Preface:    God organizes Israel into a military division in Numbers 1, and has Moses and Aaron take a census for the military draft.

The Bible Summary of Numbers 1 (in 140 characters or less): The LORD told Moses to count the Israelite armies. The number of men over twenty years old was 603,550. The Levites were not counted.

There are many chapter commentaries on the book of Numbers. This will be the most extensive examination of Numbers 1, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text. Every attempt has been made to make this both a complete and self-contained study. Therefore, all references, vocabulary, and related concepts should be found within this extensive study. Easy access links to more in-depth studies of some vocabulary words, concepts and doctrines are also provided.

Outline of Chapter 1:

Introduction

         vv.     1–

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         vv. 

Chapter Summary

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Preface               Quotations

         Introduction         Arriving in 40 years (a cartoon)

         Introduction 

         Introduction         Titles and/or Brief Descriptions of Numbers 1 (by various commentators)

         Introduction         Brief, but insightful observations of Numbers 1 (various commentators)

         Introduction         Fundamental Questions About Numbers 1

         Introduction         The Prequel of Numbers 1

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         The Principals of Numbers 1

         Introduction         The Places of Numbers 1

         Introduction         By the Numbers

         Introduction         Timeline for Numbers 1

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Numbers 1

         Introduction         Outlines of Numbers 1 (Various Commentators)

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Numbers 1 from the Summarized Bible

         Introduction         The Big Picture (Numbers 1–15)

         Introduction 

         Introduction 

         Introduction         Changes—additions and subtractions (for Numbers 1)

         Introduction 

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         v.      16              Moses: Worst Navigator Ever (a meme)

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         Summary            A Set of Summary Doctrines and Commentary

         Summary            Why Numbers 1 is in the Word of God

         Summary            What We Learn from Numbers 1

         Summary            Jesus Christ in Numbers 1

         Summary            Edersheim Summarizes Numbers 1

         Summary 

         Addendum          Footnotes from Numbers 1:3 (from the Christian Community Bible)

         Addendum          Footnote for Exodus 25:9, referred back to in Numbers 1:50 (the Heritage Bible)

         Addendum 

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         Addendum          Josephus’ History of this Time Period

         Addendum          A Complete Translation of Numbers 1

         Addendum          Doctrinal Teachers Who Have Taught Numbers 1

         Addendum          Word Cloud from a Reasonably Literal Paraphrase of Numbers 1

         Addendum          Word Cloud from Exegesis of Numbers 1

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An Introduction to Numbers 1

I ntroduction: Numbers 1 is primarily about preparing Israel for war. The sons of Israel, 20 years and older, were registered for Israel’s military draft in this chapter. A census was taken to determine Israel’s military might. To put this in another way, Israel had universal military responsibilities for all males twenty and up. The nation called Israel today (I write this in 2024) has full military responsibilities for all adult males and females today (as far as I can determine).

In Num. 1 we have the first of two censuses taken in this book of Numbers, so aptly titled. The original plan was for Israel to immediately go into the land and conquer it. However, they will fail a major test at Kadesh Barnea and God will cause them to cool their heels in the desert for an additional forty years until the generation that God loathed dies out.

The book of Numbers tells us why the Israelites took forty years to go from Egypt to Canaan (the land of promise). God first took the people to Mount Sinai and gave them the Law (see the book of Exodus; and much of this Law—particularly the ceremonial aspects of it—are given in the book of Leviticus). That took a year, and the exact dates are given in Numbers 1:1. God then organized Israel’s military and He guided Israel to the border of Canaan. Spies were sent in to look over the land, and a report of what they found was brought back to the people. Ten of the twelve spies gave a bad report. That is, they said, “This is a land of milk and honey, but the people in the land are like giants before us. We cannot conquer them!” So God kept that generation of Hebrews in the desert another thirty-nine years, and they died the sin unto death. God then took the next generation to the border, and they were willing to go into the land and take it. This is a summary of the book of Numbers. The Hebrew people will take the land in the book of Joshua.

Arriving in 40 years (a cartoon); from Christian Funny Pictures; accessed September 12, 2024.

Timeline for Numbers

There is very little narrative in the book of Numbers; so this information may have been given to Moses in a few days or, at most, a few weeks; and Moses both wrote these things down and informed the people. Because of information previously studied in the introduction, we are not 100% certain if all of this material was given to Moses while in the newly erected Tabernacle. I would lean towards that being the case.

