The People of Israel Are Counted

The people of Israel had left Egypt and were living in the Sinai Desert. Then on the first day of the second month of the second year, when Moses was in the sacred tent the Lord said:

The following twelve family leaders, one from each tribe, will help you: Elizur son of Shedeur from Reuben, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai from Simeon, Nahshon son of Amminadab from Judah, Nethanel son of Zuar from Issachar, Eliab son of Helon from Zebulun, Elishama son of Ammihud from Ephraim, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur from Manasseh, Abidan son of Gideoni from Benjamin, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai from Dan, Pagiel son of Ochran from Asher, Eliasaph son of Deuel from Gad, and Ahira son of Enan from Naphtali.

called together the people that same day. They were counted according to their clans and families. Then Moses and the others listed the names of the men twenty years and older,

The number of men from each tribe who were at least 20 years old and strong enough to fight in Israel's army was as follows: 46,500 from Reuben, the oldest son of Jacob, 59,300 from Simeon, 45,650 from Gad, 74,600 from Judah, 54,400 from Issachar, 57,400 from Zebulun, 40,500 from Ephraim, 32,200 from Manasseh, 35,400 from Benjamin, 62,700 from Dan, 41,500 from Asher, 53,400 from Naphtali. The total number of men registered by Moses, Aaron, and the twelve leaders was 603,550.

because the Lord had said to Moses:

Instead, give them the job of caring for the sacred tent, its furnishings, and the objects used for worship. They will camp around the tent, and whenever you move, they will take it down, carry it to the new camp, and set it up again. Anyone else who tries to go near it must be put to death.

But the Levites will camp around the sacred tent to make sure that no one goes near it and makes me furious with the Israelites.

Instructions for Setting Up Israel's Camp

The Lord told Moses and Aaron

how the Israelites should arrange their camp: Each tribe must set up camp under its own banner and under the flags of its ancestral families. These camps will be arranged around the sacred tent, but not close to it.

Judah and the tribes that march with it must set up camp on the east side of the sacred tent, under their own banner. The 74,600 troops of the tribe of Judah will be arranged by divisions and led by Nahshon son of Amminadab.

On one side of Judah will be the tribe of Issachar, with Nethanel son of Zuar as the leader of its 54,400 troops.

On the other side will be the tribe of Zebulun, with Eliab son of Helon as the leader of its 57,400 troops.

Reuben and the tribes that march with it must set up camp on the south side of the sacred tent, under their own banner. The 46,500 troops of the tribe of Reuben will be arranged by divisions and led by Elizur son of Shedeur.

On one side of Reuben will be the tribe of Simeon, with Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai as the leader of its 59,300 troops.

On the other side will be the tribe of Gad, with Eliasaph son of Deuel as the leader of its 45,650 troops.

These 151,450 troops will march into battle second.

Marching behind Reuben will be the Levites, arranged in groups, just as they are camped. They will carry the sacred tent and their own banners.

Ephraim and the tribes that march with it must set up camp on the west side of the sacred tent, under their own banner. The 40,500 troops of the tribe of Ephraim will be arranged by divisions and led by Elishama son of Ammihud.

On one side of Ephraim will be the tribe of Manasseh, with Gamaliel son of Pedahzur as the leader of its 32,200 troops.

On the other side will be the tribe of Benjamin, with Abidan son of Gideoni as the leader of its 35,400 troops.

Dan and the tribes that march with it must set up camp on the north side of the sacred tent, under their own banner. The 62,700 troops of the tribe of Dan will be arranged by divisions and led by Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai.

On one side of Dan will be the tribe of Asher, with Pagiel son of Ochran as the leader of its 41,500 troops.

On the other side will be the tribe of Naphtali with Ahira son of Enan as the leader of its 53,400 troops.

So all the Israelites in the camp were counted according to their ancestral families. The troops were arranged by divisions and totaled 603,550.

The Sons of Aaron

When the Lord talked with Moses on Mount Sinai,