Moses Takes a Census of Israel

Yahweh spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai. It was the first day of the second month in the second year after leaving Egypt. He said,

“Take a census of the whole community of Israel by families and households. List every man by name

who is at least 20 years old. You and Aaron must register everyone in Israel who is eligible for military duty. List them by divisions.

These were the men chosen from the community, the leaders of their ancestors’ tribes, and heads of the divisions of Israel.

So Moses registered the men of Israel in the Desert of Sinai as Yahweh had commanded him.

The roster of families and households for the descendants of Reuben, Israel’s firstborn son, listed every man by name who was at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty.

Moses, Aaron, and the 12 leaders of Israel, each representing his own family, added up these totals.

So the Israelites were registered by households. The grand total of men who were at least 20 years old and eligible for military duty

But the households from the tribe of Levi were not registered along with the other Israelites.

“Don’t register the tribe of Levi or include them in the census with the other Israelites.

“The other Israelites will camp with each family in its own area under its own flag.

The Levites will camp all around the tent of God’s words. In this way the Lord won’t be angry with the community of Israel. So the Levites will be in charge of the tent of God’s words.”

The Israelites did everything as Yahweh commanded Moses.

The Arrangement of Israel’s Camp

Yahweh spoke to Moses and Aaron,

“The Israelites will put up their tents with each family under the flag that symbolizes its household. They will put their tents around the tent of meeting, facing it.

This is the total number of Israelites, counted by households. The grand total of all the troops in the camps was 603,550.

As Yahweh had commanded Moses, the Levites were not registered along with the other Israelites.

So the Israelites did everything as Yahweh had commanded Moses. They set up camp under their flags, and each person traveled with his own family and household.

They will take care of all the furnishings in the tent of meeting and work for the Israelites, doing what needs to be done for the inner tent.

Give the Levites to Aaron and his sons. The Levites will be the only Israelites given to them.

“Out of all the Israelites, I have taken the Levites to be substitutes for every firstborn male offspring among them. The Levites are mine,

because every firstborn is mine. The day I killed every firstborn male in Egypt, I set apart as holy every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They will be mine. I am Yahweh.”

Moses, Aaron, and his sons put up their tents on the east side in front of the tent of meeting. They were in charge of the holy place on behalf of the Israelites. Anyone else who tried to do the Levites’ duties had to be put to death.

Yahweh said to Moses, “Register every firstborn male of the Israelites who is at least one month old, and make a list of their names.

I am Yahweh. Take the Levites for me to be substitutes for all firstborn Israelites. Also take the animals of the Levites to be substitutes for all firstborn animals of the Israelites.”