As I have done previously, since this chapters is what God is saying to Moses, I will begin and end the chapter with quotation marks. I will not insert a new set of quotation marks for each new paragraph.

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Here is how others have translated this passage:

Ancient texts:                       Note: I compare the Hebrew text to English translations of the Latin, Syriac (= Aramaic) and Greek texts, using the Douay-Rheims translation; George Lamsa’s translation, and Sir Lancelot Charles Lee Brenton’s translation as revised and edited by Paul W. Esposito, respectively. I often update these texts with non-substantive changes (e.g., you for thou, etc.). I often use the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible instead of Brenton’s translation, because it updates the English text.

The Septuagint was the earliest known translation of a book (circa 200 b.c.). Since this translation was made before the textual criticism had been developed into a science and because different books appear to be translated by different men, the Greek translation can sometimes be very uneven.

When there are serious disparities between my translation and Brenton’s (or the text of the Complete Apostles’ Bible), I look at the Greek text of the Septuagint (the LXX) to see if a substantive difference actually exists (and I reflect these changes in the English rendering of the Greek text). I use the Greek LXX with Strong’s numbers and morphology available for e-sword. The only problem with this resource (which is a problem for similar resources) is, there is no way to further explore Greek verbs which are not found in the New Testament. Although I usually quote the Complete Apostles’ Bible here, I have begun to make changes in the translation when their translation conflicts with the Greek and note what those changes are.

The Masoretic text is the Hebrew text with all of the vowels (vowel points) inserted (the original Hebrew text lacked vowels). We take the Masoretic text to be the text closest to the original. However, differences between the Masoretic text and the Greek, Latin and Syriac are worth noting and, once in a great while, represent a more accurate text possessed by those other ancient translators.

In general, the Latin text is an outstanding translation from the Hebrew text into Latin and very trustworthy (I say this as a non-Catholic). Unfortunately, I do not read Latin—apart from some very obvious words—so I am dependent upon the English translation of the Latin (principally, the Douay-Rheims translation).

The comparisons which I do are primarily between the English translations which are taken from the ancient tongues. For the most part, the variances are so minor that I rarely investigate them any further than that.

Underlined words indicate differences in the text.

Bracketed portions of the Dead Sea Scrolls are words, letters and phrases lost in the scroll due to various types of damage. Underlined words or phrases are those in the Dead Sea Scrolls but not in the Masoretic text.

I will only list the translation from the Dead Sea Scrolls if it exists and if it is different from the Masoretic text.

The Targum of Onkelos is actually the Pentateuchal Targumim, which are The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan Ben Uzziel. On the Pentateuch With The Fragments of the Jerusalem Targum From the Chaldee by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. From http://www.becomingjewish.org/texts/targum/onkelos_Numbers.html and first published in 1862.

Occasionally, there is an obvious error in the English translation, and I correct those without additional mention or footnoting. For instance, the online version of the Targum of Onkelos which I use has gorund in Ex. 4:9; I simply corrected the text. This may occur once or twice in a chapter.

I attempt to include translations which are different in their vocabulary and phrasing. On many occasions, I may include a translation which is not substantially different than another listed translation.

Most of the translations can be found here.

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And so speaks Y^ehowah unto Moses in a desert-wilderness of Sinai in a Tent of Assembly in a first to the new moon, the second (one), in the year, the second one, to their coming out from a land of Egypt, to say, “Lift up a head of every company of sons of Israel to their families to a house of their fathers in a numbering of names [of] every male to their skulls, from a son of twenty and higher, everyone going [into the] army of Israel. You (all) will visit them to their army, you and Aaron.

Dead Sea Scrolls                   .

Targum (Onkelos)                  . Translation for Onkelos and Pseudo-Jonathan by J. W. Etheridge, M.A. (1862).

Targum (Pseudo-Jonathan)   .

Jerusalem targum                  .

Updated Douay-Rheims         .

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) And the Lord spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai in the tabernacle of the covenant, the first day of the second month, the second year of their going out of Egypt, saying:

Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel by their families, and houses, and the names of every one, as many as are of the male sex,

From twenty years old and upwards, of all the men of Israel fit for war, and you shall number them by their troops, thou and Aaron.

