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Numbers 1-4
New American Standard Bible 1995

The Census of Israel’s Warriors

1 Then the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on (A)the first of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “(B)Take a [a]census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, every male, head by head 3 from (C)twenty years old and upward, whoever is able to go out to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall [b]number them by their armies. 4 With you, moreover, there shall be a man of each tribe, (D)each one head of his father’s household. 5 These then are the names of the men who shall stand with you: (E)of Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur; 6 of Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai; 7 of Judah, (F)Nahshon the son of Amminadab; 8 of Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar; 9 of Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon; 10 of the sons 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 Ochran; 14 of Gad, Eliasaph the son of (G)Deuel; 15 of Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan. 16 These are they who were (H)called of the congregation, the leaders of their fathers’ tribes; they were the (I)heads of [c]divisions of Israel.”

17 So Moses and Aaron took these men who had been designated by name, 18 and they assembled all the congregation together on the (J)first of the second month. Then they registered by (K)ancestry in their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, head by head, 19 just as (L)the Lord had commanded Moses. So he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.

20 (M)Now the sons of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war, 21 their numbered men of the tribe of Reuben were 46,500.

22 (N)Of the sons of Simeon, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, their numbered men, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, (O)whoever was able to go out to war, 23 their numbered men of the tribe of Simeon were 59,300.

24 (P)Of the sons of Gad, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war, 25 their numbered men of the tribe of Gad were 45,650.

26 (Q)Of the sons of Judah, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war, 27 their numbered men of the tribe of Judah were 74,600.

28 (R)Of the sons of Issachar, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war, 29 their numbered men of the tribe of Issachar were 54,400.

30 (S)Of the sons of Zebulun, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war, 31 their numbered men of the tribe of Zebulun were 57,400.

32 (T)Of the sons of Joseph, namely, of the sons of Ephraim, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war, 33 their numbered men of the tribe of Ephraim were 40,500.

34 (U)Of the sons of Manasseh, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war, 35 their numbered men of the tribe of Manasseh were 32,200.

36 (V)Of the sons of Benjamin, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war, 37 their numbered men of the tribe of Benjamin were 35,400.

38 (W)Of the sons of Dan, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war, 39 their numbered men of the tribe of Dan were 62,700.

40 (X)Of the sons of Asher, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war, 41 their numbered men of the tribe of Asher were 41,500.

42 (Y)Of the sons of Naphtali, their genealogical registration by their families, by their fathers’ households, according to the number of names, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war, 43 their numbered men of the tribe of Naphtali were 53,400.

44 These are the ones who were numbered, whom Moses and Aaron numbered, with the leaders of Israel, twelve men, each of whom was of his father’s household. 45 So all the numbered men of the sons of Israel by their fathers’ households, from twenty years old and upward, whoever was able to go out to war in Israel, 46 even all the numbered men were (Z)603,550.

Levites Exempted

47 (AA)The Levites, however, were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe. 48 For the Lord had spoken to Moses, saying, 49 “Only the tribe of Levi (AB)you shall not number, nor shall you take their [d]census among the sons of Israel. 50 But you shall (AC)appoint the Levites over the [e]tabernacle of the testimony, and over all its furnishings and over all that belongs to it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings, and they shall take care of it; they shall also camp around the [f]tabernacle. 51 (AD)So when the tabernacle is to set out, the Levites shall take it down; and when the tabernacle encamps, the Levites shall set it up. But (AE)the [g]layman who comes near shall be put to death. 52 (AF)The sons of Israel shall camp, each man by his own camp, and each man by his own standard, according to their armies. 53 (AG)But the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the testimony, so that there will be (AH)no wrath on the congregation of the sons of Israel. (AI)So the Levites shall keep charge of the tabernacle of the testimony.” 54 Thus the sons of Israel did; according to all which the Lord had commanded Moses, so they did.

