Numbers 1-4

1On the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Wilderness of Sinai. He said:

2“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.

3You and Aaron are to number those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army.

4And one man from each tribe, the head of each family, must be there with you.

5These are the names of the men who are to assist you: From the tribe of Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;

6from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;

7from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;

8from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar;

9from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon;

10from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud, and from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;

11from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;

12from Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;

13from Asher, Pagiel son of Ocran;

14from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;

15and from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.”

16These men were appointed from the congregation; they were the leaders of the tribes of their fathers, the heads of the clans of Israel.

17So Moses and Aaron took these men who had been designated by name,

18and on the first day of the second month they assembled the whole congregation and recorded their ancestry by clans and families, counting one by one the names of those twenty years of age or older,

19just as the LORD had commanded Moses. So Moses numbered them in the Wilderness of Sinai:

20From the sons of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, according to the records of their clans and families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

21those registered to the tribe of Reuben numbered 46,500.

22From the sons of Simeon, according to the records of their clans and families, counting one by one the names of every male twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

23those registered to the tribe of Simeon numbered 59,300.

24From the sons of Gad, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

25those registered to the tribe of Gad numbered 45,650.

26From the sons of Judah, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

27those registered to the tribe of Judah numbered 74,600.

28From the sons of Issachar, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

29those registered to the tribe of Issachar numbered 54,400.

30From the sons of Zebulun, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

31those registered to the tribe of Zebulun numbered 57,400.

32From the sons of Joseph: From the sons of Ephraim, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

33those registered to the tribe of Ephraim numbered 40,500.

34And from the sons of Manasseh, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

35those registered to the tribe of Manasseh numbered 32,200.

36From the sons of Benjamin, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

37those registered to the tribe of Benjamin numbered 35,400.

38From the sons of Dan, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

39those registered to the tribe of Dan numbered 62,700.

40From the sons of Asher, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

41those registered to the tribe of Asher numbered 41,500.

42From the sons of Naphtali, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,

43those registered to the tribe of Naphtali numbered 53,400.

44These were the men numbered by Moses and Aaron, with the assistance of the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family.

45So all the Israelites twenty years of age or older who could serve in Israel’s army were counted according to their families.

46And all those counted totaled 603,550.

47The Levites, however, were not numbered along with them by the tribe of their fathers.

48For the LORD had said to Moses:

49“Do not number the tribe of Levi in the census with the other Israelites.

50Instead, you are to appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of the Testimony, all its furnishings, and everything in it. They shall carry the tabernacle and all its articles, care for it, and camp around it.

51Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever it is to be pitched, the Levites are to set it up. Any outsider who goes near it must be put to death.

52The Israelites are to camp by their divisions, each man in his own camp and under his own standard.

53But the Levites are to camp around the tabernacle of the Testimony and watch over it, so that no wrath will fall on the congregation of Israel. So the Levites are responsible for the tabernacle of the Testimony.”

54Thus the Israelites did everything just as the LORD had commanded Moses.

1Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron:

2“The Israelites are to camp around the Tent of Meeting at a distance from it, each man under his standard, with the banners of his family.

3On the east side, toward the sunrise, the divisions of Judah are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Judahites is Nahshon son of Amminadab,

4and his division numbers 74,600.

5The tribe of Issachar will camp next to it. The leader of the Issacharites is Nethanel son of Zuar,

6and his division numbers 54,400.

7Next will be the tribe of Zebulun. The leader of the Zebulunites is Eliab son of Helon,

8and his division numbers 57,400.

9The total number of men in the divisions of the camp of Judah is 186,400; they shall set out first.

10On the south side, the divisions of Reuben are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Reubenites is Elizur son of Shedeur,

11and his division numbers 46,500.

12The tribe of Simeon will camp next to it. The leader of the Simeonites is Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai,

13and his division numbers 59,300.

14Next will be the tribe of Gad. The leader of the Gadites is Eliasaph son of Deuel,

15and his division numbers 45,650.

16The total number of men in the divisions of the camp of Reuben is 151,450; they shall set out second.

17In the middle of the camps, the Tent of Meeting is to travel with the camp of the Levites. They are to set out in the order they encamped, each in his own place under his standard.

18On the west side, the divisions of Ephraim are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Ephraimites is Elishama son of Ammihud,

19and his division numbers 40,500.

20The tribe of Manasseh will be next to it. The leader of the Manassites is Gamaliel son of Pedahzur,

21and his division numbers 32,200.

22Next will be the tribe of Benjamin. The leader of the Benjamites is Abidan son of Gideoni,

23and his division numbers 35,400.

24The total number of men in the divisions of the camp of Ephraim is 108,100; they shall set out third.

