Numbers 1:46

Verse Numbers 1:46. All they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.] What an astonishing increase from seventy souls that went down into Egypt, Genesis 46:27, about 215 years before, where latterly they had endured the greatest hardships! But God's promise cannot fail (Genesis 16:5;) and who can resist his will, and bring to naught his counsel? That a comparative view may be easily taken of the state of the tribes, I shall produce them here from the first census mentioned in the first chapter of this book, in their decreasing proportion, beginning with the greatest and proceeding to the least; and in the second census, mentioned Numbers 26:1, where the increase of some and the decrease of others may be seen in one point of view. It may be just remarked, that except in the case of Gad in this chapter, and Reuben in Numbers 26:7, all the numbers are what may be called whole or round numbers, beginning with thousands, and ending with hundreds, Gad and Reuben alone ending with tens; but the Scripture generally uses round numbers, units and fractions being almost constantly disregarded.

	1st census, Numbers 1	2d census, Numbers 26
1. Judah	74,600	76,500
2. Dan	62,700	64,400
3. Simeon	59,300	22,200
4. Zebulun	57,400	60,500
5. Issachar	54,400	64,300
6. Naphtali	53,400	45,400
7. Reuben	46,500	43,730
8. Gad	45,650	40,500
9. Asher	41,500	53,400
10. Ephraim	40,500	32,500
11. Benjamin	35,400	45,600
12. Manasseh	32,200	52,700
Total	603,550	601,730

Thus we find Judah, the most populous tribe, and Manasseh the least so; the difference between them being so great as 42,400, for which no very satisfactory reason can be assigned.

In the second census, mentioned Numbers 26:34, Judah still has the pre-eminency; and Simeon, the third in number before, is become the least. Now we see also that the little tribe of Manasseh occupies the seventh place for number. Seven of the tribes had an increase; five a decrease. Manasseh had an increase of 20,500; Judah, 1,900; Issachar, 9,900; Zebulun, 3,100; Benjamin, 10,200; Dan, 1,700; Asher, 11,900.

On the contrary there was a decrease in Reuben of 2,770; in Simeon, 37,100; Gad, 5,150; Ephraim, 8,000; Naphtali, 8,000. Decrease in the whole, 61,020 effective men. Numbers 26:51; but balanced with the increase, the decrease was upon the whole 1,820.

On the subject of these enumerations, and the manner in which this vast multitude sprang in about four generations from seventy-five persons, Scheuchzer has some valuable calculations, though liable to some objections, which I shall take the liberty to insert, as they tend to throw considerable light upon the subject.

"We find in the writings of Moses three enumerations of the Jewish people, that follow each other pretty closely: -

The first, which was made at their departure from Egypt, Exodus 12:37, amounted to .....	600,000
One year after, to ........	603,550
On entering the land of Canaan, to .....	601,730
If we add to the number .....	603,550
that of the Levites given us in Numbers 3:39, and which amounted to .....	22,000
We shall have for the sum total .....	625,550

We find the same number, on adding that of each tribe given us in detail, which is the best proof of the exactness of the calculation.

"I think I shall afford the reader some degree of pleasure by presenting him, in this place, the number of each tribe separately, beginning at their earliest ancestors. We shall see, by this means, how faithfully God fulfilled the promise he had made to Abraham, as well as the great utility of the mathematics for the right understanding of the Holy Scriptures. I shall begin with a Genealogical Table of that family which God so wonderfully blessed; and to it I shall afterward add each separate tribe, following the calculation of Reyher, (Math. Mos., p. 222.) And we shall see that the fourth generation, taken with the third, produces the very number mentioned in the text.

Children of JACOB by LEAH. Genesis 46:15.
REUBEN	Hanoch Phallu Hezron Carmi		46,500.Numbers 1:21.
SIMEON	Jemuel Jamin Ohad Jachin Zohar Shaul		59,300. Numbers 1:23.
LEVI	Gershon	Libni Shemei	7,500. Numbers 3:22.
	Kohath	Amram Izehar Hebron Uzziel	8,600. Numbers 3:26.
	Merari	Mahli Mushi	6,200. Numbers 3:34.
JUDAH	Shelah Pharez Zerah	Hesron Hamul	74,600. Numbers 1:27.
ISSACHAR	Tola Phuvah Job Shimron		54,400. Numbers 1:29.
ZEBULUN	Sered Elon Jahleel		57,400. Numbers 1:31.
DINAH
Children of JACOB by ZILPAH. Genesis 46:18.
GAD	Zilphion Haggai Shuni Ezbon Eri Arodi Areil		45,650.Numbers 1:25.
ASHER	Jimnah Isuah Isui Beriah	Heber Malchiel	41,500. Numbers 1:41.
Children of JACOB by RACHEL. Genesis 46:22.
JOSEPH	Manasseh Ephraim		32,200 40,500
BENJAMIN	Belah Becher Ashbel Gerah Naaman Ehi Rosh Muppim Huppim Ard		35,400. Numbers 1:37.
Children of JACOB by BILHAH. Genesis 46:25.
DAN	Hushim		62,700. Numbers 1:39.
NAPHTALI	Jahzeel Guni Jezer Shillem		53,400. Numbers 1:43.