Arrangement of the Camps

2 Now the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 “(AJ)The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard, with the [h]banners of their fathers’ households; they shall camp around the tent of meeting [i]at a distance. 3 Now those who camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah, by their armies, and the leader of the sons of Judah: (AK)Nahshon the son of Amminadab, 4 and his army, even their [j]numbered men, 74,600. 5 Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar, and the leader of the sons of Issachar: (AL)Nethanel the son of Zuar, 6 and his army, even their numbered men, 54,400. 7 Then comes the tribe of Zebulun, and the leader of the sons of Zebulun: (AM)Eliab the son of Helon, 8 and his army, even his numbered men, 57,400. 9 The total of the numbered men of the camp of Judah: 186,400, by their armies. (AN)They shall set out first.

10 “On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben by their armies, and the leader of the sons of Reuben: (AO)Elizur the son of Shedeur, 11 and his army, even their numbered men, 46,500. 12 Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon, and the leader of the sons of Simeon: (AP)Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai, 13 and his army, even their numbered men, 59,300. 14 Then comes the tribe of Gad, and the leader of the sons of Gad: (AQ)Eliasaph the son of [k]Deuel, 15 and his army, even their numbered men, 45,650. 16 The total of the numbered men of the camp of Reuben: 151,450 by their armies. And (AR)they shall set out second.

17 “(AS)Then the tent of meeting shall set out with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camps; just as they camp, so they shall set out, every man in his place by their standards.

18 “On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of (AT)Ephraim by their armies, and the leader of the sons of Ephraim shall be (AU)Elishama the son of Ammihud, 19 and his army, even their numbered men, 40,500. 20 Next to him shall be the tribe of Manasseh, and the leader of the sons of Manasseh: (AV)Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur, 21 and his army, even their numbered men, 32,200. 22 Then comes the tribe of (AW)Benjamin, and the leader of the sons of Benjamin: (AX)Abidan the son of Gideoni, 23 and his army, even their numbered men, 35,400. 24 The total of the numbered men of the camp of Ephraim: 108,100, by their armies. And (AY)they shall set out third.

25 “On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan by their armies, and the leader of the sons of Dan: (AZ)Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai, 26 and his army, even their numbered men, 62,700. 27 Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher, and the leader of the sons of Asher: (BA)Pagiel the son of Ochran, 28 and his army, even their numbered men, 41,500. 29 Then comes the tribe of (BB)Naphtali, and the leader of the sons of Naphtali: (BC)Ahira the son of Enan, 30 and his army, even their numbered men, 53,400. 31 The total of the numbered men of the camp of Dan was 157,600. (BD)They shall set out last by their standards.”

32 These are the numbered men of the sons of Israel by their fathers’ households; the total of the numbered men of the camps by their armies, (BE)603,550. 33 (BF)The Levites, however, were not numbered among the sons of Israel, just as the Lord had commanded Moses. 34 Thus the sons of Israel did; according to all that the Lord commanded Moses, so they camped by their standards, and so they set out, every one by his family according to his father’s household.

Levites to Be Priesthood

3 (BG)Now these are the records of the generations of Aaron and Moses at the time when the Lord spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai. 2 (BH)These then are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the (BI)anointed priests, whom he [l]ordained to serve as priests. 4 (BJ)But Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord when they offered strange fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai; and they had no children. So Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests [m]in the lifetime of their father Aaron.

5 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 6 “(BK)Bring the tribe of Levi near and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may serve him. 7 They shall perform the duties for [n]him and for the whole congregation before the tent of meeting, to do the (BL)service of the tabernacle. 8 They shall also keep all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, along with the duties of the sons of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle. 9 You shall thus (BM)give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons; they are wholly given to him from among the sons of Israel. 10 So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons that (BN)they may keep their priesthood, but (BO)the [o]layman who comes near shall be put to death.”

