The Living Bible (44 page)

Numbers

1
 
2
 
3
 
4
 
5
 
6
 
7
 
8
 
9
 
10
 
11
 
12
 
13
 
14
 
15
 
16
 
17
 
18
 
19
 
20
 
21
 
22
 
23
 
24
 
25
 
26
 
27
 
28
 
29
 
30
 
31
 
32
 
33
 
34
 
35
 
36
 

Numbers
1

It was on the fifteenth day of April
*
of the second year after the Israelis left Egypt that the Lord issued the following instructions to Moses. (He was in the Tabernacle at the camp of Israel on the Sinai peninsula at the time.)

    
^2-15
 “Take a census of all the men twenty years old and older who are able to go to war, indicating their tribe and family. You and Aaron are to direct the project, assisted by these leaders from each tribe”:

    
¹⁶
 These were the tribal leaders elected from among the people.

    
^17-19
 
*
On the same day Moses and Aaron and the above-named leaders summoned all the men of Israel who were twenty years old or older to come and register, each man indicating his tribe and family, as the Lord had commanded Moses.
^20-46
 Here is the final tabulation:

Grand Total: 603,550

    
^47-49
 This total does not include the Levites, for the Lord had said to Moses, “Exempt the entire tribe of Levi from the draft, and do not include their number in the census.
⁵⁰
 For the Levites are assigned for the work connected with the Tabernacle and its transportation. They are to live near the Tabernacle,
⁵¹
 and whenever the Tabernacle is moved, the Levites are to take it down and set it up again; anyone else touching it shall be executed.
⁵²
 Each tribe of Israel shall have a separate camping area with its own flag.
⁵³
 The Levites’ tents shall be clustered around the Tabernacle as a wall between the people of Israel and God’s wrath—to protect them from his fierce anger against their sins.”

    
⁵⁴
 So all these instructions of the Lord to Moses were put into effect.

Numbers
2

The Lord gave these further instructions to Moses and Aaron: “Each tribe will have its own tent area, with its flagpole and tribal banner; and at the center of these tribal compounds will be the Tabernacle.”
^3-31
 Here are the tribal locations:
*

    
So the total of all those on Judah’s side of the camp was 186,400. These three tribes led the way whenever the Israelites traveled to a new campsite.

    
So the total of the Reuben side of the camp was 151,450. These three tribes were next in line whenever the Israelis traveled.

    
Next in the line of march was the Tabernacle, with the Levites. When traveling, each tribe stayed together under its own flag, just as each was separate from the others in camp.

    
So the total on the Ephraim side of the camp was 108,100, and they were next in the line of march.

    
So the total on Dan’s side of the camp was 157,600. They brought up the rear whenever Israel traveled.
^32-33
 In summary, the armies of Israel totaled 603,550 (not including the Levites, who were exempted by Jehovah’s commandment to Moses).
³⁴
 So the people of Israel set up their camps, each tribe under its own banner, in the locations indicated by the Lord to Moses.

Numbers
3

At the time when the Lord spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai,
²
 Aaron’s sons were:
*
Nadab (his oldest), Abihu, Eleazar, Ithamar.
³
 All were anointed as priests and set apart to minister at the Tabernacle.
⁴
 But Nadab and Abihu died before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai when they used unholy fire. And since they had no children, this left only Eleazar and Ithamar to assist their father, Aaron.

    
⁵
 Then the Lord said to Moses,
⁶
 “Summon the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron as his assistants.
^7-9
 They will follow his instructions and perform the sacred duties at the Tabernacle on behalf of all the people of Israel. For they are assigned to him as representatives of all the people of Israel. They are in charge of all the furnishings and maintenance of the Tabernacle.
¹⁰
 However, only Aaron and his sons may carry out the duties of the priesthood; anyone else who presumes to assume this office shall be executed.”

    
^11-12
 And the Lord said to Moses, “I have accepted the Levites in substitution for all the oldest sons of the people of Israel. The Levites are mine
¹³
 in exchange for all the oldest sons. From the day I killed all the oldest sons of the Egyptians, I took for myself all the firstborn in Israel of both men and animals! They are mine; I am Jehovah.”

    
^14-15
 The Lord now spoke again to Moses at the Sinai peninsula, telling him, “Take a census of the tribe of Levi, indicating each person’s clan; count every male down to one month old.”
^16-24
 So Moses did:

    
^25-30
 
Responsibilities:

    
The responsibility of these two clans of Levites was the care of the Tabernacle: its coverings, its entry drapes, the drapes covering the fence surrounding the courtyard, the screen at the entrance of the courtyard surrounding the Tabernacle, the altar, and all the ropes used in tying the Tabernacle together.

    
^31-35
 
Responsibilities:

    
The responsibility of these four clans of Levites was the care of the Ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the various utensils used in the Tabernacle, the veil, and any repairs needed on any of these items. (Note: Eleazar, Aaron’s son, shall be the chief administrator over the leaders of the Levites, with special responsibility for the oversight of the sanctuary.)

    
^36-37
 
Responsibilities:

    
The responsibility of these two clans was the care of the frames of the Tabernacle building; the posts; the bases for the posts, and all of the equipment needed for their use; the posts around the courtyard and their bases, pegs, and ropes.

    
³⁸
 The area east of the Tabernacle was reserved for the tents of Moses and of Aaron and his sons, who had the final responsibility for the Tabernacle on behalf of the people of Israel. (Anyone who was not a priest or Levite, but came into the Tabernacle, was to be executed.)

    
³⁹
 So all the Levites, as numbered by Moses and Aaron at the command of the Lord, were 22,000 males one month old and older.

    
⁴⁰
 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Now take a census of all the eldest sons in Israel who are one month old and older, and register each name.
⁴¹
 The Levites shall be mine (I am Jehovah) as substitutes for the eldest sons of Israel; and the Levites’ cattle are mine as substitutes for the firstborn cattle of the whole nation.”

    
⁴²
 So Moses took a census of the eldest sons of the people of Israel, as the Lord had commanded,
⁴³
 and found the total number of eldest sons one month old and older to be 22,273.

    
⁴⁴
 Now the Lord said to Moses,
⁴⁵
 “Give me the Levites instead of the eldest sons of the people of Israel; and give me the cattle of the Levites instead of the firstborn cattle of the people of Israel; yes, the Levites shall be mine; I am Jehovah.
⁴⁶
 To redeem the 273 eldest sons in excess of the number of Levites,
^47-48
 pay five dollars for each one to Aaron and his sons.”

    
⁴⁹
 So Moses received redemption money for the 273 eldest sons of Israel who were in excess of the number of Levites. (All the others were redeemed because the Levites had been given to the Lord in their place.)
⁵⁰
 The money collected came to a total of $1,365.
*
⁵¹
 And Moses gave it to Aaron and his sons as the Lord had commanded.