I. - REUBEN 46,500

"Let us now descend to the particular enumeration of each tribe. REUBEN had four sons: now if we suppose that one of these four sons had seven, and that each of the other three had eight, we shall find the number 31 for the first Egyptian generation. If we afterward suppose that each of these 31 sons had five sons, the second generation will amount to 155, which, multiplied by 15, will produce 2,325 for the third generation; and these, multiplied by 19, will make 44,175 for the fourth; so that the third, together with the fourth, will make 46,500. We shall have the same product if the given sum, 46,500, be divided by the most probable number of children, for example, by the number 19; we shall then have 2,447 for the third generation; which sum being deducted from the sum total, there will remain 44,053 for the fourth generation, which is exactly the number that is produced in multiplying 2,440 of the third generation by 18, and the other 7 by 19. If we wish to make the same calculation with respect to the preceding generations, i. e., divide them by the most probable number of children, we shall have the following sums: -

Sons of Reuben .........	4
I. Generation ..........	31
II. Ditto ...............	215
III. Ditto ...............	2,583
IV. Ditto ...............	43,917
Amount of generations III and IV ...	46,500

II. - SIMEON 59,300

"SIMEON had six sons. Let us suppose that each of the three first had six children, and each of the three others seven, we shall have thirty-nine for the first generation. If we multiply 31 of this number by 9, and 8 by 10, we shall have for the second generation 359; of which number, if we multiply 355 by 11, and 4 by 12, the third generation will give us 3,953. Let us then multiply 3,948 of these by 14, and 5 of them by 15, and we shall have for the fourth 55,347. The third and fourth, added together, will make 59,300.

III. - LEVI 22,300

"Gershon, Levi's eldest son, had two children: let us give to one of these 16 children, and to the other 17, and we shall have 33 for the second generation; 28 of which, multiplied by 15, and 5 by 16, will produce 500 for the third. Multiply each by 14, and these will produce 7,000; and the third and fourth together, 7,500.

"Kohath, Levi's second son, had four sons, which form the first line. Give to one of them 10 sons, and 11 to each of the other three, for the second generation there will be 43. Multiply them by 10, there will be 430 for the third; these, multiplied by 19 for the fourth, will produce the number of 8,170. The third and fourth added together make 8,600.

"Merari, the third son of Levi, had two sons. Give 10 children to each of them, there will then be 20 for the second generation. Now if we say that 10 of these 20 had each 15 sons, and each of the others 16, we shall have 310, which, multiplied by 19, will give us 5,890 for the fourth; and the two last together, 6,200. This may be seen by the following example: -

	Gershonites	Kohathites	Merarites
I. Generation ..	2	4	2
II. Ditto ...	33	43	20
III. Ditto ...	500	430	310
IV. Ditto ...	7,000	8,170	5,890

"Amount of generations III. and IV.: Gershonites, 7,500; Kohathites, 8,600; and Merarites, 6,200 - total number of Levites, 22,300.

IV. - JUDAH 74,600

"The sons of Judah were Shelah, Pharez, and Zerah. His grandsons by Pharez were Hezron and Hamul. Hezron had two sons. Suppose each of them had six children, which will make 12 for the first generation; to eight of whom allow eight children, and nine to each of the others, and there will be 100 for the second generation. To 92 of these then give 18 children, and 19 to the eight others; this will produce for the third generation 1,808. If we then suppose that 1,800 of these had each 18 children, and that each of the other eight had 19, the fourth generation will be 32,552, which, added to the product of the third, will make the descendants of Hezron amount to 34,360.

"Hamul had two sons, who, multiplied by 10, produce the number of 20 for the second generation: these, multiplied by 20, will make 400 for the third, and these again by 25 will produce 10,000 for the fourth. And thus the two last generations will amount together to the number of 10,400.

"If we allow five sons to Shelah, and six to Zerah, we shall have 11 for the first generation. To three of whom allow 10 children and 11 to the other eight, this will give us 118 for the second. To 113 of these give 14, and 15 to the other five, and 1,657 will be produced for the third. Give 17 to 1,643, and 18 to the 14 remaining, and for the fourth there will be 28,183. The third and fourth added together will produce the number of 29,840.

"According to this calculation, all these generations will amount to the following numbers: -

Hezronites ...............	34,360
Hamulites ...............	10,400
Shelanites and Zarhites ...	29,840
	74,600

V. - ISSACHAR 54,400

"ISSACHAR had five sons. Suppose that three of them had each five children, and the other two, six, we shall have 27 for the first generation. If we then imagine that of these 19 had each nine sons, and each of the other eight 10, the second generation will be 251. Now 241 of these, multiplied by 12, will produce 2,892, and the 10 others, multiplied by 13, will make 130; consequently the third generation will amount to 3,022. If 3,018 of these had each 17 sons, and each of the other four had 18, the fourth generation will be 51,378; the third and fourth generations, then, will produce a number of 54,400.