Aramaic ESV of Peshitta        Mar-Yah spoke to Mosha in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tabernacle, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

"Take a census of all the congregation of the B'nai Yisrael, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, every male, one by one;

from twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go out to war in Yisrael. You and Aaron shall number them by their divisions.

Lamsa’s Peshitta (Syriac)     .

V. Alexander’s Aramaic T.     .

Samaritan Pentateuch           .

Updated Brenton (Greek)       And the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of witness, on the first day of the second month, in the second year of their departure from the land of Egypt, saying,

Take the sum of all the congregation of Israel according to their families, according to the houses of their fathers' families, according to their number by their names, according to their heads: every male

from twenty years old and upwards, everyone that goes forth in the forces of Israel, take account of them with their strength; you and Aaron take account of them.

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             And the Lord said to Moses in the waste land of Sinai, in the Tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they came out of the land of Egypt, 

Take the full number of the children of Israel, by their families, and by their fathers' houses, every male by name; 

All those of twenty years old and over, who are able to go to war in Israel, are to be numbered by you and Aaron.

Easy English                          .

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  The LORD spoke to Moses in the Meeting Tent. This was in the desert of Sinai. It was on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites left Egypt. He said to Moses: "Count all the Israelites. List the name of each man with his family and his family group. You and Aaron must count the men of Israel who are 20 years old or older. (These are all the men who are able to serve in the army of Israel.) List them by their divisions.

God’s Word™                         The LORD spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai. It was the first day of the second month in the second year after leaving Egypt. He said, "Take a census of the whole community of Israel by families and households. List every man by name who is at least 20 years old. You and Aaron must register everyone in Israel who is eligible for military duty. List them by divisions.

Good News Bible (TEV)         On the first day of the second month in the second year after the people of Israel left Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses there in the Tent of his presence in the Sinai Desert. He said, "You and Aaron are to take a census of the people of Israel by clans and families. List the names of all the men twenty years old or older who are fit for military service.

The Message                         .

Names of God Bible               .

NIRV                                      .

New Simplified Bible              .

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Casual English Bible             .

Contemporary English V.       The people of Israel had left Egypt and were living in the Sinai Desert. Then on the first day of the second month of the second year, Moses was in the sacred tent when the LORD said: I want you and Aaron to find out how many people are in each of Israel's clans and families. And make a list of all the men twenty years and older who are able to fight in battle.

The Living Bible                     .

New Berkeley Version           .

New Life Version                    .

New Living Translation           .

UnfoldingWord (Simplified)    In the second month of the year after the Israelite people had left Egypt, Yahweh spoke to Moses while he was in the sacred tent, in the wilderness of Sinai. Yahweh said to him, "Count how many Israelite men, from each family in Israel, and count them by name. You and Aaron must count the men who are at least twenty years old, those who can serve as soldiers in the army. Write down the number of the men, along with the names of their clans and families.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          .

Beck’s American Translation .

Common English Bible           .

New Advent (Knox) Bible       .

Translation for Translators     .

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Christian Standard Bible        .

Berean Study Bible                . Israel's army

Conservapedia                       .

Revised Ferrar-Fenton Bible  .

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           .

The Heritage Bible                          And Jehovah spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai, in the tent of appointed meeting, on the first day of the second new moon, in the second year after they had gone out of the land of Egypt, saying,

Lift the heads of all the congregation of the children of Israel by their families, by the house of their fathers, the number of names, every male by their heads,

From a son^3a of twenty years and upward, all who go out in the host of Israel; you and Aaron shall visit^3b them by their hosts.

The extensive footnotes for v. 3 have been placed in the Addendum.

International Standard V        The Fourth Book of the Law

Numbers

A Census of Israel is Taken

(2 Samuel 24:1-9; 1 Chronicles 21:1-6)

In the Sinai desert, the Lord spoke to Moses inside the Tent of Meeting on the first day of the second month of the second year after they had left the land of Egypt.

He said, “Take a census of the entire [Lit. census of the head of all the] Israeli community, numbering them by their tribes [Or families; and so throughout the book] and by ancestral houses. List the names of every male one-by-one, from 20 years and upward. You and Aaron are to register everyone in Israel who is able to go to war, company by company.

