The Second Census of Israel (Numbers 1:1-4)
“After the plague had ended, the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, “Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by the houses of their fathers—all those twenty years of age or older who can serve in the army of Israel.”
So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest issued the instruction, “Take a census of the men twenty years of age or older, as the LORD has commanded Moses.” And these were the Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt:
The Tribe of Reuben
Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. These were the descendants of Reuben: The Hanochite clan from Hanoch, the Palluite clan from Pallu, the Hezronite clan from Hezron, and the Carmite clan from Carmi.
These were the clans of Reuben, and their registration numbered 43,730. Now the son of Pallu was Eliab, and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. It was Dathan and Abiram, chosen by the congregation, who fought against Moses and Aaron with the followers of Korah who rebelled against the LORD. And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire consumed 250 men. They serve as a warning sign. However, the line of Korah did not die out.
The Tribe of Simeon
These were the descendants of Simeon by their clans: The Nemuelite clan from Nemuel, the Jaminite clan from Jamin, the Jachinite clan from Jachin, the Zerahite clan from Zerah, and the Shaulite clan from Shaul. These were the clans of Simeon, and there were 22,200 men.
The Tribe of Gad
These were the descendants of Gad by their clans: The Zephonite clan from Zephon, the Haggite clan from Haggi, the Shunite clan from Shuni, the Oznite clan from Ozni, the Erite clan from Eri, the Arodite clan from Arod, and the Arelite clan from Areli. These were the clans of Gad, and their registration numbered 40,500.
The Tribe of Judah
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan. These were the descendants of Judah by their clans: The Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, the Zerahite clan from Zerah. And these were the descendants of Perez: the Hezronite clan from Hezron and the Hamulite clan from Hamul. These were the clans of Judah, and their registration numbered 76,500.
The Tribe of Issachar
These were the descendants of Issachar by their clans: The Tolaite clan from Tola, the Punite clan from Puvah, the Jashubite clan from Jashub, and the Shimronite clan from Shimron. These were the clans of Issachar, and their registration numbered 64,300.
The Tribe of Zebulun
These were the descendants of Zebulun by their clans: The Seredite clan from Sered, the Elonite clan from Elon, and the Jahleelite clan from Jahleel. These were the clans of Zebulun, and their registration numbered 60,500.
The Tribe of Manasseh
The descendants of Joseph included the clans of Manasseh and Ephraim. These were the descendants of Manasseh: The Machirite clan from Machir. Machir was the father of Gilead, the Gileadite clan from Gilead. These were the descendants of Gilead: the Iezerite clan from Iezer, the Helekite clan from Helek, the Asrielite clan from Asriel, the Shechemite clan from Shechem, the Shemidaite clan from Shemida, and the Hepherite clan from Hepher. Now Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons—only daughters. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
These were the clans of Manasseh, and their registration numbered 52,700.
The Tribe of Ephraim
These were the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: The Shuthelahite clan from Shuthelah, the Becherite clan from Becher, and the Tahanite clan from Tahan. And the descendants of Shuthelah were the Eranite clan from Eran. These were the clans of Ephraim, and their registration numbered 32,500.
These clans were the descendants of Joseph.
The Tribe of Benjamin
These were the descendants of Benjamin by their clans: The Belaite clan from Bela, the Ashbelite clan from Ashbel, the Ahiramite clan from Ahiram, the Shuphamite clan from Shupham, and the Huphamite clan from Hupham. And the descendants of Bela from Ard and Naaman were the Ardite clan from Ardf and the Naamite clan from Naaman. These were the clans of Benjamin, and their registration numbered 45,600.
The Tribe of Dan
These were the descendants of Dan by their clans: The Shuhamite clan from Shuham. These were the clans of Dan. All of them were Shuhamite clans, and their registration numbered 64,400.
The Tribe of Asher
These were the descendants of Asher by their clans: The Imnite clan from Imnah, the Ishvite clan from Ishvi, the Beriite clan from Beriah. These were the descendants of Beriah: the Heberite clan from Heber,
and the Malchielite clan from Malchiel. And the name of Asher’s daughter was Serah. These were the clans of Asher, and their registration numbered 53,400.
The Tribe of Naphtali
These were the descendants of Naphtali by their clans: The Jahzeelite clan from Jahzeel, the Gunite clan from Guni, the Jezerite clan from Jezer, and the Shillemite clan from Shillem. These were the clans of Naphtali, and their registration numbered 45,400.
These men of Israel numbered 601,730 in all.
Inheritance by Lot
Then the LORD said to Moses, “The land is to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance, according to the number of names. Increase the inheritance for a large tribe and decrease it for a small one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those registered. Indeed, the land must be divided by lot; they shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers. Each inheritance is to be divided by lot among the larger and smaller tribes.”
The Levites Numbered
Now these were the Levites registered by their clans: The Gershonite clan from Gershon, the Kohathite clan from Kohath, and the Merarite clan from Merari. These were the families of the Levites: The Libnite clan, the Hebronite clan, the Mahlite clan, the Mushite clan, and the Korahite clan. Now Kohath was the father of Amram, and Amram’s wife was named Jochebed. She was also a daughter of Levi, born to Levi in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam. Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar were born to Aaron, but Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.
The registration of the Levites totaled 23,000, every male one month old or more; they were not registered among the other Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.
Only Caleb and Joshua Remain
These were the ones registered by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they numbered the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho. Among all these, however, there was not one who had been registered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they numbered the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai. For the LORD had told them that they would surely die in the wilderness. Not one was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.”
If you’ve skipped the Scripture to read this explanation, don’t feel too bad. This is the chapter where the Book of Numbers really earns its name. What’s the point of this census? Moses needs to know how many men twenty years and older he has who can serve in the army of Israel. In addition, the Israelites are preparing to enter Canaan, where land will be allotted to tribes according to their populations. The Israelites also need to be able to trace their ancestry. This is the first census taken since the census in the Wilderness of Sinai. All the men registered during the first census have died in the wilderness, apart from Joshua and Caleb, as God has promised. There are also some women whose names are included in the census because their fathers have no sons. God wants to make sure that nobody gets slighted.
APPLICATION: Once more, God demonstrates that He knows all our names and those of our families. God has fulfilled His promise that the faithless men who refused to trust the report of Caleb and Joshua would die in the wilderness. Levite males one month old and up are registered because they will not receive an inheritance among the Israelites but will receive other compensation instead. Note that even though Korah led a rebellion against God, God has preserved his descendants as well as the descendants of his co-conspirators.
What’s important about these numbers is the care God is taking so that Israel will have the army needed to conquer Canaan and to ensure a fair distribution of land once the Israelites conquer it. When God was creating the world, He already knew which tribes would occupy which land. God has been planning things for the Israelites even before making those promises to Abraham in Genesis 15.
God doesn’t play favorites. Just as God had plans for the Israelites, so God has plans for each of us. Our task is to find God’s perfect plan for our lives. God is a good God who does not play charades with His children. James 1:5-7 tells us “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith, without doubting, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” Let’s pray.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us are confused and unsure which way to go. Help us to ask You first and then to trust You for the answer. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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