New International Reader s Version - NIrV - 1996
Numbers 1
1
The Lord spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting. It happened in the Desert of Sinai. The Lord spoke to him on the first day of the second month. It was the second year after the people of Israel came out of Egypt. The Lord said,
2
"Count all of the men of Israel. Make a list of them by their tribes and families. List every man by name. List them one by one.
Reference
3
Count all of the men who are able to serve in the army. They must be 20 years old or more. I want you and Aaron to make a list of them company by company.
Reference
4
One man from each tribe must help you. Those who help must be the heads of their families.
Reference
5
"Here are the names of the men who must help you. "From the tribe of Reuben will come Elizur, the son of Shedeur.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Numbers 7:30
6
From the tribe of Simeon will come Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Numbers 7:36
7
From the tribe of Judah will come Nahshon, the son of Amminadab.
Reference
Parallel theme
Luke 3:32
8
From the tribe of Issachar will come Nethanel, the son of Zuar.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Numbers 7:18
9
From the tribe of Zebulun will come Eliab, the son of Helon.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Numbers 7:24
10
From the tribe of Ephraim will come Elishama, the son of Ammihud. From the tribe of Manasseh will come Gamaliel, the son of Pedahzur. Ephraim and Manasseh were Joseph's two sons.
Reference
People
11
From the tribe of Benjamin will come Abidan, the son of Gideoni.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Numbers 7:60
12
From the tribe of Dan will come Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Numbers 7:66
13
From the tribe of Asher will come Pagiel, the son of Ocran.
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Numbers 7:72
15
From the tribe of Naphtali will come Ahira, the son of Enan."
Reference
People
Parallel theme
Numbers 7:78
16
Those were the men who were appointed from the community. They were the leaders of the tribes of their people. They were the heads of the major families in Israel.
Reference
Parallel theme
Exodus 18:21
Numbers 26:9
Numbers 1:4
References Israel
Exodus 18:25
Numbers 7:2
Numbers 16:2
17
Moses and Aaron went and got the men whose names had been given to them.
18
Then Moses and Aaron gathered all of the men of Israel together. It was the first day of the second month. The men announced the tribe and family they belonged to. Those who were 20 years old or more were listed by name. They were listed one by one.
Reference
19
Everything was done just as the Lord had commanded Moses. So Moses counted them in the Desert of Sinai.
20
Here is the number of men from the tribe of Reuben, Israel's oldest son. All of the men who were able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed one by one. They were listed in keeping with the records of their tribes and families.
21
The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 26:7
22
Here is the number of men from the tribe of Simeon. All of the men who were able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed one by one. They were listed in keeping with the records of their tribes and families.
23
The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 26:14
24
Here is the number of men from the tribe of Gad. All of the men who were able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed in keeping with the records of their tribes and families.
25
The number from the tribe of Gad was 45,650.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 26:18
26
Here is the number of men from the tribe of Judah. All of the men who were able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed in keeping with the records of their tribes and families.
Reference
28
Here is the number of men from the tribe of Issachar. All of the men who were able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed in keeping with the records of their tribes and families.
29
The number from the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 26:25
30
Here is the number of men from the tribe of Zebulun. All of the men who were able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed in keeping with the records of their tribes and families.
31
The number from the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 26:27
32
Here is the number of men from the tribe of Ephraim, the son of Joseph. All of the men who were able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed in keeping with the records of their tribes and families.
Reference
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 33:17
33
The number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 26:37
34
Here is the number of men from the tribe of Manasseh, the son of Joseph. All of the men who were able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed in keeping with the records of their tribes and families.
35
The number from the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 26:34
36
Here is the number of men from the tribe of Benjamin. All of the men who were able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed in keeping with the records of their tribes and families.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 49:27
37
The number from the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 26:41
38
Here is the number of men from the tribe of Dan. All of the men who were able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed in keeping with the records of their tribes and families.
Reference
Parallel theme
Genesis 46:23
39
The number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 26:43
40
Here is the number of men from the tribe of Asher. All of the men who were able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed in keeping with the records of their tribes and families.
41
The number from the tribe of Asher was 41,500.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 26:47
42
Here is the number of men from the tribe of Naphtali. All of the men who were able to serve in the army were counted. They were 20 years old or more. They were listed by name. They were listed in keeping with the records of their tribes and families.
43
The number from the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400.
Reference
Parallel theme
Numbers 26:50
44
Those were the men Moses and Aaron counted. The 12 leaders of Israel helped them. There was one leader from each tribe.
Reference
References Moses
Numbers 26:64
45
The men who were counted were able to serve in Israel's army. All of them were 20 years old or more. They were counted family by family.
48
The Lord had spoken to Moses. He had said,
49
"You must not count the men from the tribe of Levi. Do not include them when you list the other men of Israel.