Lexham English Bible            .

NIV, ©2011                             .

Unfolding Word Literal Text   Yahweh spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the wilderness of Sinai. This happened on the first day of the second month during the second year after the people of Israel had come out from the land of Egypt. Yahweh said, "Conduct a census of all the men of Israel in each clan, in their fathers' families. Count them by name. Count every male, each man who is twenty years old or older. Count all who can fight as soldiers for Israel. You and Aaron must record the number of men in their armed groups.

Urim-Thummim Version         YHWH spoke to Moses in the Desert of Sinai in the Tabernacle at the Appointed Place, on the 1st day of the 2nd month, in the 2nd year after they had come out of the land of Egypt saying, Take a census of all the company of the children of Israel by their families, according to the house of their fathers' lineage, registering every male head from 20 years old and up from all that are able to go to war in Israel, you and Aaron will register them for an organized army.

Wikipedia Bible Project          And Yahweh spoke to Moses in the Sinai desert, in the tent of events, on the first of the second month on the second year of their leaving the land of Egypt, saying: Take every head of every congregation of the sons of Israel, to their families, to the house of their fathers, in a census of names, headcount of every male. From the age of twenty years and up, everyone out of the ranks of Israel, command them to their ranks, you and Aaron.

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)  The census of Israel

• Yahweh spoke to Moses, in the desert of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the sec ond year after their departure from the land of Egypt. He said:

“Take a census of the whole community of Israel, by clans and families, taking a count of the names of all the males, head by head. You and Aaron will enlist all men of Israel, twenty years of age and over, able to give military service. From each tribe you shall take a man, the head of his family, to help you in this. V. 4 is included for context.

New American Bible(2011)    .

The Catholic Bible                  .

New Jerusalem Bible             .

NRSV (Anglicized Cath. Ed.) .

Revised English Bible–1989            .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           .

exeGeses companion Bible   .

Hebraic Roots Bible               .

Kaplan Translation                 .

The Scriptures–2009              And יהוה spoke to Mosheh in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Appointment, on the first day to the second new moon, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Mitsrayim, saying, 

“Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Yisra’ěl, by their clans, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head, from twenty years old and above, everyone going out to the army in Yisra’ěl. Number them by their divisions, you and Aharon.

Tree of Life Version                In the wilderness of Sinai, on the first day of the second month in the second year from the Exodus from the land of Egypt, Adonai spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting saying, “Do a head count of all the community of Bnei-Yisrael by their families and their ancestral house, with a total of every male one by one. You and Aaron are to muster by their divisions every son from 20 years and upward available to serve in the army of Israel.

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Alpha & Omega Bible            AND JESUS SPOKE TO MOSES IN THE DESERT OF SINAI, IN THE TABERNACLE OF WITNESS, ON THE FIRST DAY OF THE SECOND MONTH, IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THEIR DEPARTURE FROM THE LAND OF EGYPT, SAYING,

TAKE THE SUM OF ALL THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL ACCORDING TO THEIR FAMILIES, ACCORDING TO THE HOUSES OF THEIR FOREFATHERS' FAMILIES, ACCORDING TO THEIR NUMBER BY THEIR NAMES, ACCORDING TO THEIR HEADS: EVERY MALE

FROM TWENTY YEARS OLD AND UPWARDS, EVERY ONE THAT GOES FORTH IN THE FORCES OF ISRAEL, TAKE ACCOUNT OF THEM WITH THEIR STRENGTH; YOU AND AARON TAKE ACCOUNT OF THEM.

Awful Scroll Bible                   Sustains To Become was to speak to Moses, in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of the appointed place, on the first of the second moon month, in the second year that they are to be led out, of the solid grounds of Egypt, to the intent:

Be taking the sum of the assembly, of the sons of Contends-with-he-mighty by their clans, the houses of their fathers, even number the names of the male heads,

the twenty years old son and upward, they that are to be going out to war for Contends-with-he-mighty even was Aaron to review them, by their armies.

