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Home , Book of Numbers, Gad (son of Jacob), Gershonites, Kohathites, Naphtali, Tribe of Asher

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THE

I. Census and Preparation for the of Sinai: 2 Take a census of the whole Departure from Sinai community of the , by clans and The Census. 1In the second year ancestral houses, registering by name 1 after the Israelites’ departure from each male individually. 3You and the land of Egypt, on the first day of the shall enroll in companies all the men in second month, the Lord said to of twenty years or more who are at the tent of meeting in the wilderness fit for military service.

CENSUS AND PREPARATION FOR THE DEPARTURE FROM SINAI Numbers 1:1–10:10 1:1-3 The census The book of Numbers begins with a numbering, a census of all the men able to fight. The opening sentence is typical of the of the Pentateuch (see introduction): identifying everything that happens as a direct command of the Lord to Moses and setting the stage by giving the date and the place of what follows. God orders the census taking on the first day of the second month in the second year after the departure from Egypt. is the central event for Israel just as the life, death, and resurrection of Christ is the central event for Christians. Just as Christians set the beginning of their calendar by Christ, marking all the years as Anno Domini (Year of the Lord), so here Israel dates these happenings as if time began with the exodus. The community has been at Sinai since the third month of the first year after the exodus (Exod 19:1). In less than a month they will depart on the twentieth day of this second month of year two (Num 10:11). It is time to make final preparations. is the place of making. God has been revealed to them in a great theophany (manifestation), given them the law, and sealed the covenant, promising to make them a , a priestly

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Moses’ Assistants. 4With you there 10for the descendants of : shall be a man from each tribe, each the from : Elishama, son head of his ancestral house.5 These are the of Ammihud; and from names of those who are to assist you: Manasseh: Gamaliel, son of Pedahzur; from : Elizur, son of 11from : Abidan, son of Shedeur; Gideoni; 6 from : Shelumiel, son of 12from : Ahiezer, son of Zurishaddai; Ammishaddai; 7 from : , son of 13from : Pagiel, son of Ochran; ; 14from : Eliasaph, son of ; 8 from : Nethanel, son of 15from : Ahira, son of Enan. Zuar; 9from : , son of 16 These were the elect of the com- Helon; munity, leaders of their ancestral tribes,

kingdom, and a holy nation (Exod 19–24). God has given them instructions for building the as a divine dwelling place (Exod 25–31; 35–40). They have already broken the covenant and God has renewed it (Exod 32–34). Now they must get ready to go on through the wilderness toward the . The Lord orders Moses to take a census of the whole community. The specific terms used to identify these people indicate two important realities: They are a worshiping community (the >edah) and they are bound together by familial ties (the “house of the father” or “ancestral house,” and the “clan” or extended family). The persons to be numbered, however, are only the men over twenty years old who are thus eligible for military service. Moses and Aaron are to take a head count (literally, “by the skull”) and register each eligible male by name. They will not only be numbered, but they will be assigned to military divisions or “companies.” 1:4-19 Moses’ Assistants Moses and Aaron do not have to take this census alone. They are to en- list the assistance of a leader from each of the twelve tribes. The assistants are named, tribe by tribe. First, the tribes from ’s own sons are named in birth order: Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun. Then the tribes named for ’s two sons are listed: Joseph (represented by his sons, Ephraim and Manasseh) and Benjamin. Finally, the tribes representing the four sons of the maids, and , are named in no apparent order: Dan, Asher, Gad, and Naphtali (see Gen 29:31–30:24). Since the tribe of is omitted (see 1:47-54), the is divided between Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph’s two sons) in order to fill out the number twelve.

