Numbers 1

A Census of Israel's Warriors

1 Now the LORD spoke to Moses a in the Wilderness of Sinai, b in the tabernacle of meeting, on the c first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying: 2 d "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 e individually, 3 "from f twenty years old and above - all who are able to go to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall number them by their armies. 4 "And with you there shall be a man from every tribe, each one the head of his father's house. 5 "These are the names of the men who shall stand with you: from Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur; 6 "from Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai; 7 "from Judah, Nahshon the son of Amminadab; 8 "from Issachar, Nethanel the son of Zuar; 9 "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 g Deuel; 1 15 "from Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan." 16 h These were i chosen 2 from the congregation, leaders of their fathers' tribes, j heads of the divisions in Israel.

17 Then Moses and Aaron took these men who had been 3 mentioned k by name, 18 and they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month; and they recited their l 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 m 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 n 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 o 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 p 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 q seventy-four thousand six hundred.

28 From the r 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 s 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 t 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 u 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 v 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 w 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 x 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 y 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 z six hundred and three thousand five hundred and fifty.

Levites Exempted

47 But a the Levites were not numbered among them by their fathers' tribe; 48 for the LORD had spoken to Moses, saying: 49 b "Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor take a census of them among the children of Israel; 50 c "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 d and camp around the tabernacle. 51 e "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 f up. g The outsider who comes near shall be put to death. 52 "The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, h everyone by his own camp, everyone by his own standard, according to their armies; 53 i "but the Levites shall camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony, that there may be no j wrath on the congregation of the children of Israel; and the Levites shall k keep 4 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.

