I liked the summary from the introduction to the book in the NIV Commentary: “The book of Numbers appears to be a bifid of unequal parts. The two censuses (chs. 1-4, 26) are key to understanding the structure of the book. The first census (chs. 1-4) concerns the first generation of the Exodus community; the second census (ch. 26) focuses on the experiences of the second generation, the people to whom this book is primarily directed. The former were prepared for triumph but ended in disaster. The latter had an opportunity for greatness—if only they would learn from the failures of their fathers and mothers the absolute necessity for faithfulness to the Lord despite all obstacles.”
Numbers 1:1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
Numbers 1:2 Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls;
Numbers 1:3 From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
The book opens with the LORD commanding Moses to take a census of all the males in the congregation that were 20 years and older that were fit for fighting on behalf of the people. Aaron was to assist Moses and number them by their “armies,” or companies (from the Hebrew). I would assume this to mean by tribes since that is how it is detailed in the following verses.
Note that this census was taken on the first day of the second month in the second year after they had come out of Egypt, and they are in the Sinai desert. By the time we get to the end of the book, we will note that the recorded events encompassed a little over 38 years.
McClean (summarized): Census was essentially an act of conscription to military duty in preparation for taking possession of the Promised Land. By age of 20, they were expected to be prepared to assume responsibility. Application: We should train/prepare our children to be responsibly able to do spiritual battle.
Wiersbe: “The phrase ‘able to go to war’ is used many times in this chapter. If God were to number the believers in the church today according to their ability to wage spiritual warfare, we wonder how big the army would be.”
Numbers 1:4 And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.
Numbers 1:5 And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.
Numbers 1:6 Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
Numbers 1:7 Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
Numbers 1:8 Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar.
Numbers 1:9 Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon.
Numbers 1:10 Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
Numbers 1:11 Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni.
Numbers 1:12 Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
Numbers 1:13 Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran.
Numbers 1:14 Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.
Numbers 1:15 Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.
Numbers 1:16 These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.
In this section of verses the heads or recognized leaders of each tribe are identified. They were to assist Moses in taking the census. It seems that the LORD specified certain men for this task.
Numbers 1:17 ¶ And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names:
Numbers 1:18 And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.
Numbers 1:19 As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.
It sounds like the identified leaders assisted Moses and Aaron in calling the congregation together by tribe and listing the names and ancestry of each man 20 years and older to determine how many there were.
Numbers 1:20 And the children of Reuben, Israel’s eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Numbers 1:21 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
The tribe of Reuben, son of Leah and Jacob’s oldest son, numbered 46,500.
Numbers 1:22 Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Numbers 1:23 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
The tribe of Simeon, son of Leah, numbered 59,300.
Numbers 1:24 Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Numbers 1:25 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.
The tribe of Gad, son of Zilpah, Leah’s maid, numbered 45,650.
Numbers 1:26 Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Numbers 1:27 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.
The tribe of Judah, son of Leah, numbered 74,600.
Numbers 1:28 Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Numbers 1:29 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
The tribe of Issachar, son of Leah, numbered 54,400.
Numbers 1:30 Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Numbers 1:31 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
The tribe of Zebulun, son of Leah, numbered 57,400.
Numbers 1:32 Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Numbers 1:33 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.
The tribe of Joseph’s son Ephraim numbered 40,500; Joseph’s mother was Rachel.
Numbers 1:34 Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Numbers 1:35 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
The tribe of Joseph’s son Manasseh numbered 32,200.
I am reminded that Joseph was to be given a double portion as declared by his father Jacob when he declared that Ephraim and Manasseh were to be reckoned his sons.
Genesis 48:3–5 “And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz in the land of Canaan, and blessed me, And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession. And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.”
Numbers 1:36 Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Numbers 1:37 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.
The tribe of Benjamin, son of Rachel, numbered 35,400.
Numbers 1:38 Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Numbers 1:39 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.
The tribe of Dan, son of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, numbered 62,700.
Numbers 1:40 Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Numbers 1:41 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.
The tribe of Asher, son of Zilpah, Leah’s maid, numbered 41,500.
Numbers 1:42 Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Numbers 1:43 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
The tribe of Naphtali, son of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid, numbered 53,400.
Numbers 1:44 ¶ These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers.
Numbers 1:45 So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel;
Numbers 1:46 Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
When the census was completed, they had recorded a total of 603,550 men that were 20 years and older. Once again, the NIV Commentary provides further information: “This large number of men conscripted for the army suggests a population for the entire community in excess (perhaps considerably in excess) of two million people.” (Comparison - As of 2021 Houston’s population is 2.3 million.)
My how the nation had grown since first going to Egypt—70 in number.
Genesis 46:27 “And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.”
Numbers 1:47 ¶ But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.
Numbers 1:48 For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 1:49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:
Numbers 1:50 But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.
Numbers 1:51 And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
It is noted that the tribe of Levi were not numbered because the LORD had told Moses that this tribe was to be set apart to serve Him by taking care of the tabernacle and all its associated furnishings. They were to take it down and put it up as necessary as the LORD led them through the wilderness. Only the Levites were to touch these items. If anyone else attempted to help them in any way, they were to be put to death.
The LORD is emphasizing the fact that as the recognized place of His presence, only those who had been set apart were allowed to serve Him in the holy place. We that have accepted God’s gift of salvation are allowed to approach the LORD with boldness and confidence because of the fact that we are made righteous by the blood of Jesus.
Ephesians 3:9–12 “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”
Numbers 1:52 And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.
Numbers 1:53 But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.
It is noted that the tabernacle was positioned in the center of the camp. The tribes were to encamp around the tabernacle as designated by their “own standard,” or flag. The Levites were to be positioned surrounding the tabernacle, to provide a distinct separation between it and the people.