Concordant Literal Version    Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of appointment, on day one of the second month, in the second year of their going forth from the land of Egypt, saying. Obtain the sum of the whole congregation of the sons of Israel:by their families, by their fathers' house with the number of names, every male by their skulls, from twenty years old and upward, everyone going forth with the militia host in Israel. You shall muster them by their militia hosts, you and Aaron.

exeGeses companion Bible   CENSUS OF THE SONS OF YISRA EL

And Yah Veh words to Mosheh

in the wilderness of Sinay

in the tent of the congregation,

on the first of the second month, in the second year,

after their going from the land of Misrayim, saying,

Bear the sum of all the witness

of the sons of Yisra El,

by their families, by the house of their fathers,

with the number of their names

- every male by their craniums;

sons of twenty years and upward

- all in Yisra El going to hostility:

you and Aharon muster them by their hosts:

and there be a man per rod with you

- every one a head of the house of his fathers. V. 4 is included for context.

Orthodox Jewish Bible                                                                    BAMIDBAR

And Hashem spoke unto Moshe in the midbar of Sinai, in the Ohel Mo'ed, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of Eretz Mitzrayim, saying,

Take ye the rosh (top amount, census) of kol Adat Bnei Yisroel after their mishpekhot, by the bais of their avot, with the number of their shmot, every zachar by their head count;

From twenty years old and upward, all that are ablebodied to serve in tzava b'Yisroel (army in Yisroel); thou and Aharon shall number them by their tzva'ot (legions).

Rotherham’s Emphasized B.                             § 1. The Numbering of the Hosts of Israel. (Cp. § 22).

Chapter 1.

Then spake Yahweh unto Mosesˎ in the desert of Sinaiˎ in the tent of meeting,—on the first of the second monthˎ in the second yearˎ by their coming forth out of the land of Egyptˎ saying: Reckon ye up the sum of all the assembly of the sons of Israel, by their familiesˎ by their ancestral houses,—in the counting of names, every maleˎ by their polls; from twenty years old and upwards, every one able to go forth to warˎ in Israel,—ye shall number them by their hostsˎ ||thou and Aaron||;.

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                .

The Expanded Bible              .

Kretzmann’s Commentary    .

Lexham English Bible            God Commands Moses to Take a Census

Yahweh spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai, in the tent of assembly, on the first of the month, in the second year after they came out [Literally “of their coming out”] of the land of Egypt, saying,

“Take a census of [Literally “Lift up the head of”] the entire community of the Israelites [Literally “sons/children of Israel”] according to their clans and their families, [Literally “the house of their fathers”] according to the number of names, every male individually from twenty years old [Literally “a son of twenty years”] and above, everyone in Israel who is able to go to war. You and Aaron must muster them [Or “count them,” or “summon them,” or “enroll them”] for their wars.

Syndein/Thieme                     .

The Voice                               .

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

The Complete Tanach           .

The Geneva Bible                  .

Kaplan Translation                 The Census

God spoke to Moses in the Sinai Desert, in the Communion Tent on the first [day] of the second month in the second year of the Exodus, saying:

Take a census of the entire Israelite community. [Do it] by families following the paternal line, according to the names of each male, taken individually.

You and Aaron shall take a tally of them by their divisions, [counting] every male over 20 years old who is fit for service. The Kaplan Translation, particularly in Numbers and Deuteronomy, takes note of historic rabbinic opinions.

first day of the second month

According to most authorities, this was 1 year, two weeks after Passover (cf. Seder Olam 8). However, one source apparently indicates that is was 1 Marcheshvan, before the Tabernacle was erected, and that this is the count mentioned in Exodus 30:12, 38:26 (BeMidbar Rabbah 1:10; Hadar Zekenim). See Numbers 1:2.

Take a census of the entire Israelite community

According to most authorities, this was a second census, the first having been taken before the Tabernacle was made; see Exodus 30:12, 38:26 (Rashi on Exodus 30:15,16; Ralbag; Josephus, Antiquities 3:7:4). While the first census was to determine the population of Israel as a whole , this was to determine the population of each tribe (Baaley Tosafoth). However, some sources appear to indicate that there was only one census (Tanchuma, Ki This 9; see Numbers 1:1). See Numbers 1:46.

paternal line

(cf. Bava Bathra 109b). The term beth avoth also denotes paternal extended families (see Exodus 6:14, 12:3).

individually

Literally, 'by a head count.'

a tally

Some say that this was done with a half shekel, as in Exodus 30:13, 38:26 (Rashi; Midrash Aggadah). According to others, however, this census was made by name lists, where every Israelite was listed separately (Ralbag; Shear HaPesukim; Adereth Eliahu; cf. Lekach Tov).

fit for service

Some say for military service (Saadia; Rashi). some say that this was meant to exclude those who were physically disabled (Midrash HaGadol). According to others, tzava does not denote a military army, but the community as a whole, and 'going out to tzava' denotes those who are full-fledged members of the community (Ramban; Hakethav VeHaKabbalah; see Numbers 4:2): It may also denote all who had participated in the building of the Tabernacle (see Exodus 38:8).