12 Numbers X heads of the clans of Israel. 17So Moses years or more, everyone fit for military and Aaron took these men who had been service: 23those enrolled from the tribe of designated by name, 18and assembled Simeon were fifty-nine thousand three the whole community on the first day of hundred. the second month. Every man of twenty 24Of the descendants of Gad, regis- years or more then registered individu- tered by name and lineage according to ally his name and lineage according to their clans and ancestral houses, every clan and ancestral house, 19as the Lord male of twenty years or more, everyone had commanded Moses. So he enrolled fit for military service: 25those enrolled them in the wilderness of Sinai. from the were forty-five Count of the Twelve Tribes. 20Of the thousand six hundred and fifty. descendants of Reuben, the of 26Of the descendants of Judah, regis- Israel, registered individually by name tered by name and lineage according to and lineage according to their clans and their clans and ancestral houses, every ancestral houses, every male of twenty male of twenty years or more, everyone years or more, everyone fit for military fit for military service: 27those enrolled service: 21those enrolled from the tribe of from the were seventy- Reuben were forty-six thousand five four thousand six hundred. hundred. 28Of the descendants of Issachar, reg- 22Of the descendants of Simeon, reg- istered by name and lineage according istered individually by name and lin- to their clans and ancestral houses, every eage according to their clans and male of twenty years or more, everyone ancestral houses, every male of twenty fit for military service: 29those enrolled

With the exception of Nahshon, son of Amminadab of the tribe of Judah (Exod 6:23), the individual representatives of each tribe appear only here and in chapters 2, 7, and 10. Many of their names, however, are based on the divine names El and Shaddai: for example, Elizur, “my God is rock”; Shedeur, “the Almighty gives light”; Shelumiel, “God is my peace”; Zuri- shaddai, “the Almighty is my rock.” None, however, are based on the sacred name, . After the assistants are named, Moses and Aaron carry out God’s instructions exactly. 1:20-46 Count of the twelve tribes The results of the census are reported tribe by tribe. The same formula is repeated for each tribe. Only the first two tribes have some different phrases. Reuben is identified as the firstborn (1:20). Those registered for Reuben and Simeon are identified as males who are counted “individually” (literally, “by head” or “polled”). The order of the tribes is similar to the order in the list of assistants. The only exception is the tribe of Gad, which is inserted between Simeon and Judah.

13 Numbers X from the were fifty-four eryone fit for military service: 35those thousand four hundred. enrolled from the 30Of the descendants of Zebulun, reg- were thirty-two thousand two hun- istered by name and lineage according dred. to their clans and ancestral houses, every 36Of the descendants of Benjamin, male of twenty years or more, everyone registered by name and lineage accord- fit for military service: 31those enrolled ing to their clans and ancestral houses, from the were fifty- every male of twenty years or more, ev- seven thousand four hundred. eryone fit for military service: 37those 32Of the descendants of Joseph: enrolled from the were Of the descendants of Ephraim, reg- thirty-five thousand four hundred. istered by name and lineage according 38Of the descendants of Dan, regis- to their clans and ancestral houses, every tered by name and lineage according to male of twenty years or more, everyone their clans and ancestral houses, every fit for military service: 33those enrolled male of twenty years or more, everyone from the were forty fit for military service: 39those enrolled thousand five hundred. from the were sixty-two 34Of the descendants of Manasseh, thousand seven hundred. registered by name and lineage accord- 40Of the descendants of Asher, regis- ing to their clans and ancestral houses, tered by name and lineage according to every male of twenty years or more, ev- their clans and ancestral houses, every

Figure 3: Listing of Tribes Genesis 29–30 Genesis 46 Genesis 49 Numbers 1 Numbers 2, 7, 10 Birth Order To Egypt 1st Census Order of March

Reuben Reuben Reuben Reuben Judah Simeon Simeon Simeon Simeon Issachar Levi Levi Levi Gad Zebulun Judah Judah Judah Judah Reuben Dan Issachar Zebulun Issachar Simeon Naphtali Zebulun Issachar Zebulun Gad Gad Gad Dan Ephraim Ephraim Asher Asher Gad Manasseh Manasseh Issachar Joseph Asher Benjamin Benjamin Zebulun Benjamin Naphtali Dan Dan Joseph Dan Joseph Asher Asher Benjamin Naphtali Benjamin Naphtali Naphtali