25On the north side, the divisions of Dan are to camp under their standard: The leader of the Danites is Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai,

26and his division numbers 62,700.

27The tribe of Asher will camp next to it. The leader of the Asherites is Pagiel son of Ocran,

28and his division numbers 41,500.

29Next will be the tribe of Naphtali. The leader of the Naphtalites is Ahira son of Enan,

30and his division numbers 53,400.

31The total number of men in the camp of Dan is 157,600; they shall set out last, under their standards.”

32These are the Israelites, numbered according to their families. The total of those counted in the camps, by their divisions, was 603,550.

33But the Levites were not counted among the other Israelites, as the LORD had commanded Moses.

34So the Israelites did everything the LORD commanded Moses; they camped under their standards in this way and set out in the same way, each man with his clan and his family.

1This is the account of Aaron and Moses at the time the LORD spoke with Moses on Mount Sinai.

2These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, then Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

3These were Aaron’s sons, the anointed priests, who were ordained to serve as priests.

4Nadab and Abihu, however, died in the presence of the LORD when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD in the Wilderness of Sinai. And since they had no sons, only Eleazar and Ithamar served as priests during the lifetime of their father Aaron.

5Then the LORD said to Moses,

6“Bring the tribe of Levi and present them to Aaron the priest to assist him.

7They are to perform duties for him and for the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, attending to the service of the tabernacle.

8They shall take care of all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting and fulfill obligations for the Israelites by attending to the service of the tabernacle.

9Assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons; they have been given exclusively to him from among the Israelites.

10So you shall appoint Aaron and his sons to carry out the duties of the priesthood; but any outsider who approaches the tabernacle must be put to death.”

11Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

12“Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel in place of every firstborn Israelite from the womb. The Levites belong to Me,

13for all the firstborn are Mine. On the day I struck down every firstborn in the land of Egypt, I consecrated to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast. They are Mine; I am the LORD.”

14Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, saying,

15“Number the Levites by their families and clans. You are to count every male a month old or more.”

16So Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he had been commanded.

17These were the sons of Levi by name: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

18These were the names of the sons of Gershon by their clans: Libni and Shimei.

19The sons of Kohath by their clans were Amram, Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.

20And the sons of Merari by their clans were Mahli and Mushi. These were the clans of the Levites, according to their families.

21From Gershon came the Libnite clan and the Shimeite clan; these were the Gershonite clans.

22The number of all the males a month old or more was 7,500.

23The Gershonite clans were to camp on the west, behind the tabernacle,

24and the leader of the families of the Gershonites was Eliasaph son of Lael.

25The duties of the Gershonites at the Tent of Meeting were the tabernacle and tent, its covering, the curtain for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,

26the curtains of the courtyard, the curtain for the entrance to the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and altar, and the cords—all the service for these items.

27From Kohath came the clans of the Amramites, the Izharites, the Hebronites, and the Uzzielites; these were the clans of the Kohathites.

28The number of all the males a month old or more was 8,600. They were responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.

29The clans of the Kohathites were to camp on the south side of the tabernacle,

30and the leader of the families of the Kohathites was Elizaphan son of Uzziel.

31Their duties were the ark, the table, the lampstand, the altars, the articles of the sanctuary used with them, and the curtain—all the service for these items.

32The chief of the leaders of the Levites was Eleazar son of Aaron the priest; he oversaw those responsible for the duties of the sanctuary.

33From Merari came the clans of the Mahlites and Mushites; these were the Merarite clans.

34The number of all the males a month old or more was 6,200.

35The leader of the families of the Merarites was Zuriel son of Abihail; they were to camp on the north side of the tabernacle.

36The duties assigned to the sons of Merari were the tabernacle’s frames, crossbars, posts, bases, and all its equipment—all the service for these items,

37as well as the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes.

38Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp to the east of the tabernacle, toward the sunrise, before the Tent of Meeting. They were to perform the duties of the sanctuary as a service on behalf of the Israelites; but any outsider who approached the sanctuary was to be put to death.

39The total number of Levites that Moses and Aaron counted by their clans at the LORD’s command, including all the males a month old or more, was 22,000.

40Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number every firstborn male of the Israelites a month old or more, and list their names.

41You are to take the Levites for Me—I am the LORD—in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites.”

42So Moses numbered all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the LORD had commanded him.

43The total number of the firstborn males a month old or more, listed by name, was 22,273.

44Again the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

45“Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites belong to Me; I am the LORD.

46To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who outnumber the Levites,

47you are to collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel of twenty gerahs.

48Give the money to Aaron and his sons as the redemption price for the excess among the Israelites.”

49So Moses collected the redemption money from those in excess of the number redeemed by the Levites.