NET Bible®                             .

New American Bible(2011)    .

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. .

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

A Faithful Version                  And the LORD spoke to 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 had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, "Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, according to their families, by their fathers' house, with the number of names, every male by their heads, From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall number them by their armies.

C. Thomson Updated OT       .

Charles Thomson OT            Again the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sina, in the tabernacle of the testimony, on the first day of the second month, in the second year of their coming out of the land of Egypt, and said, Take ye the sum of the whole congregation of Israel, according to pedigrees, and according to the houses of their patriarchal families, and according to the number of their names, according to their poll, every male from twenty years old and upwards, every one who goeth out in the army of Israel; review them with their army. Thou and Aaron shall review them,...

Context Group Version          And YHWH spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, Take (pl) the sum of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, every male, by their polls; from twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go out to war in Israel, you and Aaron shall number them by their armies.

English Standard Version      .

Green’s Literal Translation    .

Legacy Standard Bible           .

Literal Standard Version        And YHWH speaks to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year of their going out of the land of Egypt, saying, “Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel by their families, by the house of their fathers, in the number of names—every male by their counted heads; from a son of twenty years and upward, everyone going out to the host in Israel, you number them by their hosts, you and Aaron; and with you there is a man for a tribe, each is a head of the house of his fathers. V. 4 is included for context.

Modern English Version         .

Modern Literal Version 2020  And Jehovah spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they came out of the land of Egypt, saying, You* take the total of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families, by their fathers' houses, according to the number of the names, every male, by their polls, from twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go forth to war in Israel. You and Aaron will number them by their armies.

New American Standard B.    .

New European Version          .

New King James Version       .

Niobi Study Bible                   .

Revised Mechanical Trans.    ...and YHWH spoke to Mosheh in the wilderness of Sinai in the appointed tent on the first of the second new moon of the second year of their going out from the land of Mits'rayim saying, lift up the head of all the company of the sons of Yisra'eyl, to their clans, to the house of their fathers, number the titles of every male according to their skull. From a son of twenty years and upward unto all the ones going out in the army of Yisra'eyl, you will register them by their armies, you and Aharon,...

Updated Bible Version 2.17   .

A Voice in the Wilderness      . head count

Webster’s Bible Translation  .

World English Bible                .

Young's Literal Translation     .

Young's Updated LT              .

The gist of this passage: 

1-3

Translation: And so Y^ehowah speaks to Moses...

Vv. 1–3 is a long, long single sentence in the Hebrew, which I have made into several sentences to more match with our own grammatical sensibilities.

You may recall the previously, when God would speak to Moses, I would point out, we don’t know exactly when this occurred, or where this occurred, or if these are twenty or so distinct conversations. That is not the case here. We know all about this conversation between God and Moses.

Translation: ...in the desert-wilderness of Sinai,...

We know where this took place, identified here as the desert-wilderness of Sinai. When we read most translations and see the word desert, we think of Saudi Arabia and a massive amount land of land which is nothing but sand. That is not what we have here. At one time, the middle east was very well-watered. Over the centuries, less and less so.

The key word here, mid^ebâr (מִדְבָר) [pronounced mid^e-BAWR], means, wilderness, unpopulated wilderness, desert wilderness; mouth. Essentially, this is uncultivated and uninhabited land, and suddenly, there are two million Israelites wandering through it. At this point, had they wanted to, Israel could have spread out and lived in this region. It was reasonably hospitable and, bonus, there was a massive supply of wafers every morning. Strong’s #4057 BDB #184. The reason that they do not stay here is, God gave them land north of there. God gave this land to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; and God expects them to take it.

