Aussie Bible logo: gum tree, cross and Uluru at sunset over an open book Aussie BibleFair Dinkum Edition

Numbers 1

God tells Moses to take a census of all the men in Israel able to serve in the army. Each tribe is counted by its clans and families. The total comes to 603,550. The Levites are not counted among them — they are to care for the tabernacle.

Now reading: Fair Dinkum

You’re in Study Mode. Each verse shows our Fair Dinkum rendering with the King James Version (1611) underneath, so you can compare them. Use the button above to switch back to plain reading.

The first census

The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. You and Aaron are to count according to their divisions all the men in Israel who are twenty years old or more and able to serve in the army. One man from each tribe, each of them the head of his family, is to help you. These are the names of the men who are to assist you: from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur; from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai; from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab; from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar; from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon; from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur; from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni; from Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai; from Asher, Pagiel son of Okran; from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel; from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan. These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel. Moses and Aaron took these men whose names had been specified, and they called the whole community together on the first day of the second month. The people registered their ancestry by their clans and families, and the men twenty years old or more were listed by name, one by one, as the Lord commanded Moses. And so he counted them in the Desert of Sinai: From the descendants of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500. From the descendants of Simeon: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were counted and listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300. From the descendants of Gad: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Gad was 45,650. From the descendants of Judah: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Judah was 74,600. From the descendants of Issachar: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Issachar was 54,400. From the descendants of Zebulun: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400. From the sons of Joseph: From the descendants of Ephraim: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500. From the descendants of Manasseh: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200. From the descendants of Benjamin: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400. From the descendants of Dan: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700. From the descendants of Asher: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Asher was 41,500. From the descendants of Naphtali: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families. The number from the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400. These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family. All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel's army were counted according to their families. The total number was 603,550. The ancestral tribe of the Levites, however, was not counted along with the others. The Lord had said to Moses: You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites. Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the covenant law — over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it. Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death. The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each of them in their own camp under their own standard. The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law. The Israelites did all this just as the Lord commanded Moses.

1

The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said:

King James Version, 1611

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 a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.

King James Version, 1611

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

You and Aaron are to count according to their divisions all the men in Israel who are twenty years old or more and able to serve in the army.

King James Version, 1611

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

One man from each tribe, each of them the head of his family, is to help you.

King James Version, 1611

And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.

5

These are the names of the men who are to assist you: from Reuben, Elizur son of Shedeur;

King James Version, 1611

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

6

from Simeon, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai;

King James Version, 1611

Of Simeon; Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

7

from Judah, Nahshon son of Amminadab;

King James Version, 1611

Of Judah; Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

8

from Issachar, Nethanel son of Zuar;

King James Version, 1611

Of Issachar; Nethaneel the son of Zuar.

9

from Zebulun, Eliab son of Helon;

King James Version, 1611

Of Zebulun; Eliab the son of Helon.

10

from the sons of Joseph: from Ephraim, Elishama son of Ammihud; from Manasseh, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur;

King James Version, 1611

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

11

from Benjamin, Abidan son of Gideoni;

King James Version, 1611

Of Benjamin; Abidan the son of Gideoni.

12

from Dan, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai;

King James Version, 1611

Of Dan; Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

13

from Asher, Pagiel son of Okran;

King James Version, 1611

Of Asher; Pagiel the son of Ocran.

14

from Gad, Eliasaph son of Deuel;

King James Version, 1611

Of Gad; Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

15

from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan.

King James Version, 1611

Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.

16

These were the men appointed from the community, the leaders of their ancestral tribes. They were the heads of the clans of Israel.

King James Version, 1611

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

17

Moses and Aaron took these men whose names had been specified,

King James Version, 1611

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

18

and they called the whole community together on the first day of the second month. The people registered their ancestry by their clans and families, and the men twenty years old or more were listed by name, one by one,

King James Version, 1611

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. And so he counted them in the Desert of Sinai:

King James Version, 1611

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

20

From the descendants of Reuben the firstborn son of Israel: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families.

King James Version, 1611

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

The number from the tribe of Reuben was 46,500.

King James Version, 1611

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

22

From the descendants of Simeon: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were counted and listed by name, one by one, according to the records of their clans and families.

King James Version, 1611

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

The number from the tribe of Simeon was 59,300.

King James Version, 1611

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

24

From the descendants of Gad: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.

King James Version, 1611

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

The number from the tribe of Gad was 45,650.

King James Version, 1611

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

26

From the descendants of Judah: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.

King James Version, 1611

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

The number from the tribe of Judah was 74,600.

King James Version, 1611

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

28

From the descendants of Issachar: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.

King James Version, 1611

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

The number from the tribe of Issachar was 54,400.

King James Version, 1611

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

30

From the descendants of Zebulun: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.

King James Version, 1611

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

The number from the tribe of Zebulun was 57,400.

King James Version, 1611

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

32

From the sons of Joseph: From the descendants of Ephraim: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.

King James Version, 1611

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

The number from the tribe of Ephraim was 40,500.

King James Version, 1611

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

34

From the descendants of Manasseh: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.

King James Version, 1611

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

The number from the tribe of Manasseh was 32,200.

King James Version, 1611

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

36

From the descendants of Benjamin: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.

King James Version, 1611

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

The number from the tribe of Benjamin was 35,400.

King James Version, 1611

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

38

From the descendants of Dan: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.

King James Version, 1611

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

The number from the tribe of Dan was 62,700.

King James Version, 1611

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

40

From the descendants of Asher: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.

King James Version, 1611

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

The number from the tribe of Asher was 41,500.

King James Version, 1611

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

42

From the descendants of Naphtali: all the men twenty years old or more who were able to serve in the army were listed by name, according to the records of their clans and families.

King James Version, 1611

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

The number from the tribe of Naphtali was 53,400.

King James Version, 1611

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

44

These were the men counted by Moses and Aaron and the twelve leaders of Israel, each one representing his family.

King James Version, 1611

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

All the Israelites twenty years old or more who were able to serve in Israel's army were counted according to their families.

King James Version, 1611

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

The total number was 603,550.

King James Version, 1611

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

47

The ancestral tribe of the Levites, however, was not counted along with the others.

King James Version, 1611

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

48

The Lord had said to Moses:

King James Version, 1611

For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying,

49

You must not count the tribe of Levi or include them in the census of the other Israelites.

King James Version, 1611

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

50

Instead, appoint the Levites to be in charge of the tabernacle of the covenant law — over all its furnishings and everything belonging to it. They are to carry the tabernacle and all its furnishings; they are to take care of it and encamp around it.

King James Version, 1611

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

Whenever the tabernacle is to move, the Levites are to take it down, and whenever the tabernacle is to be set up, the Levites shall do it. Anyone else who approaches it is to be put to death.

King James Version, 1611

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

The Israelites are to set up their tents by divisions, each of them in their own camp under their own standard.

King James Version, 1611

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

The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelite community. The Levites are to be responsible for the care of the tabernacle of the covenant law.

King James Version, 1611

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

The Israelites did all this just as the Lord commanded Moses.

King James Version, 1611

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