Numbers 3

WEEK 5                                          Numbers 3         

FRIDAY  Reflections

Throughout scripture, the idea of giving God the best and the firstfruits is commanded. By this command, all of the firstborn children would go into God's service. However, instead of taking the firstborn child of every family another system was set up. This system was the Levitical system. The other tribes would offer an offering to remember what was due to God and the Levites would do the work of the ministry. Many of the Levites would have other jobs as well, but their primary ministry was to God.

 

The first lesson of the firstfruit's giving was the recognition that God was the one who had given us all the fruit. The second purpose of firstfruit's giving was it served as an act of faith. The faith was that God would give enough after this gift to meet the needs of the giver. This is why most pastors encourage their congregations to give to God before they do anything else.  

Num 3:1-51
(1)  These also are the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that the LORD spake with Moses in mount Sinai.
(2)  And these are the names of the sons of Aaron; Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
(3)  These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests which were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.
(4)  And Nadab and Abihu died before the LORD, when they offered strange fire before the LORD, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children: and Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the sight of Aaron their father.
(5)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(6)  Bring the tribe of Levi near, and present them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister unto him.
(7)  And they shall keep his charge, and the charge of the whole congregation before the tabernacle of the congregation, to do the service of the tabernacle.
(8)  And they shall keep all the instruments of the tabernacle of the congregation, and the charge of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.
(9)  And thou shalt give the Levites unto Aaron and to his sons: they are wholly given unto him out of the children of Israel.
(10)  And thou shalt appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall wait on their priest's office: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
(11)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(12)  And I, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn that openeth the matrix among the children of Israel: therefore the Levites shall be mine;
(13)  Because all the firstborn are mine; for on the day that I smote all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I hallowed unto me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and beast: mine shall they be: I am the LORD.
(14)  And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,
(15)  Number the children of Levi after the house of their fathers, by their families: every male from a month old and upward shalt thou number them.
(16)  And Moses numbered them according to the word of the LORD, as he was commanded.
(17)  And these were the sons of Levi by their names; Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
(18)  And these are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families; Libni, and Shimei.
(19)  And the sons of Kohath by their families; Amram, and Izehar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
(20)  And the sons of Merari by their families; Mahli, and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to the house of their fathers.
(21)  Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimites: these are the families of the Gershonites.
(22)  Those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those that were numbered of them were seven thousand and five hundred.
(23)  The families of the Gershonites shall pitch behind the tabernacle westward.
(24)  And the chief of the house of the father of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
(25)  And the charge of the sons of Gershon in the tabernacle of the congregation shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, the covering thereof, and the hanging for the door of the tabernacle of the congregation,
(26)  And the hangings of the court, and the curtain for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and by the altar round about, and the cords of it for all the service thereof.
(27)  And of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izeharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.
(28)  In the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were eight thousand and six hundred, keeping the charge of the sanctuary.
(29)  The families of the sons of Kohath shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle southward.
(30)  And the chief of the house of the father of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.
(31)  And their charge shall be the ark, and the table, and the candlestick, and the altars, and the vessels of the sanctuary wherewith they minister, and the hanging, and all the service thereof.
(32)  And Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be chief over the chief of the Levites, and have the oversight of them that keep the charge of the sanctuary.
(33)  Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites: these are the families of Merari.
(34)  And those that were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand and two hundred.
(35)  And the chief of the house of the father of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail: these shall pitch on the side of the tabernacle northward.
(36)  And under the custody and charge of the sons of Merari shall be the boards of the tabernacle, and the bars thereof, and the pillars thereof, and the sockets thereof, and all the vessels thereof, and all that serveth thereto,
(37)  And the pillars of the court round about, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords.
(38)  But those that encamp before the tabernacle toward the east, even before the tabernacle of the congregation eastward, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the charge of the sanctuary for the charge of the children of Israel; and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
(39)  All that were numbered of the Levites, which Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of the LORD, throughout their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty and two thousand.
(40)  And the LORD said unto Moses, Number all the firstborn of the males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
(41)  And thou shalt take the Levites for me (I am the LORD) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the cattle of the Levites instead of all the firstlings among the cattle of the children of Israel.
(42)  And Moses numbered, as the LORD commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
(43)  And all the firstborn males by the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those that were numbered of them, were twenty and two thousand two hundred and threescore and thirteen.
(44)  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
(45)  Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the cattle of the Levites instead of their cattle; and the Levites shall be mine: I am the LORD.
(46)  And for those that are to be redeemed of the two hundred and threescore and thirteen of the firstborn of the children of Israel, which are more than the Levites;
(47)  Thou shalt even take five shekels apiece by the poll, after the shekel of the sanctuary shalt thou take them: (the shekel is twenty gerahs:)
(48)  And thou shalt give the money, wherewith the odd number of them is to be redeemed, unto Aaron and to his sons.
(49)  And Moses took the redemption money of them that were over and above them that were redeemed by the Levites:
(50)  Of the firstborn of the children of Israel took he the money; a thousand three hundred and threescore and five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
(51)  And Moses gave the money of them that were redeemed unto Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of the LORD, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Mark 5