11 Again the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 12 “Now, behold, I (BP)have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every (BQ)firstborn, the first issue of the womb among the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall be Mine. 13 For (BR)all the firstborn are Mine; on the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, from man to beast. They shall be Mine; I am the Lord.”

14 Then the Lord spoke to Moses (BS)in the wilderness of Sinai, saying, 15 “[p](BT)Number the sons of Levi by their fathers’ households, by their families; every male from a month old and upward you shall number.” 16 So Moses numbered them according to the [q]word of the Lord, just as he had been commanded. 17 (BU)These then are the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon and Kohath and Merari. 18 These are the names of the (BV)sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei; 19 and the sons of Kohath by their families: Amram and Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel; 20 and the sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers’ households.

21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites and the family of the Shimeites; these were the families of the Gershonites. 22 Their numbered men, in the numbering of every male from a month old and upward, even their numbered men were 7,500. 23 The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the [r]tabernacle westward, 24 and the leader of the fathers’ households of the Gershonites was Eliasaph the son of Lael.

Duties of the Priests

25 Now (BW)the duties of the sons of Gershon in the tent of meeting involved the tabernacle and (BX)the tent, its covering, and (BY)the screen for the doorway of the tent of meeting, 26 and (BZ)the hangings of the court, and (CA)the screen for the doorway of the court which is around the tabernacle and the altar, and its cords, according to all the service [s]concerning them.

27 Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites and the family of the Izharites and the family of the Hebronites and the family of the Uzzielites; these were the families of the Kohathites. 28 In the numbering of every male from a month old and upward, there were 8,600, performing the duties of the sanctuary. 29 The families of the sons of Kohath were to camp on the southward side of the tabernacle, 30 and the leader of the fathers’ households of the Kohathite families was [t]Elizaphan the son of Uzziel. 31 Now (CB)their duties involved (CC)the ark, (CD)the table, (CE)the lampstand, (CF)the altars, and the utensils of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the screen, and all the service [u]concerning them; 32 and Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest was the chief of the leaders of Levi, and had the oversight of those who perform the duties of the sanctuary.

33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites and the family of the Mushites; these were the families of Merari. 34 Their numbered men in the numbering of every male from a month old and upward, were 6,200. 35 The leader of the fathers’ households of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They were to (CG)camp on the northward side of the tabernacle. 36 Now the appointed duties of the sons of Merari involved the frames of the tabernacle, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its equipment, and the service concerning them, 37 and the pillars around the court with their sockets and their pegs and their cords.

38 Now those who were to (CH)camp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, are Moses and Aaron and his sons, performing the duties of the sanctuary for the obligation of the sons of Israel; but (CI)the [v]layman coming near was to be put to death. 39 All the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the [w]command of the Lord by their families, every male from a month old and upward, were (CJ)22,000.

Firstborn Redeemed

40 Then the Lord said to Moses, “(CK)Number every firstborn male of the sons of Israel from a month old and upward, and [x]make a list of their names. 41 You (CL)shall take the Levites for Me, I am the Lord, instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the cattle of the sons of Israel.” 42 So Moses numbered all the firstborn among the sons of Israel, just as the Lord had commanded him; 43 and all the firstborn males by the number of names from a month old and upward, for their numbered men were (CM)22,273.

44 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 45 “(CN)Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the sons of Israel and the cattle of the Levites. And the Levites shall be Mine; I am the Lord. 46 (CO)For the ransom of the 273 of the firstborn of the sons of Israel who are in excess beyond the Levites, 47 you shall take (CP)five shekels apiece, per head; you shall take them in (CQ)terms of the shekel of the sanctuary ((CR)the shekel is twenty [y]gerahs), 48 and give the money, the ransom of those who are in excess among them, to Aaron and to his sons.” 49 So Moses took the ransom money from those who were in excess, beyond those ransomed by the Levites; 50 from the firstborn of the sons of Israel he took the money in terms of the shekel of the sanctuary, 1,365. 51 Then Moses gave the ransom money to Aaron and to his sons, at the [z]command of the Lord, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Duties of the Kohathites

4 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 2 “Take [aa]a census of the [ab]descendants of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers’ households, 3 from (CS)thirty years and upward, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tent of meeting. 4 This is the work of the [ac]descendants of Kohath in the tent of meeting, concerning the most holy things.

