Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

In the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, the Lord spoke to Moses on the first day of the second month, in the second year after their exodus from Egypt. He instructed him to take a total count of all the Israelites, organized by their families and households, with each man counted individually according to his name.

Moses was to number them by their divisions, including all men twenty years old and upward who were able to go forth to war in Israel. Alongside Aaron, he was to have a representative from every tribe, each being the head of his fathers' house. These leaders would be responsible for assembling the entire congregation on the first day of the second month.

The following men stood with Moses from their respective tribes: Elizur son of Shedeur from Reuben; Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai from Simeon; Nahshon son of Amminadab from Judah; Nethaneel son of Zuar from Issachar; Eliab son of Helon from Zebulun; Elishama son of Ammihud and Gamaliel son of Pedahzur, representing Ephraim's descendants from Joseph; Abidan son of Gideoni from Benjamin; Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai from Dan; Pagiel son of Ocran from Asher; Eliasaph son of Deuel from Gad; and Ahira son of Enan from Naphtali.

These renowned leaders were tasked with recording the family lineages according to their fathers' households, from twenty years old and upward. They gathered the entire congregation together on the first day of the second month and declared their family lineages by household and fatherly heritage, counting individually those who were able to go forth to war.

As the Lord commanded Moses, he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai. The total count for each tribe was as follows: Reuben's descendants numbered 46,500; Simeon's descendants numbered 59,300; Gad's descendants numbered 45,650; Judah's descendants numbered 64,600; Issachar's descendants numbered 54,400; Zebulun's descendants numbered 57,400; Ephraim's descendants from Joseph numbered 40,500; Manasseh's descendants from Joseph numbered 32,200; Benjamin's descendants numbered 35,400; Dan's descendants numbered 62,700; Asher's descendants numbered 41,500; and Naphtali's descendants numbered 53,400.

In total, there were 603,550 men counted in Israel. However, the Levites were not included in this count according to their ancestral families. The Lord had spoken to Moses, instructing him not to take a census of the tribe of Levi or include them in the count among the Israelites. Instead, they would oversee the tabernacle of testimony and its furnishings, carrying it, ministering to it, and encamping around it.

The children of Israel pitched their tents in designated camps under their respective standards throughout their encampments. The Levites would encamp around the tabernacle to prevent wrath from falling on the assembly and keep its charge. They carried out all that the Lord commanded Moses, faithfully following his instructions.