At Sinai: Numbering the Israelites

At Sinai on Day 1, Month 2, Year 2

[cf. calendar in Ex 12:2, 40:17]

1:1

• In the tabernacle, God speaks to Moses

[from above the Ark-of-the-Covenant, cf. Ex 25:22, Num 7:89]

Census A: The Army (excluding Levites)

1:2-3

Census A: ‘Take a census of all men aged 20+ who go out to war’

[A census of exactly the same men had been made in the previous year to gain money for the tabernacle, see Ex 30:12-16, 38:25-28]

1:4-19

• God appoints 12 tribal leaders to assist Moses in the census, then all the men are counted

1:20-46

• Results are listed for each tribe

Grand Total A = 603,550 army men [same number as Ex 38:26]

1:47-51

• The Levites were not counted [with the army] because they must carry the tabernacle & care for it

The arrangement of the Israelite camps

1:52 – 2:34

#1. → East camp: Judah, Issachar, Zebulun.

• Marching first

#2. ↓ South camp: Reuben, Simeon, Gad.

• Marching second

Middle camp: 1:53, Levi & the tabernacle (cf. 3:21-38)

• 2:17, Marching in the midst (cf. 10:14-28)

#3. ← West camp: Ephraim, Manasseh, Benjamin.

• Marching third

#4. ↑ North camp: Dan, Asher, Naphtali.

• Marching fourth

Census B: The Levites

3:1-4

• List: Aaron’s 4 sons [cf. Ex 6:23];
• Nadab & Abihu died without sons [cf. Lev 10:1-2]

3:5-13

• God appoints the Levites; they will serve God in place of the firstborn sons [of Ex 13:2, v12-16]

3:14-16

Census B: ‘Take a census of all Levite sons aged 1 month+’ [the age for redemption, see 18:15-16]

3:17-20

• List: Levi’s sons (Gershon, Kohath and Merari) and grandsons [cf. Gen 46:11, Ex 6:16-19]

3:21-38

The arrangement of the Levite camps and their duties

#1. → East camp: v38, Moses, Aaron & sons.

• Caring for sanctuary [& people] (cf. 4:5-16)

#2. ↓ South camp: v27-32, Kohathite clan.

• Caring for tabernacle furniture (cf. 4:15)

[Middle: The tabernacle]

#3. ← West camp: v21-26, Gershonite clan.

• Caring for tabernacle curtains (cf. 4:24-27)

#4. ↑ North camp: v33-37, Merarite clan.

• Caring for tabernacle frames & posts (cf. 4:31-33)

3:39

Grand Total B = 22,000 Levite sons [Results for each clan are listed in 3:21-22, v27-28, v33-34]

Census C: All firstborn sons (including Levites)

3:40

Census C: ‘Take a census of all Israelite firstborn sons aged 1 month+’ [same age as Census B]

3:41

• God will take the Levites (& their animals) in place of all the firstborn (both sons & animals)

[cf. 3:11-13. The Levites had initially been set apart & consecrated to God after the events of Ex 32:26-29]

3:42-43

Grand Total C = 22,273 firstborn sons [that rightfully belong to God, see Ex 13:2, v12-16]

3:44-51

• Redemption money must be paid for the shortfall of men; 5 shekels per man

[because God only received 22,000 Levite sons (Census B) instead of the 22,273 firstborn sons owed to Him (Census C)]

Census D: Levites who can carry the Tabernacle

4:1-20

Census D-1. ‘Take a census of the Kohathites aged 30-50’

• They must carry the furniture (cf. 3:31)

4:21-28

Census D-2. ‘Take a census of the Gershonites aged 30-50’

• They must carry the curtains (cf. 3:25-26)

4:29-33

Census D-3. ‘Take a census of the Merarites aged 30-50’

• They must carry the frames & posts (cf. 3:36-37)

4:34-49

• Results are listed for each clan

Grand Total D = 8,580 Levites aged 30-50

Laws #1: Holiness laws

5:1-4

• People who are [ritually] ‘unclean’ must be sent away from the camp [cf. law in Lev 13:45-46]

5:5-10

• Compensation must be paid for sins committed against others [cf. Lev 6:1-7]

5:11-31

• If a wife is unfaithful [by committing adultery] then a jealous husband is entitled to ceremonially curse her, resulting in her physical suffering; a wrongly-accused wife will be unaffected

6:1-21

• People may dedicate themselves to God as a Nazirite [‘Separate’] for a time of holy separation

6:22-27

• The Priestly Blessing: The priests must bless the people by putting the Name of God on them

Previous Events & Instructions at Sinai

[during Ex 40 & Lev 1–27]

7:1-88

• When the tabernacle & altar were consecrated [in Lev 8:10-11], each of the tribal leaders brought offerings & gifts and they dedicated the altar [to God] during a 12-day ceremony

7:89

• When Moses entered the tabernacle [after it was consecrated, cf. Lev 9:23] God spoke to him:

8:1-4

A. ‘Aaron should set up the 7 lamps [on the lampstand] so they give light’

[to ensure good illumination in the tabernacle

cf. instructions in Ex 25:37, Lev 24:2-4

cf. Moses’ actions in Ex 40:24-25]

8:5-22

B. ‘You must [ceremonially] purify the Levites before they can serve at the tabernacle’

8:23-26

C. ‘The Levites must be aged 25-50 when serving at the tabernacle’

[Referring to workers at the daily worship services; the previous 30-50 age range (Num ch. 4) refers to workers who carry the tabernacle]

9:1-14

D. ‘Celebrate the Passover’ (on Day 14, Month 1 [Year 2]).

However, some men were [ritually] ‘unclean’, so God said,

‘Whenever someone cannot celebrate Passover due to their being [ritually] “unclean”, they must instead celebrate it one month later (on Day 14, Month 2)’

9:15-23

• After the tabernacle was set up, the pillar-of-cloud covered it
• Whenever the pillar-of-cloud lifted up from the tabernacle, the people began to journey [following the cloud, cf. Ex 40:33-38]

10:1-10

E. ‘Make 2 silver trumpets so you can:

i. summon the people;

ii. signal the camps to travel;

iii. blow them in battle (God will hear);

iv. blow them at feasts as a memorial before God’

Ex / Lev / NUM / Deut / Josh