What can make you clean?

WEEK  5                                                 Mark 5      

THURSDAY  Reflections

Jesus is surrounded by people. People who were followers, doubters, the curious, the self-serving, the self-righteous, you know the normal mix of people following the famous. Yet one person in the crowd was different.

 

Though many people had made contact with Jesus only one person touched him. Touched him in faith. A faith that changed her life forever. This was a woman who would have been considered unclean by the religious people of the day. Yet this time, instead of the unclean making the thing it touched defiled, the unclean was made clean.

 

Nothing clean in the Old Covenant could make the unclean clean. If the unclean touched a sacred object it was made unclean. Someone greater than anything in the temple was walking down the street. Somehow this woman understood with Jesus the rules would be different. Jesus could make her whole. He could make her clean.

 

Jesus still can if you reach out and touch him.

Mar 5:1-43

(1)  And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.

(2)  And when he was come out of the ship, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit,

(3)  Who had his dwelling among the tombs; and no man could bind him, no, not with chains:

(4)  Because that he had been often bound with fetters and chains, and the chains had been plucked asunder by him, and the fetters broken in pieces: neither could any man tame him.

(5)  And always, night and day, he was in the mountains, and in the tombs, crying, and cutting himself with stones.

(6)  But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him,

(7)  And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not.

(8)  For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.

(9)  And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many.

(10)  And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.

(11)  Now there was there nigh unto the mountains a great herd of swine feeding.

(12)  And all the devils besought him, saying, Send us into the swine, that we may enter into them.

(13)  And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand;) and were choked in the sea.

(14)  And they that fed the swine fled, and told it in the city, and in the country. And they went out to see what it was that was done.

(15)  And they come to Jesus, and see him that was possessed with the devil, and had the legion, sitting, and clothed, and in his right mind: and they were afraid.

(16)  And they that saw it told them how it befell to him that was possessed with the devil, and also concerning the swine.

(17)  And they began to pray him to depart out of their coasts.

(18)  And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him.

(19)  Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.

(20)  And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel.

(21)  And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea.

(22)  And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet,

(23)  And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

(24)  And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him.

(25)  And a certain woman, which had an issue of blood twelve years,

(26)  And had suffered many things of many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was nothing bettered, but rather grew worse,

(27)  When she had heard of Jesus, came in the press behind, and touched his garment.

(28)  For she said, If I may touch but his clothes, I shall be whole.

(29)  And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.

(30)  And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?

(31)  And his disciples said unto him, Thou seest the multitude thronging thee, and sayest thou, Who touched me?

(32)  And he looked round about to see her that had done this thing.

(33)  But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.

(34)  And he said unto her, Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.

(35)  While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further?

(36)  As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe.

(37)  And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James.

(38)  And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly.

(39)  And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

(40)  And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying.

(41)  And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise.

(42)  And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment.

(43)  And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat.

Psalm 45

WEEK   5                                        Psalm  45         

WEDNESDAY  Reflections

This psalm is very different from other psalms because it was written for a wedding. It both gives us insight into the minds of those preparing for a wedding in the times of the kings of Israel and a reminder that marriage creates new bonds.