5 “When the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons shall go in and they shall take down (CT)the veil of the screen and cover the (CU)ark of the testimony with it; 6 and they shall lay a (CV)covering of porpoise skin on it, and shall spread over it a cloth of pure [ad]blue, and shall insert its poles. 7 Over the table of the bread of the Presence they shall also spread a cloth of [ae]blue and put on it the dishes and the pans and the sacrificial bowls and the jars for the drink offering, and (CW)the continual bread shall be on it. 8 They shall spread over them a cloth of scarlet material, and cover the same with a covering of porpoise skin, and they shall insert its poles. 9 Then they shall take a [af]blue cloth and cover the (CX)lampstand for the light, (CY)along with its lamps and its snuffers, and its [ag]trays and all its oil vessels, by which they serve it; 10 and they shall put it and all its utensils in a covering of porpoise skin, and shall put it on the carrying bars. 11 Over the golden altar they shall spread a [ah]blue cloth and cover it with a covering of porpoise skin, and shall insert its poles; 12 and they shall take all the utensils of service, with which they serve in the sanctuary, and put them in a [ai]blue cloth and cover them with a covering of porpoise skin, and put them on the carrying bars. 13 Then they shall take away the [aj]ashes from the (CZ)altar, and spread a purple cloth over it. 14 They shall also put on it all its utensils by which they serve in connection with it: the firepans, the forks and shovels and the basins, all the utensils of the altar; and they shall spread a cover of porpoise skin over it and insert its poles. 15 When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all the furnishings of the sanctuary, when the camp is to set out, after that the sons of Kohath shall come to carry them, so that they will not touch the holy objects (DA)and die. These are the [ak]things in the tent of meeting which the sons of Kohath are to carry.

16 “The responsibility of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest is (DB)the oil for the light and the (DC)fragrant incense and (DD)the continual grain offering and (DE)the anointing oil—the responsibility of all the [al]tabernacle and of all that is in it, with the sanctuary and its furnishings.”

17 Then the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, 18 “Do not let the tribe of the families of the Kohathites be cut off from among the Levites. 19 But do this to them that they may live and (DF)not die when they approach the most holy objects: Aaron and his sons shall go in and assign each of them to his work and to his load; 20 but (DG)they shall not go in to see the holy objects even for a moment, or they will die.”

Duties of the Gershonites

21 Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 22 “Take [am]a census of the sons of Gershon [an]also, by their fathers’ households, by their families; 23 from (DH)thirty years and upward to fifty years old, you shall [ao]number them; all who enter to perform the service to do the work in the tent of meeting. 24 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in carrying: 25 they shall carry (DI)the curtains of the tabernacle and the tent of meeting with its covering and (DJ)the covering of porpoise skin that is on top of it, and the screen for the doorway of the tent of meeting, 26 and (DK)the hangings of the court, and the screen for the doorway of the gate of the court which is around the tabernacle and the altar, and their cords and all the equipment for their service; and all that is to be done, [ap]they shall perform. 27 All the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their loads and in all their work, shall be performed at the [aq]command of Aaron and his sons; and you shall assign to them as a duty all their loads. 28 This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the tent of meeting, and their duties shall be [ar]under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.

Duties of the Merarites

29 “As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families, by their fathers’ households; 30 from (DL)thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, you shall number them, everyone who enters the service to do the work of the tent of meeting. 31 Now this is the duty of their loads, for all their service in the tent of meeting: the boards of the tabernacle and its bars and its pillars and its [as]sockets, 32 and the pillars around the court and their [at]sockets and their pegs and their cords, with all their equipment and with all their service; and you shall assign each man by name the items [au]he is to carry. 33 This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service in the tent of meeting, [av]under the direction of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.”

