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.

The Arrangement of the Tribal Camps

The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: “The Israelites are to camp around the tent of meeting some distance from it, each of them under their standard(CM) and holding the banners of their family.”

On the east, toward the sunrise, the divisions of the camp of Judah are to encamp under their standard. The leader of the people of Judah is Nahshon son of Amminadab.(CN) His division numbers 74,600.

The tribe of Issachar(CO) will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar.(CP) His division numbers 54,400.

The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon.(CQ) His division numbers 57,400.

All the men assigned to the camp of Judah, according to their divisions, number 186,400. They will set out first.(CR)

10 On the south(CS) will be the divisions of the camp of Reuben under their standard. The leader of the people of Reuben is Elizur son of Shedeur.(CT) 11 His division numbers 46,500.

12 The tribe of Simeon(CU) will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Simeon is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai.(CV) 13 His division numbers 59,300.

14 The tribe of Gad(CW) will be next. The leader of the people of Gad is Eliasaph son of Deuel.[a](CX) 15 His division numbers 45,650.

16 All the men assigned to the camp of Reuben,(CY) according to their divisions, number 151,450. They will set out second.

17 Then the tent of meeting and the camp of the Levites(CZ) will set out in the middle of the camps. They will set out in the same order as they encamp, each in their own place under their standard.

18 On the west(DA) will be the divisions of the camp of Ephraim(DB) under their standard. The leader of the people of Ephraim is Elishama son of Ammihud.(DC) 19 His division numbers 40,500.

20 The tribe of Manasseh(DD) will be next to them. The leader of the people of Manasseh is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur.(DE) 21 His division numbers 32,200.

22 The tribe of Benjamin(DF) will be next. The leader of the people of Benjamin is Abidan son of Gideoni.(DG) 23 His division numbers 35,400.

24 All the men assigned to the camp of Ephraim,(DH) according to their divisions, number 108,100. They will set out third.(DI)

25 On the north(DJ) will be the divisions of the camp of Dan under their standard.(DK) The leader of the people of Dan is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.(DL) 26 His division numbers 62,700.

27 The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Asher is Pagiel son of Okran.(DM) 28 His division numbers 41,500.

29 The tribe of Naphtali(DN) will be next. The leader of the people of Naphtali is Ahira son of Enan.(DO) 30 His division numbers 53,400.

31 All the men assigned to the camp of Dan number 157,600. They will set out last,(DP) under their standards.

32 These are the Israelites, counted according to their families.(DQ) All the men in the camps, by their divisions, number 603,550.(DR) 33 The Levites, however, were not counted(DS) along with the other Israelites, as the Lord commanded Moses.

34 So the Israelites did everything the Lord commanded Moses; that is the way they encamped under their standards, and that is the way they set out, each of them with their clan and family.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 2:14 Many manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch and Vulgate (see also 1:14); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text Reuel

The Men of Israel Are Counted

The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting. It happened in the Desert of Sinai. The Lord spoke to him on the first day of the second month. It was the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. The Lord said, “Count all the men of Israel. Make a list of them by their tribes and families. List every man by name. List them one by one. Count all the men able to serve in the army. They must be 20 years old or more. I want you and Aaron to make a list of them group by group. One man from each tribe must help you. Those who help must be the heads of their families.

“Here are the names of the men who must help you.

“From the tribe of Reuben will come Elizur, the son of Shedeur.

From the tribe of Simeon will come Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai.

From the tribe of Judah will come Nahshon, the son of Amminadab.

From the tribe of Issachar will come Nethanel, the son of Zuar.

From the tribe of Zebulun will come Eliab, the son of Helon.

10 From the tribe of Ephraim will come Elishama, the son of Ammihud.

From the tribe of Manasseh will come Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur.

Ephraim and Manasseh are Joseph’s two sons.

11 From the tribe of Benjamin will come Abidan, the son of Gideoni.

12 From the tribe of Dan will come Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai.

13 From the tribe of Asher will come Pagiel, the son of Okran.

14 From the tribe of Gad will come Eliasaph, the son of Deuel.

15 From the tribe of Naphtali will come Ahira, the son of Enan.”

16 These were the men appointed from the community. They were the leaders of the tribes of their people. They were the heads of the major families in Israel.

17 Moses and Aaron went and got the men whose names had been given to them. 18 Then Moses and Aaron gathered all the men of Israel together. It was the first day of the second month. The people wrote down the tribe and family they belonged to. The men 20 years old or more were listed by name. They were listed one by one. 19 Everything was done just as the Lord had commanded Moses. So Moses counted them in the Desert of Sinai.

20 Here is the number of men from the tribe of Reuben. He is Israel’s oldest son.

All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed one by one. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families. 21 The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.

22 Here is the number of men from the tribe of Simeon.

All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed one by one. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families. 23 The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.

24 Here is the number of men from the tribe of Gad.

All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families. 25 The number from the tribe of Gad was 45,650.

26 Here is the number of men from the tribe of Judah.

All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families. 27 The number from the tribe of Judah was 74,600.

28 Here is the number of men from the tribe of Issachar.

All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families. 29 The number from the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.