  1. Cross References
    Exodus 19:1
    In the third month after the children of Israel had gone out of the land of Egypt, on the same day, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.
    Numbers 10:11
    Now it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle of the Testimony.
    Numbers 10:12
    And the children of Israel set out from the Wilderness of Sinai on their journeys; then the cloud settled down in the Wilderness of Paran.
  2. Cross References
    Exodus 25:22
    And there I will meet with you, and I will speak with you from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are on the ark of the Testimony, about everything which I will give you in commandment to the children of Israel.
  3. Cross References
    Exodus 40:2
    On the first day of the first month you shall set up the tabernacle of the tent of meeting.
    Exodus 40:17
    And it came to pass in the first month of the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was raised up.
    Numbers 9:1
    Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying:
    Numbers 10:11
    Now it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle of the Testimony.
  4. Cross References
    Exodus 30:12
    When you take the census of the children of Isr...
    Numbers 26:2
    "Take a census of all the congregation of the c...
    Numbers 26:63
    These are those who were numbered by Moses and ...
    Numbers 26:64
    But among these there was not a man of those wh...
    2 Samuel 24:2
    So the king said to Joab the commander of the a...
    1 Chronicles 21:2
    So David said to Joab and to the leaders of the...
  5. Cross References
    Exodus 30:12
    When you take the census of the children of Israel for their number, then every man shall give a ransom for himself to the LORD, when you number them, that there may be no plague among them when you number them.
    Exodus 30:13
    This is what everyone among those who are numbered shall give: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (a shekel is twenty gerahs). The half-shekel shall be an offering to the LORD.
    Exodus 38:26
    A bekah for each man ( that is, half a shekel, according to the shekel of the sanctuary), for everyone included in the numbering from twenty years old and above, for six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty men.
  6. Cross References
    Exodus 30:14
    Everyone included among those who are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering to the LORD.
    Exodus 38:26
    A bekah for each man ( that is, half a shekel, according to the shekel of the sanctuary), for everyone included in the numbering from twenty years old and above, for six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty men.
  7. Cross References
    Numbers 7:42
    On the sixth day Eliasaph the son of Deuel, leader of the children of Gad, presented an offering.
  8. Cross References
    Exodus 18:21
    Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens.
    Numbers 7:2
    Then the leaders of Israel, the heads of their fathers' houses, who were the leaders of the tribes and over those who were numbered, made an offering.
    1 Chronicles 27:16 - 22
    Furthermore, over the tribes of Israel: the officer over the Reubenites was Eliezer the son of Zichri; over the Simeonites, Shephatiah the son of Maachah.
  9. Cross References
    Numbers 16:2
    And they rose up before Moses with some of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty leaders of the congregation, representatives of the congregation, men of renown.
  10. Cross References
    Exodus 18:21
    Moreover you shall select from all the people a...
    Exodus 18:25
    And Moses chose able men out of all Israel, and...
    Jeremiah 5:5
    I will go to the great men and speak to them, F...
    Micah 3:1
    And I said: "Hear now, O heads of Jacob, And yo...
    Micah 3:9
    Now hear this, You heads of the house of Jacob ...
    Micah 5:2
    "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are l...
  11. Cross References
    Isaiah 43:1
    But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine.
  12. Cross References
    Ezra 2:59
    And these were the ones who came up from Tel Melah, Tel Harsha, Cherub, Addan, and Immer; but they could not identify their father's house or their genealogy, whether they were of Israel:
    Hebrews 7:3
    Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, remains a priest continually.
  13. Cross References
    Numbers 2:10
    "On the south side shall be the standard of the...
    Numbers 2:11
    And his army was numbered at forty-six thousand...
    Numbers 26:5 - 11
    Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. The childre...
    Numbers 32:6
    And Moses said to the children of Gad and to th...
    Numbers 32:15
    "For if you turn away from following Him, He wi...
    Numbers 32:21
    And all your armed men cross over the Jordan be...
    Numbers 32:29
    And Moses said to them: "If the children of Gad...
  14. Cross References
    Numbers 2:12
    "Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Simeon, and the leader of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai."
    Numbers 2:13
    And his army was numbered at fifty-nine thousand three hundred.
    Numbers 26:12 - 14
    The sons of Simeon according to their families were: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites.
  15. Cross References
    Genesis 30:11
    Then Leah said, "A troop comes!" So she called his name Gad.
    Numbers 26:15 - 18
    The sons of Gad according to their families were: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the family of the Haggites; of Shuni, the family of the Shunites.
    Joshua 4:12
    And the men of Reuben, the men of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses had spoken to them.
    Jeremiah 49:1
    Against the Ammonites. Thus says the LORD: "Has Israel no sons? Has he no heir? Why then does Milcom inherit Gad, And his people dwell in its cities?
  16. Cross References
    Genesis 29:35
    And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, "Now I will praise the LORD." Therefore she called his name Judah. Then she stopped bearing.
    Numbers 26:19 - 22
    The sons of Judah were Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
    2 Samuel 24:9
    Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to the king. And there were in Israel eight hundred thousand valiant men who drew the sword, and the men of Judah were five hundred thousand men.
    Psalms 78:68
    But chose the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion which He loved.
    Matthew 1:2
    Abraham begot Isaac, Isaac begot Jacob, and Jacob begot Judah and his brothers.
  17. Cross References
    2 Chronicles 17:14
    These are their numbers, according to their fathers' houses. Of Judah, the captains of thousands: Adnah the captain, and with him three hundred thousand mighty men of valor.
  18. Cross References
    Numbers 2:5
    "Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar, and Nethanel the son of Zuar shall be the leader of the children of Issachar."
    Numbers 2:6
    And his army was numbered at fifty-four thousand four hundred.
  19. Cross References
    Numbers 2:7
    "Then comes the tribe of Zebulun, and Eliab the son of Helon shall be the leader of the children of Zebulun."
    Numbers 2:8
    And his army was numbered at fifty-seven thousand four hundred.
    Numbers 26:26
    The sons of Zebulun according to their families were: of Sered, the family of the Sardites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.
    Numbers 26:27
    These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those who were numbered of them: sixty thousand five hundred.
  20. Cross References
    Genesis 48:1 - 22
    Now it came to pass after these things that Joseph was told, "Indeed your father is sick"; and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
    Numbers 26:28 - 37
    The sons of Joseph according to their families, by Manasseh and Ephraim, were:
    Deuteronomy 33:13 - 17
    And of Joseph he said: "Blessed of the LORD is his land, With the precious things of heaven, with the dew, And the deep lying beneath.
    Jeremiah 7:15
    And I will cast you out of My sight, as I have cast out all your brethren - the whole posterity of Ephraim.
  21. Cross References
    Numbers 2:20
    "Next to him comes the tribe of Manasseh, and the leader of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur."
