A census was taken of all males twenty years old and older in order to determine the military strength of Israel as they would soon battle the people occupying the land of Canaan that God had promised to them (Numbers 1). The census revealed that there were 603,550 eligible men to fight against the Canaanites (1:44-46). Along with numbering the soldiers, the Lord also commanded that each tribe (identified by a unique banner) be situated around the tabernacle of meeting when Israel was encamped at a certain location (Numbers 2). Placing the tribes in an organized fashion while they marched and camped would provide efficiency and structure in such a large group of people, which may have been approximately two million at this point in Israel’s history (2:1-2). The only tribe not numbered with the soldiers or given a specific location around the tabernacle was the tribe of Levi because God had set them aside to perform the duties in the tabernacle (Numbers 3). A census of all males in the tribe of Levi one month old and above was taken to determine how many would be available to serve in the tabernacle (3:14-16). Levi had three sons – Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.
Each of Levi’s sons and their families would serve a specific purpose in moving the tabernacle as Israel journeyed from one camp to the next; therefore, God commanded Moses to take a census of all the men 30-50 years of age in tribe of Levi. The sons of Kohath (see also Numbers 3:27-32) were responsible for transporting the holy objects in the tabernacle only after they had been covered by Aaron and his sons (4:1-20). If any son of Kohath touched or looked upon a holy object before it had been covered by the sons of Aaron, they would die (4:15, 20). The census revealed that there were 2,750 sons of Kohath eligible for this responsibility (4:34-37). The sons of Gershon (see also Numbers 3:21-26) were responsible for transporting the coverings of the tabernacle (4:21-28). The census revealed that there were 2,630 sons of Gershon eligible for this responsibility (4:38-41). The sons of Merari (see also Numbers 3:33-37) were responsible for transporting the wooden framework of the tabernacle (4:29-33). The census revealed that there were 3,200 sons of Merari eligible for this responsibility (4:42-45). The total number of Levites available for transporting the parts of the tabernacle was 8,580 men 30-50 years old (4:46-49). All of the people had their own unique responsibility in transporting the pieces of the tabernacle when Israel traveled from one place to the next. Organizing these details would provide structure for the nation of Israel and allow them to quickly move nearly two million from one campsite to another without chaos. Numbering all these groups and people may seem tedious, but God was teaching Israel about the importance of relying on His plan for their own protection and provision.
Dear God, help me to be responsible in the duties you have given me so that I can work together with others.