30 Here is the number of men from the tribe of Zebulun.

All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families. 31 The number from the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.

32 Here is the number of men from the tribe of Ephraim. He is the son of Joseph.

All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families. 33 The number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500.

34 Here is the number of men from the tribe of Manasseh. He is the son of Joseph.

All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families. 35 The number from the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.

36 Here is the number of men from the tribe of Benjamin.

All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families. 37 The number from the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400.

38 Here is the number of men from the tribe of Dan.

All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families. 39 The number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700.

40 Here is the number of men from the tribe of Asher.

All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families. 41 The number from the tribe of Asher was 41,500.

42 Here is the number of men from the tribe of Naphtali.

All the men able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed according to the records of their tribes and families. 43 The number from the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400.

44 These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron. The 12 leaders of Israel helped them. There was one leader from each tribe. 45 The men who were counted were able to serve in Israel’s army. All of them were 20 years old or more. They were counted family by family. 46 The total number of men was 603,550.

47 But the families of the tribe of Levi were not counted along with the others. 48 The Lord had spoken to Moses. He had said, 49 “You must not count the men from the tribe of Levi. Do not include them when you list the other men of Israel. 50 Instead, put the Levites in charge of the holy tent. That is where the tablets of the covenant law are kept. The Levites will be in charge of everything that belongs to the holy tent. They must carry the tent and everything that belongs to it. They must take care of it. They must set up camp around it. 51 When the holy tent must be moved, the Levites must take it down. And when the tent must be set up, the Levites must do it. Anyone else who approaches it must be put to death. 52 The Israelites must set up their tents by military groups. All of them must be in their own camps under their own flags. 53 But the Levites must set up their tents around the holy tent. That’s where the tablets of the covenant law are kept. Then I will not be angry with the community of Israel. The Levites will be responsible for taking care of the tent.”

54 The Israelites did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

The Tribes Camp Around the Tent of Meeting

The Lord spoke to Moses and Aaron. He said, “The Israelites must camp around the tent of meeting. But they must not camp too close to it. All of them must camp under their flags and under the banners of their families.”

The groups of the camp of Judah must be on the east side. They must set up camp toward the sunrise. They must camp under their flag. The leader of the tribe of Judah is Nahshon, the son of Amminadab. There are 74,600 men in Nahshon’s group.

The tribe of Issachar will camp next to them. The leader of the tribe of Issachar is Nethanel, the son of Zuar. There are 54,400 men in Nethanel’s group.

The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the tribe of Zebulun is Eliab, the son of Helon. There are 57,400 men in Eliab’s group.

So a total of 186,400 men will be set apart for the camp of Judah. They will be arranged group by group. They will start out first.

10 The groups of the camp of Reuben will be on the south side. They will be under their flag. The leader of the tribe of Reuben is Elizur, the son of Shedeur. 11 There are 46,500 men in Elizur’s group.

12 The tribe of Simeon will camp next to them. The leader of the tribe of Simeon is Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai. 13 There are 59,300 men in Shelumiel’s group.

14 The tribe of Gad will be next. The leader of the tribe of Gad is Eliasaph, the son of Deuel. 15 There are 45,650 men in Eliasaph’s group.

16 So a total of 151,450 men will be set apart for the camp of Reuben. They will be arranged group by group. They will start out second.

17 Then the camp of the Levites will start out. The tent of meeting will go with them. They will march in the middle of the other camps. They will start out in the same order as they do when they set up camp. Each one will be in their own place under their flag.

18 The groups of the camp of Ephraim will be on the west side. They will be under their flag. The leader of the tribe of Ephraim is Elishama, the son of Ammihud. 19 There are 40,500 men in Elishama’s group.

20 The tribe of Manasseh will be next to them. The leader of the tribe of Manasseh is Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur. 21 There are 32,200 men in Gamaliel’s group.

22 The tribe of Benjamin will be next. The leader of the tribe of Benjamin is Abidan, the son of Gideoni. 23 There are 35,400 men in Abidan’s group.

24 So a total of 108,100 men will be set apart for the camp of Ephraim. They will be arranged group by group. They will start out third.

25 The groups of the camp of Dan will be on the north side. They will be under their flag. The leader of the tribe of Dan is Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai. 26 There are 62,700 men in Ahiezer’s group.

27 The tribe of Asher will camp next to them. The leader of the tribe of Asher is Pagiel, the son of Okran. 28 There are 41,500 men in Pagiel’s group.

29 The tribe of Naphtali will be next. The leader of the tribe of Naphtali is Ahira, the son of Enan. 30 There are 53,400 men in Ahira’s group.

31 So a total of 157,600 men will be set apart for the camp of Dan. They will start out last. They will march under their flags.

32 Those are the men of Israel. They were counted according to their families. The total number of all the men in the camps is 603,550, group by group. 33 But the Levites weren’t counted along with the other men of Israel. That’s what the Lord had commanded Moses.

34 So the Israelites did everything the Lord had commanded Moses. That’s the way they set up camp under their flags. And that’s the way they started out. Each of them marched out with their own tribe and family.