    Numbers 2:21
    And his army was numbered at thirty-two thousand two hundred.
    Numbers 26:28 - 34
    The sons of Joseph according to their families, by Manasseh and Ephraim, were:
  22. Cross References
    Genesis 49:27
    "Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; In the morning he shall devour the prey, And at night he shall divide the spoil."
    Numbers 26:38 - 41
    The sons of Benjamin according to their families were: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites.
    2 Chronicles 17:17
    Of Benjamin: Eliada a mighty man of valor, and with him two hundred thousand men armed with bow and shield.
    Revelation 7:8
    Of the tribe of Zebulun twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Joseph twelve thousand were sealed; of the tribe of Benjamin twelve thousand were sealed.
  23. Cross References
    Genesis 30:6
    Then Rachel said, "God has judged my case; and ...
    Genesis 46:23
    The son of Dan was Hushim.
    Numbers 2:25
    "The standard of the forces with Dan shall be o...
    Numbers 2:26
    And his army was numbered at sixty-two thousand...
    Numbers 26:42
    These are the sons of Dan according to their fa...
    Numbers 26:43
    All the families of the Shuhamites, according t...
  24. Cross References
    Numbers 2:27
    "Those who camp next to him shall be the tribe of Asher, and the leader of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran."
    Numbers 2:28
    And his army was numbered at forty-one thousand five hundred.
    Numbers 26:44 - 47
    The sons of Asher according to their families were: of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites; of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites; of Beriah, the family of the Beriites.
  25. Cross References
    Numbers 26:64
    But among these there was not a man of those who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they numbered the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Sinai.
  26. Cross References
    Exodus 12:37
    Then the children of Israel journeyed from Rame...
    Exodus 38:26
    A bekah for each man ( that is, half a shekel, ...
    Numbers 2:32
    These are the ones who were numbered of the chi...
    Numbers 26:51
    These are those who were numbered of the childr...
    Numbers 26:63
    These are those who were numbered by Moses and ...
    Hebrews 11:12
    Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead...
    Revelation 7:4 - 8
    And I heard the number of those who were sealed...
  27. Cross References
    Numbers 2:33
    But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel, just as the LORD commanded Moses.
    Numbers 3:14 - 22
    Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying:
    Numbers 26:57 - 62
    And these are those who were numbered of the Levites according to their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites.
    1 Chronicles 6:1 - 47
    The sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
    1 Chronicles 21:6
    But he did not count Levi and Benjamin among them, for the king's word was abominable to Joab.
  28. Cross References
    Numbers 2:33
    But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel, just as the LORD commanded Moses.
    Numbers 26:62
    Now those who were numbered of them were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and above; for they were not numbered among the other children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given to them among the children of Israel.
  29. Cross References
    Exodus 38:21
    This is the inventory of the tabernacle, the ta...
    Numbers 3:7
    And they shall attend to his needs and the need...
    Numbers 3:8
    Also they shall attend to all the furnishings o...
    Numbers 4:15
    And when Aaron and his sons have finished cover...
    Numbers 4:25 - 27
    They shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle...
    Numbers 4:33
    "This is the service of the families of the son...
  30. Cross References
    Numbers 3:23
    The families of the Gershonites were to camp behind the tabernacle westward.
    Numbers 3:29
    The families of the children of Kohath were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle.
    Numbers 3:35
    The leader of the fathers' house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. These were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.
    Numbers 3:38
    Moreover those who were to camp before the tabernacle on the east, before the tabernacle of meeting, were Moses, Aaron, and his sons, keeping charge of the sanctuary, to meet the needs of the children of Israel; but the outsider who came near was to be put to death.
  31. Cross References
    Numbers 4:5 - 15
    When the camp prepares to journey, Aaron and his sons shall come, and they shall take down the covering veil and cover the ark of the Testimony with it.
    Numbers 10:17
    Then the tabernacle was taken down; and the sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari set out, carrying the tabernacle.
    Numbers 10:21
    Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. (The tabernacle would be prepared for their arrival.)
  32. Cross References
    Numbers 10:21
    Then the Kohathites set out, carrying the holy things. (The tabernacle would be prepared for their arrival.)
  33. Cross References
    Numbers 3:10
    "So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and t...
    Numbers 3:38
    Moreover those who were to camp before the tabe...
    Numbers 4:15
    And when Aaron and his sons have finished cover...
    Numbers 4:19
    But do this in regard to them, that they may li...
    Numbers 4:20
    "But they shall not go in to watch while the ho...
    Numbers 18:22
    Hereafter the children of Israel shall not come...
  34. Cross References
    Numbers 2:2
    Everyone of the children of Israel shall camp by his own standard, beside the emblems of his father's house; they shall camp some distance from the tabernacle of meeting.
    Numbers 2:34
    Thus the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses; so they camped by their standards and so they broke camp, each one by his family, according to their fathers' houses.
    Numbers 24:2
    And Balaam raised his eyes, and saw Israel encamped according to their tribes; and the Spirit of God came upon him.
  35. Cross References
    Numbers 1:50
    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 and camp around the tabernacle.
  36. Cross References
    Leviticus 10:6
    And Moses said to Aaron, and to Eleazar and Ithamar, his sons, "Do not uncover your heads nor tear your clothes, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the people. But let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD has kindled.
    Numbers 8:19
    "And I have given the Levites as a gift to Aaron and his sons from among the children of Israel, to do the work for the children of Israel in the tabernacle of meeting, and to make atonement for the children of Israel, that there be no plague among the children of Israel when the children of Israel come near the sanctuary."
    Numbers 16:46
    So Moses said to Aaron, "Take a censer and put fire in it from the altar, put incense on it, and take it quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them; for wrath has gone out from the LORD. The plague has begun.
    Numbers 18:5
    And you shall attend to the duties of the sanctuary and the duties of the altar, that there may be no more wrath on the children of Israel.
    1 Samuel 6:19
    Then He struck the men of Beth Shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD. He struck fifty thousand and seventy men of the people, and the people lamented because the LORD had struck the people with a great slaughter.
  37. Cross References
    Numbers 8:24
    This is what pertains to the Levites: From twenty-five years old and above one may enter to perform service in the work of the tabernacle of meeting.
    Numbers 18:2 - 4
    Also bring with you your brethren of the tribe of Levi, the tribe of your father, that they may be joined with you and serve you while you and your sons are with you before the tabernacle of witness.
    1 Chronicles 23:32
    And that they should attend to the needs of the tabernacle of meeting, the needs of the holy place, and the needs of the sons of Aaron their brethren in the work of the house of the LORD.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.
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