VI. - ZEBULUN 57,400

"Zebulun had three sons. If we suppose that two of them had in all fourteen children, and the third, six, here will be 20 for the first generation. The second will produce 143, on multiplying 17 by 7, and 3 by 8. If we multiply 135 by 16, and 8 by 17, the third will amount to 2,296. By multiplying the third by 24, the fourth will give us 55,104. The two last will produce, together, 57,400.

VII. - GAD 45,650

"Gad had seven sons.
I. Generation: multiply 3 by 9, and 4 by 10, there will be .....	67
II. Ditto multiply 61 by 7, and 6 by 8 .....	475
III. Ditto multiply 471 by 8, and 4 by 9 ....	3,804
IV. Ditto multiply 3,802 by 11, and 2 by 12 ..	41,846
Amount of generations III and IV ....	45,650

VIII. - ASHER 41,500

"The sons of Asher, Jimnah, Ishua, and Isui, multiplied by 8, produce for the
I. Generation ...............	24
II. Ditto multiply 24 by 8 .....	192
III. Ditto multiply 182 by 11, and 10 by 12 ..	2,122
IV. Ditto multiply 2,118 by 12, and 4 by 13 ..	25,468
Amount of generations III and IV ....	27,590
"Heber and Malchiel were sons of Beriah. Now these two sons multiplied by 5, give us for
I. Generation ...............	10
II. Ditto multiply 10 by 11 .....	110
III. Ditto multiply by 9 .....	990
IV. Ditto multiply by 12 .....	11,880
Amount of generations III and IV .....	12,870
"Another son of Beriah had in the
I. Generation ...............	1
II. Ditto multiply by 8 .....	8
III. Ditto multiply by 10 .....	80
IV. Ditto multiply by 12 .....	960
Amount of generations III and IV ..	1,040
All these generations added together amount to ..	41,500

IX.-JOSEPH

MANASSEH 32,200
I. Generation ...............	10
II. Ditto multiply 6 by 13, and 4 by 14 .....	134
III. Ditto multiply 132 by 12, and 2 by 13 ....	1,610
IV. Ditto multiply by 19 .....	30,590
Amount of generations III and IV .....	32,200
EPHRAIM 40,500
I. Generation ...............	16
II. Ditto multiply by 10 .....	160
III. Ditto multiply 152 by 12, and 8 by 13 ....	1,928
IV. Ditto multiply 1,916 by 20, and 12 by 21 .	38,572
Amount of generations III and IV .....	40,500

X. - BENJAMIN 35,400

"He had 10 sons; two of whom, multiplied by 9, and the other 8 by 10, will give for the
I. Generation ...............	98
II. Ditto multiply 95 by 9, and 3 by 10 .....	885
III. Ditto multiply by 5 .....	4,425
IV. Ditto multiply by 7 .....	30,975
Amount of generations III and IV .....	35,400

XI. - DAN 62,700

I. Generation ...............	11
II. Ditto multiply by 12 .....	132
III. Ditto multiply by 19 .....	2,508
IV. Ditto multiply by 24 .....	60,192
Amount of generations III and IV .....	62,700

XII. - NAPHTALI 53,400

"He had 4 sons, the half of whom, multiplied by 7, and the other half by 6, give us for the
I. Generation ...............	26
II. Ditto multiply 16 by 11, and 10 by 12 ....	296
III. Ditto multiply 288 by 12, and 8 by 13 ....	3,560
IV. Ditto multiply by 14 .....	49,840
Amount of generations III and IV .....	53,400

Total number of all the tribes
I. Reuben .....	46,500
II. Simeon .....	59,300
III. Levi .....	22,300
IV. Judah .....	74,600
V. Issachar .....	54,400
VI. Zebulun .....	57,400
VII. Gad .....	45,650
VIII. Asher .....	41,500
IX. Manasseh .....	32,200
Ephraim .....	40,500
X. Benjamin .....	35,400
XI. Dan .....	62,700
XII. Naphtali .....	53,400
Total	625,850
"And indeed, without counting the Levites, the number of the Israelites (Numbers 1:46) amounts to ..	603,550
The Levites (Numbers 3:39) amount to .....	22,300
The whole number together, as above ....	625,850"

In the above calculations, Scheuchzer and Reyher take for granted,

1. That from the going down to Egypt to the exodus there were four generations.

2. That the first two generations had died in Egypt.

3. That the promise of God in multiplying them as the stars of heaven, had taken place particularly in the two last generations.

4. That these two last generations alone form the aggregate sums given in the sacred text.

5. That their method of accounting for this aggregate through the four generations, is not only perfectly natural and mathematical, but strictly accordant with the promises made by God to them, as the sum of each tribe sufficiently proves.

6. That the whole account shows the truth of the Divine promise, the great accuracy of the Jewish lawgiver, and a proof of the inspiration of the sacred writings.

But even to these calculations and deductions there may be objections, e. g. "Scheuchzer gives to 2,508 families of Dan, 24 male children, each above the age of 20: we may fairly allow an equal number of females, and add 5 more under 20, See the note at "Exodus 12:37", and we have 53 children on the average through all the families of a tribe; whilst to 4,425 families of Benjamin are allotted 7 males aged 20, and adding 7 females at 5 children, we have 19 children in each family; a tolerable number; but apparently more reasonable than the other." - ANON.