Numbers 1 (v44-54), First Census of Israel

We are continuing through the Pentateuch in our Bible survey.  I realize the chapters are often quite long and hope you are able to take the time to read them in their entirety.  Remember, ALL Scripture is inspired of God and profitable.  Nevertheless, I will also put in parenthesis a section of the chapter, but still with the hope that you will come back later in the day and read the entire chapter.

I want to begin today’s post with some introductory thoughts, but will include an overview of Ch. 1 at the end of the post.  So let us begin with Numbers!

·       Here, from seminary class notes (Dr. Alden), is an overview that I really like:

Numbers is the story of religion in action.  It is the account of people in living relationship to their God.  It is the chronicle of successes, failures, instructions, attitudes and responses.  Unlike parts of Exodus and Leviticus, it is not what is expected of them in the future but what they are doing and must do at the time.  Their experience is a transitional one.  It is the story of what they did after they left Egypt and before they entered Canaan.  Much of that experience was preparatory to the life expected of them when they did enter Canaan but not all of it.  Some of it had to do with a generation which would never reach the coveted land.

·       The Hebrew name for the book is from, as always, the opening words of the book: And He spoke.  The Greek name that has come to us is related to a special emphasis in the book on “numbers,” particularly in Ch. 1-4 and 26.

·       The human author was Moses, a fact generally accepted by Jews, Christians and Mohammedans alike.  The book says so (33:2; 36:13).  It was certainly written by someone contemporary to the events.

Here are a few notes on Numbers 1 (we will have more introductory thoughts on Numbers in the next post.)

Ø Num. 1 is the first of two censuses (Ch. 1 and 26).  This was taken at Mt. Sinai (1:1: 2^nd month, 2^nd year after leaving Egypt); the other when they had come to the Plains of the Jordan, ready to enter Canaan.  This census counted all men, twenty years and up, who were able to go to war (1:3).  Moses and Aaron took the census with a leader from each tribe helping (1:4-16).  They are listed by tribe (1:20-43), not including the tribe of Levi (1:44-53) who are counted separately in Num. 3.

Ø There is no great change in the number of people between the two censuses.  The birth rate is relatively high.  The 2^nd census comes at the end of the 40 years, so all those counted the first time have died (except Joshua and Caleb).  The one tribe that suffers the greatest decrease is Simeon.  The reason may be because of the plague in Num. 26, brought about by the actions of a son of a leader from Simeon.