50He collected the money from the firstborn of the Israelites: 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel.

51And Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons in obedience to the word of the LORD, just as the LORD had commanded him.

1Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

2“Take a census of the Kohathites among the Levites by their clans and families,

3men from thirty to fifty years old—everyone who is qualified to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

4This service of the Kohathites at the Tent of Meeting regards the most holy things.

5Whenever the camp sets out, Aaron and his sons are to go in, take down the veil of the curtain, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it.

6They are to place over this a covering of fine leather, spread a solid blue cloth over it, and insert its poles.

7Over the table of the Presence they are to spread a blue cloth and place the plates and cups on it, along with the bowls and pitchers for the drink offering. The regular bread offering is to remain on it.

8And they shall spread a scarlet cloth over them, cover them with fine leather, and insert the poles.

9They are to take a blue cloth and cover the lampstand used for light, together with its lamps, wick trimmers, and trays, as well as the jars of oil with which to supply it.

10Then they shall wrap it and all its utensils inside a covering of fine leather and put it on the carrying frame.

11Over the gold altar they are to spread a blue cloth, cover it with fine leather, and insert the poles.

12They are to take all the utensils for serving in the sanctuary, place them in a blue cloth, cover them with fine leather, and put them on the carrying frame.

13Then they shall remove the ashes from the bronze altar, spread a purple cloth over it,

14and place on it all the vessels used to serve there: the firepans, meat forks, shovels, and sprinkling bowls—all the equipment of the altar. They are to spread over it a covering of fine leather and insert the poles.

15When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the holy objects and all their equipment, as soon as the camp is ready to move, the Kohathites shall come and do the carrying. But they must not touch the holy objects, or they will die. These are the transportation duties of the Kohathites regarding the Tent of Meeting.

16Eleazar son of Aaron the priest shall oversee the oil for the light, the fragrant incense, the daily grain offering, and the anointing oil. He has oversight of the entire tabernacle and everything in it, including the holy objects and their utensils.”

17Then the LORD said to Moses and Aaron,

18“Do not allow the Kohathite tribal clans to be cut off from among the Levites.

19In order that they may live and not die when they come near the most holy things, do this for them: Aaron and his sons are to go in and assign each man his task and what he is to carry.

20But the Kohathites are not to go in and look at the holy objects, even for a moment, or they will die.”

21And the LORD said to Moses,

22“Take a census of the Gershonites as well, by their families and clans,

23from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

24This is the service of the Gershonite clans regarding work and transport:

25They are to carry the curtains of the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting with the covering of fine leather over it, the curtains for the entrance to the Tent of Meeting,

26the curtains of the courtyard, and the curtains for the entrance at the gate of the courtyard that surrounds the tabernacle and altar, along with their ropes and all the equipment for their service. The Gershonites will do all that needs to be done with these items.

27All the service of the Gershonites—all their transport duties and other work—is to be done at the direction of Aaron and his sons; you are to assign to them all that they are responsible to carry.

28This is the service of the Gershonite clans at the Tent of Meeting, and their duties shall be under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.

29As for the sons of Merari, you are to number them by their clans and families,

30from thirty to fifty years old, counting everyone who comes to serve in the work of the Tent of Meeting.

31This is the duty for all their service at the Tent of Meeting: to carry the frames of the tabernacle with its crossbars, posts, and bases,

32and the posts of the surrounding courtyard with their bases, tent pegs, and ropes, including all their equipment and everything related to their use. You shall assign by name the items that they are responsible to carry.

33This is the service of the Merarite clans according to all their work at the Tent of Meeting, under the direction of Ithamar son of Aaron the priest.”

34So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of the congregation numbered the Kohathites by their clans and families,

35everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

36And those numbered by their clans totaled 2,750.

37These were counted from the Kohathite clans, everyone who could serve at the Tent of Meeting. Moses and Aaron numbered them according to the command of the LORD through Moses.

38Then the Gershonites were numbered by their clans and families,

39everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

40And those numbered by their clans and families totaled 2,630.

41These were counted from the Gershonite clans who served at the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron counted at the LORD’s command.

42And the Merarites were numbered by their clans and families,

43everyone from thirty to fifty years old who came to serve in the work at the Tent of Meeting.

44The men registered by their clans numbered 3,200.

45These were counted from the Merarite clans, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the LORD’s command through Moses.

46So Moses, Aaron, and the leaders of Israel numbered by their clans and families all the Levites

47from thirty to fifty years old who came to do the work of serving and carrying the Tent of Meeting.

48And the number of men was 8,580.

49At the LORD’s command through Moses they were numbered, and each one was assigned his work and burden, as the LORD had commanded Moses.