14 Numbers X male of twenty years or more, everyone 44It was these who were enrolled, fit for military service: 41those enrolled each according to his ancestral house, by from the were forty-one Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders thousand five hundred. of Israel. 45The total enrollment of the 42Of the descendants of Naphtali, reg- Israelites of twenty years or more, ac- istered by name and lineage according cording to their ancestral houses, every- to their clans and ancestral houses, every one fit for military service in Israel—46the male of twenty years or more, everyone total enrollment was six hundred and fit for military service: 43those enrolled three thousand, five hundred and fifty. from the were fifty- Omitted in the Census. three thousand four hundred. 47Now the Levites were not enrolled by

The total number of men eligible for military service registered from the twelve tribes is 603,550. The number is unrealistic. If there were 600,000 able men among the Israelites at Sinai, the whole people, including women and children, would have numbered around two million. The Sinai desert could not have supported a group that size. Thus the number must have another meaning. First of all, the large number indicates that Israel need not fear anyone who resists its entrance into the Promised Land. Second, the same number of men were assessed the half-shekel sanctuary tax. That tax payment covered the exact cost of the pedestals for the sanctu- ary along with the veil and the hooks and silver-plating for the columns (Exod 38:26-28). Third, the number may have symbolic value. In ancient Israel the same symbols were used for letters and numbers (analogous to the use of letters for numbers in Roman numerals). Thus the symbol for the first letter of the alphabet was also used for the number one; the symbol for the second letter served also as the number two, and so on. If the letters for bene-yisra

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48  their ancestral tribe with the others. For nant to ensure that God’s wrath will not the Lord had told Moses, 49The tribe of fall upon the Israelite community. The Levi alone you shall not enroll nor in- Levites shall keep guard over the taber- clude in the census along with the other nacle of the covenant. 54The Israelites Israelites. 50You are to give the Levites complied; they did just as the Lord had charge of the tabernacle of the covenant commanded Moses. with all its equipment and all that be- Arrangement of the Tribes. 1The longs to it. It is they who shall carry the 2 Lord said to Moses and Aaron: 2The tabernacle with all its equipment and Israelites shall camp, each in their own who shall be its ministers; and they shall divisions, under the ensigns of their an- camp all around the tabernacle. 51When cestral houses. They shall camp at some the tabernacle is to move on, the Levites distance all around the tent of meeting. shall take it down; when the tabernacle 3 Encamped on the east side, toward is to be pitched, it is the Levites who the sunrise, shall be the divisional camp shall set it up. Any unauthorized person of Judah, arranged in companies. The who comes near it shall be put to death. leader of the Judahites is Nahshon, son 52The other Israelites shall camp accord- of Amminadab, 4and the enrollment of ing to their companies, each in their own his company is seventy-four thousand divisional camps, 53but the Levites shall six hundred. 5Encamped beside it is the camp around the tabernacle of the cove- tribe of Issachar. The leader of the Issa-

this sacred tabernacle is subject to the death penalty. A census of the Levites will be taken in Numbers 3. The chapter closes with the notice that God’s command to Moses (v. 1) had been fulfilled exactly. 2:1-34 Arrangement of the tribes The Lord issues a new command to Moses (see 1:1 [“said”], 1:19 and 54 [“commanded”], 1:48 [“told”]). This command has to do with the arrange- ment of the tribes in their encampment and the placement of the tent of meeting (see introduction: tent of meeting). The twelve tribes, minus Levi who is replaced by the division of Joseph into the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, are set up in groups of three tribes each on the four sides of the tent of meeting. The tribal leaders identified in 1:5-15 are named again and the census count from 1:20-42 is repeated. A major tribe leads each of the four tribal divisions: Judah on the east, Reuben on the south, Ephraim on the west, and Dan on the north.

 This symbol indicates a cross-reference number in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. See page ••• for number citations.

