Mustering the Men for War (1:1-54)
Neal Pollard
When we read Numbers, we remind ourselves that this is the same generation who saw the wonders of the ten plagues after which God led them out of Egypt, for whom He parted the Red Sea, for whom He provided their food (Ex. 16:35) and water (Ex. 17:1), and whom He promised to give the land promised to their forefather, Abraham (Ex. 6:8). In the book of Numbers, we have the climactic moment where the people have the ability to conquer. They are at the cusp of Canaan, and God tells them to take it. Before we get to those fateful moments, we may need to remind ourselves that the people started very well. They are in the Wilderness of Sinai (1), and in the first ten chapters their thinking and behavior could be described as faithful. It is “the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt” (1). Just one month earlier, they had put up the tabernacle (Ex. 40:2,17). Now, God commands a census to muster the men for war.
James Smith is always an excellent resource. He gives us this overarching view of Numbers. “The key thought in Numbers is discipline…. The theme of Numbers is the education of the nation. The key passage is 14:29–30 where God sentenced an entire generation to wander in the wilderness for forty years because of their lack of faith” (The Pentateuch, 405).
The Instructions (2-4). The instructions was to number the people by tribe, every male from 20 years old and above who could go out to war. Their is no maximize age put as a cape on older soldiers serving. Aaron was to oversee the numbering, and a man over each tribe would be in charge of the military readiness of his tribe (4). As will happen later in the book, each tribe has a recognized leader to whom orders can be delegated.
The Assistants (5-16). Those leaders are enumerated in these twelve verses. Except for Gad and Dan, all tribes are listed in birth order as they were born to Jacob through Leah, through Rachel, through Leah’s handmaid Zilpah, and finally through Rachel’s handmaid Bilhah. We will see these twelve men again for the tribal camp arrangements (2:3ff), tribal offerings for the tabernacle (7:12ff), and the tribal divisions as Israel departs Sinai for Canaan (10:14ff). A different group, though still heads and leaders of their respective tribes, is chosen to spy out the land (13:4-15).
The Results (17-46). Here is a handy chart to delineate both the first and second (26:51).
| Tribe | First Census | Second Census |
| Reuben | 46,500 | 43,730 |
| Simeon | 59,300 | 22,200 |
| Gad | 45,650 | 40,500 |
| Judah | 74,600 | 76,500 |
| Issachar | 54,400 | 64,300 |
| Zebulun | 57,400 | 60,500 |
| Ephraim | 40,500 | 32,500 |
| Manasseh | 32,200 | 52,700 |
| Benjamin | 35,400 | 45,600 |
| Dan | 62,700 | 64,400 |
| Asher | 41,500 | 53,400 |
| Naphtali | 53,400 | 45,400 |
| TOTAL | 603,550 | 601,730 |
(Cole, NAC, 77).
Some have balked at the large number of fighting men, as the logistics of providing for so many people boggles the mind. But as the Lord told Sarah many generations before, “Is anything too difficult for the Lord?” (Gen. 18:14). This book is written in narrative style and presents itself straightforwardly. There is no plausible reason to disbelieve it.
The Exemption (47-53). The Levites are delegated the spiritual leadership of the nation, first proven on Sinai (Ex. 32:26-29). It is the tribe of Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, and it is the tribe of the priests. They are exempted from military service to provide spiritual service. They are to “carry” (50), “take care of” (50), “take down” and “set up” the tabernacle (51), and “keep guard” of the tabernacle (53). They served, but in a different capacity.
Do not gloss over the summary statement at the end of the chapter. ” Thus the sons of Israel did; according to all which the Lord had commanded Moses, so they did” (54). What a reminder that the divine judgment is, “Well done” rather than “well begun” (Mt. 25:21,23). Israel has such a hopeful beginning, a fact we should pause to acknowledge. But, we must never forget exhortations like Ezekiel 18:24,26, in which God says turning away from righteousness will bring about spiritual death and “all his righteous deeds will not be remembered.” The context of the prophet makes it clear this is not what God wants (Ezek. 18:23), but it is what happens if one ceases faithfulness. What love for God to teach us about His character and forewarn us of His perfect intentions.
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