34 So Moses and Aaron and the leaders of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families and by their fathers’ households, 35 from (DM)thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tent of meeting. 36 Their numbered men by their families were 2,750. 37 These are the numbered men of the Kohathite families, everyone who was serving in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the [aw]commandment of the Lord [ax]through Moses.

38 The numbered men of the sons of Gershon by their families and by their fathers’ households, 39 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tent of meeting. 40 Their numbered men by their families, by their fathers’ households, were 2,630. 41 These are the numbered men of the families of the sons of Gershon, everyone who was serving in the tent of meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the [ay]commandment of the Lord.

42 The numbered men of the families of the sons of Merari by their families, by their fathers’ households, 43 from (DN)thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered the service for work in the tent of meeting. 44 Their numbered men by their families were 3,200. 45 These are the numbered men of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the [az]commandment of the Lord [ba]through Moses.

46 All the numbered men of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the leaders of Israel numbered, by their families and by their fathers’ households, 47 from thirty years and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who could enter to do the work of service and the work of carrying in the tent of meeting. 48 Their numbered men were (DO)8,580. 49 According to the [bb]commandment of the Lord [bc]through Moses, they (DP)were numbered, everyone by his serving or carrying; thus these were his numbered men, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 1:2 Lit sum
  2. Numbers 1:3 Lit muster, and so throughout the ch
  3. Numbers 1:16 Lit thousands; or clans
  4. Numbers 1:49 Lit sum
  5. Numbers 1:50 Lit dwelling place, and so throughout the ch
  6. Numbers 1:50 Lit dwelling place, and so throughout the ch
  7. Numbers 1:51 Lit stranger
  8. Numbers 2:2 Lit signs
  9. Numbers 2:2 Or facing it
  10. Numbers 2:4 Lit mustered, and so throughout the ch
  11. Numbers 2:14 Many mss read Reuel
  12. Numbers 3:3 Lit filled their hand
  13. Numbers 3:4 Lit before the face
  14. Numbers 3:7 Lit him and the duties of the whole congregation
  15. Numbers 3:10 Lit stranger
  16. Numbers 3:15 Lit muster, and so throughout the ch
  17. Numbers 3:16 Lit mouth
  18. Numbers 3:23 Lit dwelling place, and so throughout the ch
  19. Numbers 3:26 Lit of it
  20. Numbers 3:30 In Ex 6:22, Elzaphan
  21. Numbers 3:31 Lit of it
  22. Numbers 3:38 Lit stranger
  23. Numbers 3:39 Lit word
  24. Numbers 3:40 Lit take the number
  25. Numbers 3:47 I.e. A gerah equals approx one-fortieth oz
  26. Numbers 3:51 Lit mouth
  27. Numbers 4:2 Lit the sum
  28. Numbers 4:2 Lit sons
  29. Numbers 4:4 Lit sons
  30. Numbers 4:6 Or violet
  31. Numbers 4:7 Or violet
  32. Numbers 4:9 Or violet
  33. Numbers 4:9 Lit snuff dishes
  34. Numbers 4:11 Or violet
  35. Numbers 4:12 Or violet
  36. Numbers 4:13 Or fat ashes; i.e. soaked with fat
  37. Numbers 4:15 Lit burden...of the sons
  38. Numbers 4:16 Lit dwelling place, and so throughout the ch
  39. Numbers 4:22 Lit the sum
  40. Numbers 4:22 Lit also them
  41. Numbers 4:23 Lit muster, and so throughout the ch
  42. Numbers 4:26 Lit so they shall serve
  43. Numbers 4:27 Lit mouth
  44. Numbers 4:28 Lit in the hand
  45. Numbers 4:31 Or bases
  46. Numbers 4:32 Or bases
  47. Numbers 4:32 Lit of the duty of their loads
  48. Numbers 4:33 Lit in the hand
  49. Numbers 4:37 Lit mouth
  50. Numbers 4:37 Lit by the hand of
  51. Numbers 4:41 Lit mouth
  52. Numbers 4:45 Lit mouth
  53. Numbers 4:45 Lit by the hand of
  54. Numbers 4:49 Lit mouth
  55. Numbers 4:49 Lit by the hand of
Listen to Numbers 1-4
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Numbers 1-4
New International Version