Reference
References Israel
Numbers 26:62
50
"Instead, put the Levites in charge of the holy tent. That is where the tablets of the covenant are kept. The Levites will be in charge of everything that belongs to the holy tent. They must carry the tent and everything that belongs to it. They must take care of it. They must set up camp around it.
Reference
51
"When the holy tent must be moved, the Levites must take it down. And when the tent must be set up, the Levites must do it. Anyone else who goes near it will be put to death.
Reference
52
"The people of Israel must set up their tents by companies. All of them must be in their own camps under their own flags.
Reference
53
"But the Levites must set up their tents around the holy tent where the tablets of the covenant are kept. Then my anger will not fall on the community of Israel. The Levites will be held accountable for taking care of the tent."
Reference
Judgment
Numbers 16:46
Leviticus 10:6
Temple
1 Chronicles 23:32
Numbers 8:19
Numbers 31:30
Numbers 31:47
54
The people of Israel did everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses.
Reference
Parallel theme
Deuteronomy 12:32
Summary of Numbers 1
Numbers Chapter 1 begins by describing how God spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai after Israel has been delivered from Egypt and been given the law. The people had been staying at Mount Sinai for some time, and they were preparing themselves to march towards the land that God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In this passage, God instructs Moses to take a census of the people. The reason for the census was not to learn how many Israelites there were; instead, the census identified Israel’s men of war who were to serve in the wars of the Lord.
At the Lord’s instruction, Moses and Aaron performed a headcount of every Israelite man who was twenty years of age or older who could go to war. They were to count every Israelite man “according to the house of their fathers.” Further, the Israelites were to be counted “by their hosts,” where a leader from each tribe was appointed to assist Moses and Aaron in the task. In short, the passage provides the numbers of men counted in each of the twelve tribes of Israel who could be mustered to war.
The passage then proceeds to provide the specific number of men who could go to war for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. The number of fighting men in the tribe of Reuben was 46,500 men. In Simeon, there were 59,300 men able to go to war. There were 45,650 fighting men in Gad and 74,600 men in Judah who could go to war. In Issachar, there were 54,400 men, while the tribe of Zebulun had 57,400 men. In Joseph’s sons, 40,500 men could fight in Ephraim, while 32,200 men could fight in Manasseh. Further, there were 35,400 men who could go to war in the tribe of Benjamin.
In Dan, 62,700 men were able to fight, while there were 41,500 men who could go to war in the tribe of Asher. Finally, the tribe of Naphtali had 53,400 men who could participate in battle. Altogether, the fighting men of Israel totaled 603,550 men twenty years old and above who could be put to war. Remarkably, the Levites were not counted alongside the rest of the Israelite tribes. Therefore, the passage highlights the special status that the Levites had among the children of Israel.
The Levites were given the special duty of serving as assistants to Moses and Aaron and taking care of all items belonging to God. God further instructed Moses to tell the Levites to take possession of the Lord’s offerings, including furniture, by caring for the tabernacle at all times. Specifically, the Levites were to set up the tabernacle and guard it day and night to ensure that it is not desecrated. Anybody who approached the tabernacle without permission was to be put to death. The Levites, therefore, were to serve as caretakers of the Israelites and the guardians of the tabernacle, which housed the Lord’s presence.
The Israelites further set up their camp in a formation that respected the Lord’s instructions. In particular, the Israelites set up their camp around the tabernacle, which was the center of the entire nation. This order was to remain throughout the journeys that Israel would undertake. Notably, the Israelites’ camp formed the Lord’s tabernacle at the center and the twelve Israelite tribes surrounding it. This way, the Lord’s instructions were followed at all times, which should have brought spiritual wellness to the children of Israel as they followed them through the wilderness.
It is further notable that Moses and Aaron carried out the duties of leadership as instructed by God. In particular, the leaders of each tribe were counted and assisted Moses and Aaron in the census taking, which took place according to the Israelite tribes and households. Altogether, the census revealed the number of fighting men in Israel, who numbered 603,550 men. Although this is a relatively small number to represent the entire nation of Israel, the children of Israel were a growing nation.
Therefore, Numbers Chapter 1 helps provide background information on the different duties that different groups of people had to carry out to ensure the smooth running of the Israelite society. At a time when the Israelites were still in the wilderness, the nation was highly organized. The fighting men of the nation were counted as they prepared to face dangers in the journey towards the promised land. The Israelite leaders provided order and direction to the Israelites. Finally, the Levites took care of the tabernacle, ensuring that it was guarded at all times, which should have brought spiritual wellness to the nation.
While the passage initially seems to simply be a heading of the different Israelite tribes and the number of men who could fight in each tribe, the details further reveal the significance of various aspects of Israelite society. First, the Israelites had to travel across the wilderness. Therefore, the nation needed fighting men who could protect the Israelite society from attacks. The passage further provides the Israelites’ order and direction as they travelled in the wilderness. In essence, the Israelites had the order of a nation even as they moved around in the wilderness. The Levites in particular safeguarded the Israelites’ religion, which was significant to them as a young nation. Finally, the details reveal that the Israelites were not to have their tabernacle moved in any manner that God did not instruct.