16 Numbers X charites is Nethanel, son of Zuar, 6and 14Next is the tribe of Gad. The leader of the enrollment of his company is fifty- the Gadites is Eliasaph, son of Reuel, four thousand four hundred. 7Also the 15and the enrollment of his company is tribe of Zebulun. The leader of the Ze- forty-five thousand six hundred and bulunites is Eliab, son of Helon, 8and the fifty. 16The total enrollment of the camp enrollment of his company is fifty-seven of Reuben by companies is one hundred thousand four hundred. 9The total en- and fifty-one thousand four hundred rollment of the camp of Judah by com- and fifty. They shall be second on the panies is one hundred and eighty-six march. thousand four hundred. They shall be 17Then the tent of meeting and the first on the march. camp of the Levites shall set out in the 10The divisional camp of Reuben midst of the divisions. As they camp, so shall be on the south side, by companies. also they will march, each in place, by The leader of the Reubenites is Elizur, their divisions. son of Shedeur, 11and the enrollment of 18The divisional camp of Ephraim his company is forty-six thousand five shall be on the west side, by companies. hundred. 12Encamped beside it is the The leader of the Ephraimites is El- . The leader of the Sim- ishama, son of Ammihud, 19and the en- eonites is Shelumiel, son of Zurishaddai, rollment of his company is forty 13and the enrollment of his company is thousand five hundred.20 Beside it shall fifty-nine thousand three hundred. be the tribe of Manasseh. The leader of

Figure 4: Arrangement of Tribes around the Tent of Meeting

Asher DAN Naphtali

Benjamin Issachar TENT OF Moses with EPHRAIM JUDAH MEETING Aaron & his sons Manasseh Zebulun

Gad REUBEN Simeon

The listing of the tribes is not in the same order as chapter 1 (see Figure 3). Nor is it related to the geographical locations of the tribal settlements in Israel. It seems rather to be by later importance. Judah, the tribe favored in ’s farewell address (Gen 49) and the ancestor of , holds the prime location: the east at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Reuben, the firstborn, follows at the south. Ephraim, the primary tribe of the northern kingdom, Israel, is next at the west. Dan, a tribe that did in fact move to the north and fell to the Assyrians in Tiglath-Pileser’s invasion during the eighth century, is last.

17 Numbers X the Manassites is Gamaliel, son of Ped- the enrollment of his company is fifty- ahzur, 21and the enrollment of his com- three thousand four hundred. 31The total pany is thirty-two thousand two enrollment of the camp of Dan is one hundred. 22Also the tribe of Benjamin. hundred and fifty-seven thousand six The leader of the Benjaminites is Abidan, hundred. They shall be the last on the son of Gideoni, 23and the enrollment of march, by divisions. his company is thirty-five thousand four 32 These are the enrollments of the Is- hundred. 24The total enrollment of the raelites according to their ancestral camp of Ephraim by companies is one houses. The total enrollment of the hundred and eight thousand one hun- camps by companies is six hundred and dred. They shall be third on the march. three thousand five hundred and fifty. 25The divisional camp of Dan shall be 33The Levites, however, were not en- on the north side, by companies. The rolled with the other Israelites, just as leader of the Danites is Ahiezer, son of the Lord had commanded Moses. 34The Ammishaddai, 26and the enrollment of Israelites did just as the Lord had com- his company is sixty-two thousand manded Moses; both in camp and on the seven hundred. 27Encamped beside it march they were in their own divisions, shall be the tribe of Asher. The leader of everyone by clan and according to an- the Asherites is Pagiel, son of Ochran, cestral house. 28and the enrollment of his company is The Sons of Aaron. 1These are the forty-one thousand five hundred.29 Also 3 offspring of Aaron and Moses at the the tribe of Naphtali. The leader of the time the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Naphtalites is Ahira, son of Enan, 30and Sinai. 2These are the names of Aaron’s

This order represents not only their encampment but also their order of march. The census was taken for military purposes and the arrangement of the tribes sets the order of military divisions. In this order the tribes will leave Sinai in chapter 10 and march toward the Promised Land. After chapter 10 the order of march is never again mentioned. The Levites are again singled out. Their position in the midst of the camp and the midst of the line of march is stated at the exact center of the chapter, verse 17. More detail regarding their arrangement will be found in 3:21-39. The chapter ends with two statements indicating the fulfillment of God’s commands. The Levites were treated specially “just as the Lord had com- manded Moses” and the tribal divisions, both in the camp and on the march, were arranged “just as the Lord had commanded Moses” (2:33-34). 3:1-4 The sons of Aaron Now that the other tribes have been counted and put in order, chapters 3–4 turn to focus on the Levites: their genealogy, their special status as

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