The Census

1 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: 2 “Take a census(E) of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families,(F) listing every man by name,(G) one by one. 3 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) 4 One man from each tribe,(K) each of them the head of his family,(L) is to help you.(M) 5 These are the names(N) of the men who are to assist you:

from Reuben,(O) Elizur son of Shedeur;(P)

6 from Simeon,(Q) Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;(R)

7 from Judah,(S) Nahshon son of Amminadab;(T)

8 from Issachar,(U) Nethanel son of Zuar;(V)

9 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

2 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 “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.”

3 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) 4 His division numbers 74,600.

5 The tribe of Issachar(CO) will camp next to them. The leader of the people of Issachar is Nethanel son of Zuar.(CP) 6 His division numbers 54,400.

7 The tribe of Zebulun will be next. The leader of the people of Zebulun is Eliab son of Helon.(CQ) 8 His division numbers 57,400.

9 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.

The Levites

3 This is the account of the family of Aaron and Moses(DT) at the time the Lord spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai.(DU)

2 The names of the sons of Aaron were Nadab the firstborn(DV) and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.(DW) 3 Those were the names of Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests,(DX) who were ordained to serve as priests. 4 Nadab and Abihu, however, died before the Lord(DY) when they made an offering with unauthorized fire before him in the Desert of Sinai.(DZ) They had no sons, so Eleazar and Ithamar(EA) served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.(EB)

5 The Lord said to Moses, 6 “Bring the tribe of Levi(EC) and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.(ED) 7 They are to perform duties for him and for the whole community(EE) at the tent of meeting by doing the work(EF) of the tabernacle. 8 They are to take care of all the furnishings of the tent of meeting, fulfilling the obligations of the Israelites by doing the work of the tabernacle. 9 Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons;(EG) they are the Israelites who are to be given wholly to him.[b] 10 Appoint Aaron(EH) and his sons to serve as priests;(EI) anyone else who approaches the sanctuary is to be put to death.”(EJ)

11 The Lord also said to Moses, 12 “I have taken the Levites(EK) from among the Israelites in place of the first male offspring(EL) of every Israelite woman. The Levites are mine,(EM) 13 for all the firstborn are mine.(EN) When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.”(EO)

14 The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai,(EP) 15 “Count(EQ) the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.”(ER) 16 So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

17 These were the names of the sons of Levi:(ES)

Gershon,(ET) Kohath(EU) and Merari.(EV)

18 These were the names of the Gershonite clans:

Libni and Shimei.(EW)

19 The Kohathite clans:

Amram, Izhar, Hebron and Uzziel.(EX)

20 The Merarite clans:(EY)

Mahli and Mushi.(EZ)

These were the Levite clans, according to their families.

21 To Gershon(FA) belonged the clans of the Libnites and Shimeites;(FB) these were the Gershonite clans. 22 The number of all the males a month old or more who were counted was 7,500. 23 The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle.(FC) 24 The leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael. 25 At the tent of meeting the Gershonites were responsible for the care of the tabernacle(FD) and tent, its coverings,(FE) the curtain at the entrance(FF) to the tent of meeting,(FG) 26 the curtains of the courtyard(FH), the curtain at the entrance to the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,(FI) and the ropes(FJ)—and everything(FK) related to their use.

