Study note

Numbers 1:2–16

  • those who are twenty years of age or older by their divisions—everyone who can serve in Israel’s army: This registration gathered more information than the earlier census (compare Exodus 38:26).

  • These are the names of the men who are to assist you: Hebrew culture was tribal, centered around clans and families. They easily identified the tribal leaders, who appear again as a group in Numbers 7.

  • Moses and Aaron did not include the tribe of Levi in this registration because it had a special status in Israelite society (see Numbers 1:47–53; 26:51–62; Deuteronomy 18:5; 33:8–11).