Numbers 1:54 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.
This verse declares that the children of Israel obeyed all that the LORD commanded—something we should all strive to do. If only they had continued to do so.
Wiersbe: “Unless the people of God are right with the Lord in their worship, they can’t face their enemies and defeat them in warfare.”
As I read through this chapter, it seems that it is repeating much of the same information from the previous chapter. The new information references how the tribes were to be located when making camp around the tabernacle and the order in which they were to march when traveling.
Numbers 2:1 ¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
Numbers 2:2 Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father’s house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.
Once again it is emphasized that the information recorded here is according to the commandment of the LORD. Point is made that the children of Israel are to camp as designated by their tribal flag as identified by its insignia. It is also emphasized that they are to maintain an appropriate distance from the tabernacle in showing reverence to the LORD. The NIV Commentary notes the following: “Jewish tradition suggests that the tribal banners corresponded in color to the twelve stones in the breastplate of the high priest (Ex 28:15-21) and that the standard of the triad led by Judah had the figure of a lion, that of Reuben the figure of a man, that of Ephraim the figure of an ox, and that of Dan the figure of an eagle.”
Interesting - These are the faces identified on the cherubim.
Ezekiel 1:10 “As for the likeness of their faces, they four had the face of a man, and the face of a lion, on the right side: and they four had the face of an ox on the left side; they four also had the face of an eagle.”
Numbers 2:3 ¶ And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.
Numbers 2:4 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.
It seems that the twelve tribes are divided into groups of three and each group is identified with one of four designated tribes. On the east was the “camp of Judah,” which occupied the middle part of that group. Nahshon, son of Amminadab, was the recognized leader of the tribe of Judah, which numbered 74,600.
Numbers 2:5 And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar.
Numbers 2:6 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
Numbers 2:7 Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun.
Numbers 2:8 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
Judah was to be flanked on each side by the tribes of Issachar and Zebulun. Nethaneel, son of Zuar, was the recognized leader of Issachar, which numbered 54,400. Eliab, son of Helon, was the recognized leader of Zebulun, which numbered 57,400.
Numbers 2:9 All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.
These three tribes were known as the camp of Judah, and had an army 186,400 strong. When directed to break camp, this group was to lead the way.
Numbers 2:10 On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.
Numbers 2:11 And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
The camp of Reuben was to be positioned on the south side of the tabernacle. Elizur, son of Shedeur, was the recognized leader of the tribe of Reuben, which numbered 46,500 and was to be in the middle of this group.
Numbers 2:12 And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
Numbers 2:13 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
Numbers 2:14 Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.
Numbers 2:15 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.
Reuben was to be flanked on either side by the tribes of Simeon and Gad. Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, was the recognized leader of the tribe of Simeon, which numbered 59,300. Eliasaph, son of Reuel, was the recognized leader of the tribe of Gad, which numbered 45,650.
Numbers 2:16 All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank.
These three tribes formed the camp of Reuben and were to follow the camp of Judah when directed to break camp and travel. They numbered 151,450.
Numbers 2:17 Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.
Following the camps of Judah and Reuben were the Levites who were responsible for transporting the tabernacle and all associated items. The tabernacle’s location in the center of the camp signified how the LORD should be the center of the nation’s focus in everything they did.
Numbers 2:18 On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.
Numbers 2:19 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred.
The camp of Ephraim was to be positioned on the west side of the tabernacle. Elishama, son of Ammihud, was the recognized leader of the tribe of Ephraim, which numbered 40,500 and was to occupy the middle position of this camp.
Numbers 2:20 And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
Numbers 2:21 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
Numbers 2:22 Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.
Numbers 2:23 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.
Ephraim was flanked on each side by the tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin. Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur, was the recognized leader of Manasseh, which numbered 32,200. Abidan, son of Gideoni, was the recognized leader of Benjamin, which numbered 35,400.
Numbers 2:24 All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank.
The camp of Ephraim totaled an army 108,100 strong and followed the Levites when they broke camp to travel.
Numbers 2:25 The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
Numbers 2:26 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.
The fourth group located on the north side of the tabernacle was identified as Dan. The tribe of Dan occupied the middle position. Ahiezer, son of Ammishaddai, was the recognized leader of Dan, which numbered 62,700.
Numbers 2:27 And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran.
Numbers 2:28 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.
Numbers 2:29 Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.
Numbers 2:30 And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
Dan was flanked on each side by the tribes of Asher and Naphtali. Pagiel, son of Ocran, was the recognized leader of Asher, which numbered 41,500. Ahira, son of Enan, was the recognized leader of Naphtali, which numbered 53,400.
Numbers 2:31 All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards.
The camp of Dan was 157,600 strong and served as the rearguard of the congregation when they traveled.
Numbers 2:32 These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
The total army of the Israelites totaled 603,550 strong.
Numbers 2:33 But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.
Numbers 2:34 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.
Once again, it is noted that the Levites were not numbered, according to the LORD’s command. Again, the chapter ends with a statement that the children of Israel did everything according to the LORD’s command.
I liked the observation David Guzik made concerning this chapter: “God orders things according to His wisdom, not ours. In the arrangement of the tribes, He did not place the largest tribes closest to the tabernacle (as if bigger was always better); Ephraim, the closest westward tribe, is the third smallest tribe. Nor did He place all the large tribes on the outward perimeter for greatest protection (Benjamin, the second smallest tribe, is on the outer perimeter). God always has order and organization, but it may not make sense to us.”
I’ve been taught that the positioning of the tribes around the tabernacle when viewed from above would represent a cross. I found the following diagram of this perspective at www.biblestudytools.com.