27 To Kohath(FL) belonged the clans of the Amramites, Izharites, Hebronites and Uzzielites;(FM) these were the Kohathite(FN) clans. 28 The number of all the males a month old or more(FO) was 8,600.[c] The Kohathites were responsible(FP) for the care of the sanctuary.(FQ) 29 The Kohathite clans were to camp on the south side(FR) of the tabernacle. 30 The leader of the families of the Kohathite clans was Elizaphan(FS) son of Uzziel. 31 They were responsible for the care of the ark,(FT) the table,(FU) the lampstand,(FV) the altars,(FW) the articles(FX) of the sanctuary used in ministering, the curtain,(FY) and everything related to their use.(FZ) 32 The chief leader of the Levites was Eleazar(GA) son of Aaron, the priest. He was appointed over those who were responsible(GB) for the care of the sanctuary.(GC)

33 To Merari belonged the clans of the Mahlites and the Mushites;(GD) these were the Merarite clans.(GE) 34 The number of all the males a month old or more(GF) who were counted was 6,200. 35 The leader of the families of the Merarite clans was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.(GG) 36 The Merarites were appointed(GH) to take care of the frames of the tabernacle,(GI) its crossbars,(GJ) posts,(GK) bases, all its equipment, and everything related to their use,(GL) 37 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard(GM) with their bases, tent pegs(GN) and ropes.

38 Moses and Aaron and his sons were to camp to the east(GO) of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, in front of the tent of meeting.(GP) They were responsible for the care of the sanctuary(GQ) on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.(GR)

39 The total number of Levites counted(GS) at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000.(GT)

40 The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more(GU) and make a list of their names.(GV) 41 Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites,(GW) and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord.”(GX)

42 So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. 43 The total number of firstborn males a month old or more,(GY) listed by name, was 22,273.(GZ)

44 The Lord also said to Moses, 45 “Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine.(HA) I am the Lord.(HB) 46 To redeem(HC) the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, 47 collect five shekels[d](HD) for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel,(HE) which weighs twenty gerahs.(HF) 48 Give the money for the redemption(HG) of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.”(HH)

49 So Moses collected the redemption money(HI) from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. 50 From the firstborn of the Israelites(HJ) he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels,[e](HK) according to the sanctuary shekel. 51 Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord.

The Kohathites

4 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2 “Take a census(HL) of the Kohathite branch of the Levites by their clans and families. 3 Count(HM) all the men from thirty to fifty years of age(HN) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

4 “This is the work(HO) of the Kohathites(HP) at the tent of meeting: the care of the most holy things.(HQ) 5 When the camp is to move,(HR) Aaron and his sons are to go in and take down the shielding curtain(HS) and put it over the ark of the covenant law.(HT) 6 Then they are to cover the curtain with a durable leather,[f](HU) spread a cloth of solid blue over that and put the poles(HV) in place.

7 “Over the table of the Presence(HW) they are to spread a blue cloth and put on it the plates, dishes and bowls, and the jars for drink offerings;(HX) the bread that is continually there(HY) is to remain on it. 8 They are to spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover that with the durable leather and put the poles(HZ) in place.

9 “They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand that is for light, together with its lamps, its wick trimmers and trays,(IA) and all its jars for the olive oil used to supply it. 10 Then they are to wrap it and all its accessories in a covering of the durable leather and put it on a carrying frame.(IB)

11 “Over the gold altar(IC) they are to spread a blue cloth and cover that with the durable leather and put the poles(ID) in place.

12 “They are to take all the articles(IE) used for ministering in the sanctuary, wrap them in a blue cloth, cover that with the durable leather and put them on a carrying frame.(IF)

13 “They are to remove the ashes(IG) from the bronze altar(IH) and spread a purple cloth over it. 14 Then they are to place on it all the utensils(II) used for ministering at the altar, including the firepans,(IJ) meat forks,(IK) shovels(IL) and sprinkling bowls.(IM) Over it they are to spread a covering of the durable leather and put the poles(IN) in place.

