February 24, 2021
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Reading along with us in Numbers? Here’s today’s reading:
Numbers 1 (NIV)
The Census
1 The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: 2“Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one...........Continue Reading
God knew He would provide what was needed for the Israelites to take the promised land but as we see God takes attention to detail and planning so asking Moses and Aaron to take a military census to see who could fight on Israel’s behalf in taking the Promised Land. There was over 600,000 men able to fight.
He also left the Levites out of this census to be sure someone was left to take on the special responsibility for the priestly duties of Israel.
Numbers 1
I don’t see where it says how long it took to do that census but it had to be long and tedious to get the information they needed to get these men counted so they could serve in Israel’s Army. The Lord had given them directions in what they needed to get done.
Numbers 1
Moses and Aaron take a military census of all of the tribes of Israel, except Levi, with the assistance of the heads of all of the tribes…..we see why this book is called “Numbers”.
Interesting that this counting of fighting men takes place in the Desert of Sinai and they have spent just over a year there. Think what has happened up to this point: freedom from Egypt, meeting with God and the ten commandments, the Golden calf and the judgement from God that comes because of it. And the counting of the fighting men is a sign of moving forward. The past is the past, but now let’s chart a course for the future. Yes I will be a God who will protect you, but that will not be inconsistent with you participation and preparation. It is also interesting to see that Judah has 20,000 more than each tribe except Dan.
And remember the Levites were Israel’s tithe to God….so they would be dedicated to His service and not available for battle……interesting as well that they are described as the ones surrounding the tabernacle protecting Israel from the wrath of God. The sin of the Golden Calf still lingers….
44These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. 45All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel’s army were counted according to their families. 46The total number was 603,550.
47The ancestral tribe of the Levites, however, was not counted along with the others. 48The Lord had said to Moses: 49“You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. 50Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the covenant law—over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. 51Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it
Numbers 1-3
Numbers 1