Numbers 1:2-4

B. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS ON THE CENSUS vv. 2-4
TEXT

Numbers 1:2. Take ye the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; 3. From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies. 4. And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.

PARAPHRASE

Numbers 1:2. Take a head count of all the congregation of the children of Israel by their families, by their fathers-' house-holds, according to the number of names; each male, head by head; 3. from twenty years of age and up, whoever is able to go to war in Israel; you and Aaron shall count them according to their armies. 4. Furthermore, there shall be a man of each tribe with you, each one the head of his father's household.

COMMENTARY

The purpose for this census is simply stated by the fact that it is to include all 20-year old males and up, who are able to go to war. Therefore we may accept the term muster which is often used to describe the census. In Exodus 14:14 Jehovah had pledged to fight for Israel. The promise was repeated several times, as in Deuteronomy 1:30; Deuteronomy 3:22.

Why, then, is an army necessary at all? It is to be clear again and again that the people of God will be asked to assemble an army when under threat or specific martial instructions of God; it is no less clear that victory would come by the varied devices and power of God. Intervening clouds, locked chariot wheels and the release of divinely walled waters in the Red Sea had disposed of the Egyptian army (Exodus 14). The Amalekites were dealt a defeat at Rephidim, but only while Moses-' arms were supported and substained by Aaron and Hur. The army engaged the enemy in typical conflict, and God gave the victory (Exodus 17:8-13). We have only to mention Jericho, Aijalon, and Gideon to be reminded of a few of the numerous unusual means God has employed to make his people triumphant.

Each victory is thus seen as a cooperative act: the people, when they obey the detailed words of God, will see their faith justified when God discomfits the enemy. He did not do for them what they were able to accomplish alone, but supplemented their deeds by His own devices. Failure to comply with divine orders, specifically given or logically inferred, brought reverses and retribution, as when Achan's sin prevented the capture of Ai (Joshua 7), and Saul's non-compliance in eliminating the Amalekites resulted in his losing the throne (1 Samuel 15:1-28).

Responsibility for the counting of Israel is primarily given to Moses and Aaron. The work is to be further subdivided into tribal sections, and into families within the tribes. With such an organized scheme the total might be taken in a minimum of time, and without inconvenience.

Exempted from the first counting were all females, as well as all males below the age of twenty, all Levites, and other males who might be maimed, ill, aged or infirm. Only the most fit were suitable for military service. The nations they must face in the future are formidable, as reported by the spies later (Numbers 13:28-29), and there is no place for the man, how willing, who is not physically able to endure the demands of a rigorous military exploit. God has never been pleased with less than our very best for His service. No man could bring Him a crippled or diseased animal in sacrifice; no handicapped Levite could perform priestly services before Him. Even the slightest defect eliminated either: but we should remember that we speak of physical service only. Our worship is quite another matter, for here God looks only at the heart, which is in no way whatever related to or affected by the physical body. David was selected rather than the other, older sons of Jesse not because of age or stature or countenancefactors which men consider importantbut because God had looked upon his heart (see 1 Samuel 16:4-13); into this man God sent forth His Spirit mightily.

Counting the men by families probably indicated that they would also be organized in such units while serving in the army. The natural bond of blood should contribute to the general espirit de corps. Each man might well conceive of his service as -a protection of his own home and loved ones. Nehemiah utilized such a plan with brilliant effectiveness in leading the Jews to rebuild the city walls of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 4:13-14 ff.). Like some other people, the Israelites Would also attach great importance to their genealogical records, which were carefully memorized and recited commonly by the children and old men alike.

QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS

11.

For what special purpose was the number of this congregation to be taken? What other uses might be made of the census?

12.

How can the census be called accurate or complete with so many of the people excluded?

13.

Can we establish a formula for estimating the total number of the Israelites, since only males are counted, and with the exclusions based upon age and tribe?

14.

If God had pledged to fight their battles for the Israelites, why did the instructions state that those to be counted should be able to go to forth to war?

15.

Suggest some methods by which Moses and Aaron might implement their task of tallying the head count.

16.

Can you think of any reason that the census did not specify an age beyond which the men were not to be counted?