Overall, the passage describes the beginning of a new phase in the life of the Israelites. As the people set up their camp around the tabernacle, the Israelites were following God’s instructions to the letter. The Lord had instructed them to build the tabernacle, to set it up in the middle of the nation, and to avoid moving it in any manner that He had not instructed. The Levites further acted as assistants to Moses and Aaron in addition to taking care of the tabernacle. This way, the Israelites were well-prepared as they marched into their next phase of life.
At the Lord’s instruction, Moses and Aaron performed a headcount of every Israelite man who was twenty years of age or older who could go to war. They were to count every Israelite man “according to the house of their fathers.” Further, the Israelites were to be counted “by their hosts,” where a leader from each tribe was appointed to assist Moses and Aaron in the task. In short, the passage provides the numbers of men counted in each of the twelve tribes of Israel who could be mustered to war.
The passage then proceeds to provide the specific number of men who could go to war for each of the twelve tribes of Israel. The number of fighting men in the tribe of Reuben was 46,500 men. In Simeon, there were 59,300 men able to go to war. There were 45,650 fighting men in Gad and 74,600 men in Judah who could go to war. In Issachar, there were 54,400 men, while the tribe of Zebulun had 57,400 men. In Joseph’s sons, 40,500 men could fight in Ephraim, while 32,200 men could fight in Manasseh. Further, there were 35,400 men who could go to war in the tribe of Benjamin.
In Dan, 62,700 men were able to fight, while there were 41,500 men who could go to war in the tribe of Asher. Finally, the tribe of Naphtali had 53,400 men who could participate in battle. Altogether, the fighting men of Israel totaled 603,550 men twenty years old and above who could be put to war. Remarkably, the Levites were not counted alongside the rest of the Israelite tribes. Therefore, the passage highlights the special status that the Levites had among the children of Israel.
The Levites were given the special duty of serving as assistants to Moses and Aaron and taking care of all items belonging to God. God further instructed Moses to tell the Levites to take possession of the Lord’s offerings, including furniture, by caring for the tabernacle at all times. Specifically, the Levites were to set up the tabernacle and guard it day and night to ensure that it is not desecrated. Anybody who approached the tabernacle without permission was to be put to death. The Levites, therefore, were to serve as caretakers of the Israelites and the guardians of the tabernacle, which housed the Lord’s presence.
The Israelites further set up their camp in a formation that respected the Lord’s instructions. In particular, the Israelites set up their camp around the tabernacle, which was the center of the entire nation. This order was to remain throughout the journeys that Israel would undertake. Notably, the Israelites’ camp formed the Lord’s tabernacle at the center and the twelve Israelite tribes surrounding it. This way, the Lord’s instructions were followed at all times, which should have brought spiritual wellness to the children of Israel as they followed them through the wilderness.
It is further notable that Moses and Aaron carried out the duties of leadership as instructed by God. In particular, the leaders of each tribe were counted and assisted Moses and Aaron in the census taking, which took place according to the Israelite tribes and households. Altogether, the census revealed the number of fighting men in Israel, who numbered 603,550 men. Although this is a relatively small number to represent the entire nation of Israel, the children of Israel were a growing nation.
Therefore, Numbers Chapter 1 helps provide background information on the different duties that different groups of people had to carry out to ensure the smooth running of the Israelite society. At a time when the Israelites were still in the wilderness, the nation was highly organized. The fighting men of the nation were counted as they prepared to face dangers in the journey towards the promised land. The Israelite leaders provided order and direction to the Israelites. Finally, the Levites took care of the tabernacle, ensuring that it was guarded at all times, which should have brought spiritual wellness to the nation.
While the passage initially seems to simply be a heading of the different Israelite tribes and the number of men who could fight in each tribe, the details further reveal the significance of various aspects of Israelite society. First, the Israelites had to travel across the wilderness. Therefore, the nation needed fighting men who could protect the Israelite society from attacks. The passage further provides the Israelites’ order and direction as they travelled in the wilderness. In essence, the Israelites had the order of a nation even as they moved around in the wilderness. The Levites in particular safeguarded the Israelites’ religion, which was significant to them as a young nation. Finally, the details reveal that the Israelites were not to have their tabernacle moved in any manner that God did not instruct.
Overall, the passage describes the beginning of a new phase in the life of the Israelites. As the people set up their camp around the tabernacle, the Israelites were following God’s instructions to the letter. The Lord had instructed them to build the tabernacle, to set it up in the middle of the nation, and to avoid moving it in any manner that He had not instructed. The Levites further acted as assistants to Moses and Aaron in addition to taking care of the tabernacle. This way, the Israelites were well-prepared as they marched into their next phase of life.