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Census of the people of Israel. - The selection of Levites to serve at the tabernacle. Numbers 1:1. And the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of meeting, on the first [day] of the second month, in the second year after they came out of the land of Egypt, saying: Numbers 1:2. number all the congregation of the children of Israel by their generations, by their families, by the number of names, every male. Numbers 1:3. from twenty years old and upward, all those who are able to fight in Israel, number them according to their armies - you and Aaron; Being a means of informing the quantitative composition of the Jewish army and the number of payers of the poll tax in favor of the tabernacle (Exodus 30.11–16), the census was at the same time intended to provide visual confirmation of the divine promises to the patriarchs about the great multiplication of their offspring (Blessed Theodoret, Commentary on the book of Numbers, question 1). According to the census inquiries it turned out: The tribe of Reuben has 46,500 people. Simeon - 59,300 people. Numbers 1:4. You should have with you from each tribe one person who is the leader of his family. Together with Moses, Aaron, and the Levites (Exodus 38.21), the heads of the tribes had to take part in the census, both in order to ensure the greatest accuracy in compiling the lists, and in order to support the authority of the men they had chosen in the eyes of the people. Numbers 1:47. But the Levites were not numbered among them according to the generations of their fathers. Numbers 1:48. And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Numbers 1:49. Only do not include the tribe of Levi in ​​the census, and do not number them along with the children of Israel; Numbers 1:50. But entrust to the Levites the tabernacle of testimony and all its utensils and everything that is with it; let them carry the tabernacle and all its accessories, and serve with it, and let them pitch their camp near the tabernacle; Numbers 1:51. and when the tabernacle must be moved, let the Levites lift it up; and when the tabernacle needs to be stopped, let the Levites pitch it; and if any stranger approaches, he will be put to death. Capitation and military service for the Levites were replaced by their lifelong service to the tabernacle. You might be interested in: