MPV Commentary

1-2. On the first day of the second month, Moses was instructed to take a census of the men who were capable of bearing arms. This was thirteen months after the Israelites had left Egypt and about one month after they had arrived at the foot of Mount Sinai. During this time, God had given them laws and instructions for living as his people.

Moses was commissioned by God to lead Aaron in taking a census of the men who were fit for military service. This census was not just a matter of counting heads; it was also an opportunity to organize the tribes according to their strength and to ensure that they were prepared for their journey ahead.

3. The census would be taken with careful attention to detail, distinguishing between each tribe, family, and household. By doing so, Moses and Aaron could create a precise genealogical record of the Israelites and determine the relative strength of each tribe.

4-16. To assist in this task, God appointed twelve leaders, one from each tribe, to help Moses take the census. These leaders were chosen because they were respected within their tribes and had a good understanding of their people's numbers and organization.

5. Each leader was identified by his name and that of his ancestors. This naming convention was common among the ancient Arabs and other nomadic peoples, who often referred to themselves as "sons of" or "descendants of" their ancestors.

16-18. The leaders were summoned by name and began taking the census on the very day they received their instructions from Moses. They worked individually, counting each man one by one.

19. As God had commanded Moses, this census was a necessary step in preparing the Israelites for their journey ahead. However, it's worth noting that David would later take a similar census without God's authority, which led to serious consequences (2 Samuel 24:10).

20-44. The results of the census showed that the tribe of Judah had the largest number of men fit for military service. This was consistent with Jacob's prophecy that Judah would be preeminent among his brothers (Genesis 49:8-12). Similarly, Ephraim, one of Joseph's two sons, had a larger number of men than Manasseh, as predicted by Jacob (Genesis 49:22).

45-46. In total, there were six hundred thousand men fit for military service. This was an astonishing increase from the seventy-five people who had left Egypt about two hundred fifteen years earlier. If we include women, children, and old men, as well as the Levites, the total population of Israel would have been around 2.4 million.

47-54. However, the Levites were not included in this census because they were consecrated to serve God in a special way. They were responsible for caring for the tabernacle and its contents, which made them exempt from military service. The Levites encamped around the tabernacle to ensure that there was no risk of divine displeasure among the people. This separation also served as a practical introduction to the law regarding the firstborn, for whom the tribe of Levi became a substitute (Exodus 13:2; Numbers 3:12).