📖 Numbers — Chapter 1 (KJV)
Read the complete King James Version chapter below, then explore the passage sections, check what you remember, and keep your private study notes.
Scripture source: Project Gutenberg KJV, ebook 10.
Numbers 1:1 And the LORD spake unto Moses in the Rwilderness 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,
Numbers 1:2 RTake 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;
Numbers 1:3 From Rtwenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
Numbers 1:4 And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one head of the house of his fathers.
Numbers 1:5 And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of the tribe of Reuben; RElizur the son of Shedeur.
Numbers 1:6 Of Simeon; RShelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.
Numbers 1:7 Of Judah; RNahshon the son of Amminadab.
Numbers 1:8 Of Issachar; RNethaneel the son of Zuar.
Numbers 1:9 Of Zebulun; REliab the son of Helon.
Numbers 1:10 Of the children of Joseph: of Ephraim; RElishama the son of Ammihud: of Manasseh; Gamaliel the son of Pedahzur.
Numbers 1:11 Of Benjamin; RAbidan the son of Gideoni.
Numbers 1:12 Of Dan; RAhiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
Numbers 1:13 Of Asher; RPagiel the son of Ocran.
Numbers 1:14 Of Gad; REliasaph the son of TDeuel.
Numbers 1:15 Of Naphtali; RAhira the son of Enan.
Numbers 1:16 These were Rthe renowned of the congregation, princes of the tribes of their fathers, heads of thousands in Israel.
Numbers 1:17 RAnd Moses and Aaron took these men which are expressed by their names:
Numbers 1:18 And they assembled all the congregation together on the first day of the second month, and they declared Rtheir 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.
Numbers 1:19 As the LORD commanded Moses, so he numbered them in the wilderness of Sinai.
Numbers 1:20 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;
Numbers 1:21 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Reuben, were forty and six thousand and five hundred.
Numbers 1:22 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;
Numbers 1:23 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Simeon, were fifty and nine thousand and three hundred.
Numbers 1:24 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;
Numbers 1:25 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Gad, were forty and five thousand six hundred and fifty.
Numbers 1:26 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;
Numbers 1:27 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Judah, were threescore and fourteen thousand and six hundred.
Numbers 1:28 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;
Numbers 1:29 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred.
Numbers 1:30 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;
Numbers 1:31 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Zebulun, were fifty and seven thousand and four hundred.
Numbers 1:32 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;
Numbers 1:33 Those that were numbered of them, even of Rthe tribe of Ephraim, were forty thousand and five hundred.
Numbers 1:34 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;
Numbers 1:35 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Manasseh, were thirty and two thousand and two hundred.
Numbers 1:36 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;
Numbers 1:37 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Benjamin, were thirty and five thousand and four hundred.
Numbers 1:38 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;
Numbers 1:39 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Dan, were threescore and two thousand and seven hundred.
Numbers 1:40 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;
Numbers 1:41 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Asher, were forty and one thousand and five hundred.
Numbers 1:42 Of the children of RNaphtali, 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;
Numbers 1:43 Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Naphtali, were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
Numbers 1:44 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.
Numbers 1:45 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;
Numbers 1:46 Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.
Numbers 1:47 But the Levites after the tribe of their fathers were not numbered among them.
Numbers 1:48 For the LORD had spoken unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 1:49 Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:
Numbers 1:50 But Rthou 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.
Numbers 1:51 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 Rthe stranger that cometh nigh shall be put to death.
Numbers 1:52 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.
Numbers 1:53 But the Levites Rshall 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.
Numbers 1:54 And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they.
📚 Study This Chapter
📖 What We’re Reading
Numbers 1:1–19 — The Census Command
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The LORD speaks to Moses in Sinai in the second year after the departure from Egypt. Moses and Aaron, assisted by a leader from each tribe, are to number the men able to go to war. The congregation assembles and declares its families as commanded.
Key Truth: Israel's numbering is carried out under the LORD's instruction.
Check What You Remember
1. In which wilderness was this census commanded? (Numbers 1:1)
Find it in Numbers 1:1 (KJV).
2. What was the minimum age of the men counted for war? (Numbers 1:3)
Find it in Numbers 1:3 (KJV).
3. Name both leaders who conducted the numbering. (Numbers 1:17)
Find it in Numbers 1:17 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Numbers 1:20–46 — The Tribes Numbered
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The chapter records the numbers for the tribes according to their families. Reuben, Israel's eldest son, is listed first. The total is 603,550 men aged twenty and upward who are able to go to war; the Levites have a separate assignment.
Key Truth: The record accounts for the tribes and the stated total of the military census.
Check What You Remember
1. Which tribe is listed first in this census record? (Numbers 1:20)
Find it in Numbers 1:20 (KJV).
2. How many were numbered in Reuben? (Numbers 1:21)
Find it in Numbers 1:21 (KJV).
3. What was the total recorded in verse 46? (Numbers 1:46)
Find it in Numbers 1:46 (KJV).
📖 What We’re Reading
Numbers 1:47–54 — The Levites and the Tabernacle
🌱 What These Verses Teach Us
The Levites are excluded from this census and appointed over the tabernacle and its vessels. They carry, set up, and take down the tabernacle and camp around it. The other Israelites camp by their standards, and the chapter records their obedience.
Key Truth: The Levites receive a distinct charge concerning the LORD's tabernacle.
Check What You Remember
1. Which tribe was not included in the military census? (Numbers 1:49)
Find it in Numbers 1:49 (KJV).
2. What holy structure were the Levites appointed over? (Numbers 1:50)
Find it in Numbers 1:50 (KJV).
3. Did Israel do what the LORD commanded Moses? (Numbers 1:54)
Find it in Numbers 1:54 (KJV).
Advanced Questions and Answers
Study this chapter’s wording, patterns, contrasts, and meaning in greater depth.
1. How does eligibility for the military census combine age with ability?
2. How does declaring pedigrees organize the numbering?
3. How does excluding Levi from the war census accompany a different charge?
4. How does the Levites’ work change when the tabernacle moves or is pitched?
5. What stated purpose does the Levites’ position around the tabernacle serve?
Notes
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