 

The splendor of a royal wedding is seen here. Also, we see in the middle of this praise for the bride and the king is praise also to God. Even in the middle of what most would consider a very human event, God is glorified and recognized. This is a reminder that we are to praise God at all times (Ephesians 5:20, Hebrews 13:15).

 

The bride is told to forget her father's house and focus on the king alone. This is to the bride what Genesis 2:24 is to the groom. Family is not forgotten but the first priority of a married couple is their relationship with God and not their relationship with the rest of their family. The lesson of this balance is something every generation seems to struggle with and most fail in one way or another.

Psa 45:1-17
(1)  To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves. My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.
(2)  Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.
(3)  Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, O most mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.
(4)  And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
(5)  Thine arrows are sharp in the heart of the king's enemies; whereby the people fall under thee.
(6)  Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the sceptre of thy kingdom is a right sceptre.
(7)  Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.
(8)  All thy garments smell of myrrh, and aloes, and cassia, out of the ivory palaces, whereby they have made thee glad.
(9)  Kings' daughters were among thy honourable women: upon thy right hand did stand the queen in gold of Ophir.
(10)  Hearken, O daughter, and consider, and incline thine ear; forget also thine own people, and thy father's house;
(11)  So shall the king greatly desire thy beauty: for he is thy Lord; and worship thou him.
(12)  And the daughter of Tyre shall be there with a gift; even the rich among the people shall intreat thy favour.
(13)  The king's daughter is all glorious within: her clothing is of wrought gold.
(14)  She shall be brought unto the king in raiment of needlework: the virgins her companions that follow her shall be brought unto thee.
(15)  With gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought: they shall enter into the king's palace.
(16)  Instead of thy fathers shall be thy children, whom thou mayest make princes in all the earth.
(17)  I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever.

Numbers 2

That shape looks familiar.

WEEK  5                                            Numbers 2   

TUESDAY  Reflections

Even now the tribe of Judah from whom the line of David and Jesus would come is taking its place out front. This is a small note but one that builds as we travel through the narrative. We can see God preparing the people for the tribe of Judah to lead.

 

Several commentators have remarked on the pattern in which the camp of Israel is laid out. With the tribes on the north, south, east, and west, the camp resembles a cross. This fact will play into something which will happen later. (Hint: no matter the direction the cross is still a cross and it can’t be cursed by man.)

Num 2:1-34
(1)  And the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying,
(2)  Every man of the children of Israel shall pitch by his own standard, with the ensign of their father's house: far off about the tabernacle of the congregation shall they pitch.
(3)  And on the east side toward the rising of the sun shall they of the standard of the camp of Judah pitch throughout their armies: and Nahshon the son of Amminadab shall be captain of the children of Judah.
(4)  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.
(5)  And those that do pitch next unto him shall be the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar shall be captain of the children of Issachar.
(6)  And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
(7)  Then the tribe of Zebulun: and Eliab the son of Helon shall be captain of the children of Zebulun.
(8)  And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
(9)  All that were numbered in the camp of Judah were an hundred thousand and fourscore thousand and six thousand and four hundred, throughout their armies. These shall first set forth.
(10)  On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their armies: and the captain of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.
(11)  And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
(12)  And those which pitch by him shall be the tribe of Simeon: and the captain of the children of Simeon shall be Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
(13)  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
(14)  Then the tribe of Gad: and the captain of the sons of Gad shall be Eliasaph the son of Reuel.
(15)  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and five thousand and six hundred and fifty.
(16)  All that were numbered in the camp of Reuben were an hundred thousand and fifty and one thousand and four hundred and fifty, throughout their armies. And they shall set forth in the second rank.
(17)  Then the tabernacle of the congregation shall set forward with the camp of the Levites in the midst of the camp: as they encamp, so shall they set forward, every man in his place by their standards.
(18)  On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their armies: and the captain of the sons of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.
(19)  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty thousand and five hundred.
(20)  And by him shall be the tribe of Manasseh: and the captain of the children of Manasseh shall be Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
(21)  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
(22)  Then the tribe of Benjamin: and the captain of the sons of Benjamin shall be Abidan the son of Gideoni.
(23)  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.
(24)  All that were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were an hundred thousand and eight thousand and an hundred, throughout their armies. And they shall go forward in the third rank.
(25)  The standard of the camp of Dan shall be on the north side by their armies: and the captain of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
(26)  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.
(27)  And those that encamp by him shall be the tribe of Asher: and the captain of the children of Asher shall be Pagiel the son of Ocran.
(28)  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.
(29)  Then the tribe of Naphtali: and the captain of the children of Naphtali shall be Ahira the son of Enan.
(30)  And his host, and those that were numbered of them, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
(31)  All they that were numbered in the camp of Dan were an hundred thousand and fifty and seven thousand and six hundred. They shall go hindmost with their standards.
(32)  These are those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
(33)  But the Levites were not numbered among the children of Israel; as the LORD commanded Moses.
(34)  And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses: so they pitched by their standards, and so they set forward, every one after their families, according to the house of their fathers.

