numbers 1:53 By not having due regard to the Tabernacle of the Lord.