TEXT AND commentarY THE BOOK OF NUMBERS I. Census and Preparation for the of Sinai: 2 Take a census of the whole Departure from Sinai community of the Israelites, 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 Aaron the land of Egypt, on the first day of the shall enroll in companies all the men in second month, the Lord said to Moses Israel 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 Priestly source 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. The exodus is the central event for Israel just as the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus 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. Mount Sinai is the place of covenant 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 chosen people, a priestly 11 Numbers X Moses’ Assistants. 4With you there 10for the descendants of Joseph: shall be a man from each tribe, each the from Ephraim: 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 Reuben: Elizur, son of 11from Benjamin: Abidan, son of Shedeur; Gideoni; 6 from Simeon: Shelumiel, son of 12from Dan: Ahiezer, son of Zurishaddai; Ammishaddai; 7 from Judah: Nahshon, son of 13from Asher: Pagiel, son of Ochran; Amminadab; 14from Gad: Eliasaph, son of Reuel; 8 from Issachar: Nethanel, son of 15from Naphtali: Ahira, son of Enan. Zuar; 9from Zebulun: Eliab, 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 tabernacle 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 Promised Land. 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 Leah’s own sons are named in birth order: Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun. Then the tribes named for Rachel’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, Bilhah and Zilpah, are named in no apparent order: Dan, Asher, Gad, and Naphtali (see Gen 29:31–30:24). Since the tribe of Levi is omitted (see 1:47-54), the tribe of Joseph 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 tribe of Gad were forty-five Count of the Twelve Tribes. 20Of the thousand six hundred and fifty. descendants of Reuben, the firstborn 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 tribe of Judah 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, Yahweh. 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 tribe of Issachar were fifty-four eryone fit for military service: 35those thousand four hundred. enrolled from the tribe of Manasseh 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 tribe of Zebulun 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 tribe of Benjamin 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 tribe of Ephraim were forty fit for military service: 39those enrolled thousand five hundred. from the tribe of Dan 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 Blessing 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 tribe of Asher were forty-one Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders thousand five hundred.