Back to Numbers
<aside> 📁 Table of Contents
</aside>
<aside> 📅 This page was originally posted on my Blogger version of the blog on January 29, 2016 The content below has a few minor tweaks for clarity, and additional references, and some updated information.
</aside>
In Numbers 1-3, Moses details the first census he takes of the Israelites and the layout of the encampment, as well as, identifies the leader of each tribe. God commands that Moses take the sum of all men 20 years or greater that are able to go to war. When Moses carries out this task, he splits the tribe of Joseph into two—the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh—per Jacob's adoption. Since the tribe of Levi is set aside for God and does not receive any land, they are not included in the 12 tribes or the main census, though Moses does number the Levites separately. When Moses counts the Levites, he counts males from one month and older. God instructs Moses to carry out this task on the first day of the second month (Iyar, which would be in April sometime), in the second year after their departure from Egypt. Thus the census was likely completed during that month sometime.
| 👤 Tribe | 🪖 # of Army Eligible Men | 🧭 Camp Location | | --- | --- | --- | | Judah | 74,400 | East | | Issachar | 54,400 | East | | Zebulun | 57,400 | East | | Reuben | 46,500 | South | | Simeon | 59,300 | South | | Gad | 45,650 | South | | Ephraim | 40,500 | West | | Manasseh | 32,200 | West | | Benjamin | 35,400 | West | | Dan | 62,700 | North | | Asher | 41,500 | North | | Naphtali | 53,400 | North | | Total | 603,550 | - |
| 👤 Levites | 👨🏽 # of Men Over 1 Month Old | 📍 Location @ the Center | | --- | --- | --- | | Gershon | 7,500 | West | | Kohath | 8,300 (possibly 8,600: see below) | South | | Moses, Aaron & Sons | | East | | Merari | 6,200 | North | | Total | 22,000 | - |
In the KJV, Numbers 3:28 lists the total number of Kohathites as 8,600, but this gives us a total of 22,300 instead of the 22,000 suggested in Numbers 3:39. Sources confirm that adding one letter in the original language would change the translation from 8,600 to 8,300.[4] Since "original" manuscripts of the Bible are old and often torn, it is very possible that this letter may have been in the original text.
The first borns of Israel are to be redeemed by the Levites. God declares that regardless of birth order, the Levites will serve as the first born of Israel. For this reason, Moses also numbers the first born males which totals to 22,273. Since there are more first born males than Levites—who are chosen to take the place of the first borns and become the first born of Israel—a sum is paid to account for the difference. This further proves that the number of Kohathites must have been 8,300 and not 8,600, because there would be no need for compensation if the Levites numbered 23,000.
Many scholars argue that 22,273 is too few for the first born sons. They argue that if this number was be accurate, each man would have had about 26 brothers. Moses counts "all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward," to which the Bible declares "all the firstborn males" summed to 22,273. Does this number refer to the number of people in the tribe who were both male and firstborn, firstborns of the males only, or the first male in born to a family? Further, who is to say that firstborn in the family for many of the men was not a woman or dead? In addition, when we consider the number of children people had back then, 26 brothers doesn't seem completely out of the question.
<aside> 💡 Also, in Deuteronomy there is a list of people excluded from the congregation; some of the first borns may have fallen in this category and not been numbered.
</aside>
One suggestion for the low number is that it reflects only the first borns that were born after leaving Egypt.[4] I don't know that I follow this logic; why wouldn't God state "all firstborn males after the Exodus?" Now, it could be possible that like in the case of the original census, only those eligible for war were counted. Perhaps first borns over a particular age were not included which would likely reduce the number drastically.
There are many proposed resolutions, but I think the fact that the number seems “off” only proves that it is a real number. As mentioned the last time the number of Israelites was discussed, the fact that it is an exact number (not rounded to the nearest ten) and causes one to think, to me, show authenticity. If I were going to make up a number, wouldn't I go out of my way to make up a believable number?
Which reminds me, in the post I wrote on Exodus 35-40, I talked about the possibility of the census totals being the sum of the money owed; this would make the number of non-Levite Israelites 60,355 and the average number of brothers for our 22,273 first borns 2.7.
What's more important than the number of firstborns, is how this parallels Jesus' sacrifice. In Moses' day, the Israelites owed their first born child because of God's final plague on Egypt. When God sent Jesus, His only and thus firstborn son, to die for us, He sent us redemption. Naming the Levites as the firstborn put them between the citizens and God; they had the responsibility to steer the children into the right place. The Levites handled all cleansing rituals and interceded to God when the Israelites kindled His anger. Similarly, Jesus is God's firstborn and only son. Like the Levites had done in previous years, Jesus stands between man and God. Jesus handles purification of His followers, intercedes on our behalf.[5]
This is one of those sections I probably skim-read as a child. What's so important about how many Israelites were present or where they encamped? At first glance, it doesn't seem important, and perhaps thats why it isn't often talked about. Then again, why would God waste time telling us something we didn't need to know? I looked into the text deeper, and discovered some hidden awesomeness of this information.