Photo by Yiran Ding on Unsplash

Numbers 1

Count them...

WEEK  5                                               Numbers 1  

MONDAY  Reflections

Since the Bible is a book of history it doesn't follow the rules of storytelling. For many, the numbering of Israel is a waste of time to read. Who cares if the Reubenites had 46,500 men in it, or the Levites weren't counted with the rest of the tribes? It seems to be of little consequence for most people in their Christian lives, and they would be partly right. However consider, is it important for you to know how to keep a generator running? No, but if your reading this on something that uses electricity then it is vital the information is out there. The same is true here, this may not seem important but for the totality of Biblical scholarship to be as rich as it is this stuff is important. Don’t worry there is a lot more in Numbers than census data, so keep reading.

 

Now, what do you see? For me, I see God was preparing the people for war if it would come. God gave them the statistics they would need to begin preparations to defend themselves. Yes, God did defend them and help them, but He also wanted them to have a part in this. Like a parent, God protected the children of Israel when they couldn't, but now it was time to do what they could.

 

The Second observation, this was a lot of people. Over 600,000 men, not including women, children, and the very old were in this camp. This might help us realize how scary it was when people didn't have food or water. A small group you might be able to reason with but a group this size could easily become a mob. Possibly a million and a half were looking to Moses to supply their needs and lead them.

Num 1:1-54

(1)  And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

(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.

(5)  And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; Elizur the son of Shedeur.

(6)  Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

(7)  Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

(8)  Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar.

(9)  Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon.

(10)  Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; Elishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.

(11)  Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni.

(12)  Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

(13)  Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran.

(14)  Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

(15)  Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.

(16)  These were the renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.

(17)  And Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names:

(18)  And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared their pedigrees after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, by their polls.

(19)  As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.

(20)  And the children of Reuben, Israel's eldest son, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

(21)  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.

(22)  Of the children of Simeon, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, those that were numbered of them, according to the number of the names, by their polls, every male from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

(23)  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.

(24)  Of the children of Gad, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

(25)  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.

(26)  Of the children of Judah, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

(27)  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.

(28)  Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

(29)  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.

(30)  Of the children of Zebulun, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

(31)  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.

(32)  Of the children of Joseph, namely, of the children of Ephraim, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

(33)  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.

(34)  Of the children of Manasseh, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

(35)  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.

(36)  Of the children of Benjamin, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

(37)  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.

(38)  Of the children of Dan, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

(39)  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.

(40)  Of the children of Asher, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

(41)  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.

(42)  Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

(43)  Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.

(44)  These are those that were numbered, which Moses and Aaron numbered, and the princes of Israel, being twelve men: each one was for the house of his fathers.

(45)  So were all those that were numbered of the children of Israel, by the house of their fathers, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war in Israel;

(46)  Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

(47)  But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.

(48)  For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying,

(49)  Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:

(50)  But thou shalt appoint the Levites over the tabernacle of testimony, and over all the vessels thereof, and over all things that belong to it: they shall bear the tabernacle, and all the vessels thereof; and they shall minister unto it, and shall encamp round about the tabernacle.

(51)  And when the tabernacle setteth forward, the Levites shall take it down: and when the tabernacle is to be pitched, the Levites shall set it up: and the stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.

(52)  And the children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, throughout their hosts.

(53)  But the Levites shall pitch round about the tabernacle of testimony, that there be no wrath upon the congregation of the children of Israel: and the Levites shall keep the charge of the tabernacle of testimony.

(54)  And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.