15 “After Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy furnishings and all the holy articles, and when the camp is ready to move,(IO) only then are the Kohathites(IP) to come and do the carrying.(IQ) But they must not touch the holy things(IR) or they will die.(IS) The Kohathites are to carry those things that are in the tent of meeting.

16 “Eleazar(IT) son of Aaron, the priest, is to have charge of the oil for the light,(IU) the fragrant incense,(IV) the regular grain offering(IW) and the anointing oil. He is to be in charge of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including its holy furnishings and articles.”

17 The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 18 “See that the Kohathite tribal clans are not destroyed from among the Levites. 19 So that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things,(IX) do this for them: Aaron and his sons(IY) are to go into the sanctuary and assign to each man his work and what he is to carry.(IZ) 20 But the Kohathites must not go in to look(JA) at the holy things, even for a moment, or they will die.”

The Gershonites

21 The Lord said to Moses, 22 “Take a census also of the Gershonites by their families and clans. 23 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age(JB) who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting.

24 “This is the service of the Gershonite clans in their carrying and their other work: 25 They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle,(JC) that is, the tent of meeting,(JD) its covering(JE) and its outer covering of durable leather, the curtains for the entrance to the tent of meeting, 26 the curtains of the courtyard surrounding the tabernacle and altar,(JF) the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard,(JG) the ropes and all the equipment(JH) used in the service of the tent. The Gershonites are to do all that needs to be done with these things. 27 All their service, whether carrying or doing other work, is to be done under the direction of Aaron and his sons.(JI) You shall assign to them as their responsibility(JJ) all they are to carry. 28 This is the service of the Gershonite clans(JK) at the tent of meeting. Their duties are to be under the direction of Ithamar(JL) son of Aaron, the priest.

The Merarites

29 “Count(JM) the Merarites by their clans and families.(JN) 30 Count all the men from thirty to fifty years of age who come to serve in the work at the tent of meeting. 31 As part of all their service at the tent, they are to carry the frames of the tabernacle, its crossbars, posts and bases,(JO) 32 as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, ropes,(JP) all their equipment and everything related to their use. Assign to each man the specific things he is to carry. 33 This is the service of the Merarite clans as they work at the tent of meeting under the direction of Ithamar(JQ) son of Aaron, the priest.”

The Numbering of the Levite Clans

34 Moses, Aaron and the leaders of the community counted the Kohathites(JR) by their clans and families. 35 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age(JS) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 36 counted by clans, were 2,750. 37 This was the total of all those in the Kohathite clans(JT) who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

38 The Gershonites(JU) were counted by their clans and families. 39 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 40 counted by their clans and families, were 2,630. 41 This was the total of those in the Gershonite clans who served at the tent of meeting. Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command.

42 The Merarites were counted by their clans and families. 43 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age(JV) who came to serve in the work at the tent of meeting, 44 counted by their clans, were 3,200. 45 This was the total of those in the Merarite clans.(JW) Moses and Aaron counted them according to the Lord’s command through Moses.

46 So Moses, Aaron and the leaders of Israel counted(JX) all the Levites by their clans and families. 47 All the men from thirty to fifty years of age(JY) who came to do the work of serving and carrying the tent of meeting 48 numbered 8,580.(JZ) 49 At the Lord’s command through Moses, each was assigned his work and told what to carry.

Thus they were counted,(KA) as the Lord commanded Moses.

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
  2. Numbers 3:9 Most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text; some manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint (see also 8:16) to me
  3. Numbers 3:28 Hebrew; some Septuagint manuscripts 8,300
  4. Numbers 3:47 That is, about 2 ounces or about 58 grams
  5. Numbers 3:50 That is, about 35 pounds or about 16 kilograms
  6. Numbers 4:6 Possibly the hides of large aquatic mammals; also in verses 8, 10, 11, 12, 14 and 25
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