Since we are no longer at Mount Sinai (see Leviticus 27:34), but in the desert-wilderness of Sinai, we must assume that they broke came where they were (right next to Mount Sinai) and gone north. They would move toward the land given them by God.

Translation: ...in the Tent of Assembly,...

This meeting between God and Moses took place in the Tent of Meeting or the Tent of Assembly (or the Tabernacle).

You will recall that many of the final chapters of Exodus concerned themselves with the Tabernacle (its design and its building). In Leviticus, the Tabernacle was mentioned many times, as most of the ceremonies described in Leviticus took place in and around the Tabernacle.

The Tabernacle was not the Old Testament church. The general population never entered into the Tabernacle. There were three articles of furniture in the front part of the Tabernacle and two articles of furniture in the back section, which was called the Holy of Holies.

Primarily priests entered into the Tabernacle to take care of the duties which were to be performed there (duties which no one, other than themselves, observed). And once a year, the high priest entered into the Holy of Holies and sprinkled blood on the golden lid which covered the Ark of the Covenant.

Translation: ...on the first [day] of the second month in the second year,...

You will recall that very little narrative was to be found in the book of Leviticus. However, there is a much greater amount of narrative in the book of Numbers.

At some point, God led the people away from Mount Sinai, so now, on this day, one month and one year since the people exited Egypt, they were moving into the desert-wilderness of Sinai, meaning that they traveled either north or northwest.

Translation: ...regarding their coming out from the land of Egypt.

The day month and year is given in relation to leaving Egypt.

Numbers 1:1a-e And so Y^ehowah speaks to Moses in the desert-wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Assembly, on the first [day] of the second month in the second year, regarding their coming out from the land of Egypt. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Moses has been careful to give us a place and date in order to fix this point in history. He was a methodical person in this way. We were able to determine to the month when the book of Leviticus was written. According to Num. 33:38, the scope of this book is 38–39 years. This is thirteen months after Israel began her exodus from Egypt and Aaron will die on the first day of the fifth month in the fortieth year. That makes this book 38 years and four months in its duration between Num. 1:1 and 33:38. Since the book of Deuteronomy begins on the first day of the eleventh month of the fortieth year, Numbers spans 38 years and 9 months. During this time we will see this evil generation struck down by God.

The NIV points out that dating the time of their wanderings using the anchor of the Exodus is very similar to the Christian quoting dates as being a.d. or b.c. (before or after the year of our Lord). Our Lord's death is the great act of deliverance of our souls, just as the deaths of the first born of the sons of Egypt marked the great act of deliverance of Israel from Egypt.

Here, the Jews had packed up and began to wander through the desert. They had been at the foot of the Sinai mountains, which they had walked along. This was their second time to break a semi-permanent camp. After escaping the Egyptians, they had been traveling through the desert of Sinai and they parked themselves in front of Mount Sinai while Moses received the beginning of the Law from Yahweh (Ex. 19:1–2). They broke camp after the golden calf incident (Ex. 32) and moved along the mountains of Sinai (Ex. 33:1–6). However, they remained near to these mountains (Lev. 27:34).

Translation: [He] said,...

Although this simply continues the sentence above, I felt it prudent to end that sentence and begin a new one.

This is what God will say to Moses, while in the Tent of Meeting, one month and one year after leaving Egypt.

Translation: ...“Take a census of every company of the sons of Israel,...

Take is the masculine singular, Qal imperative of nâsâʾ (נָשָׂא) [pronounced naw-SAW], a word with 46 renderings in the Authorized version, among them: exact, ease, contain, cast, lade, marry, respect, suffer; it means, as we have seen, to lift, to take, to bear, to carry. Moses bears the primary responsibility, so this verb is in the singular, even though Aaron will assist him and the twelve to be mentioned will also assist them. What Moses is to take is a rôʾsh (רֹאש or רֹאֶש) [pronounced rohsh] and it is from an unused root that means shake, and it generally means head as the head is easily shaken. The closest we have to this idiom is take a head count. This idiom is reasonable since the word head has a variety of meanings (e.g., top, chief, front, choicest, leading division). We find a different word for head, used twice, at the end of this verse.

We have the 2^nd person masculine plural, Qal imperative of nâsâʾ (נָשָׂא) [pronounced naw-SAW], which means, lift up, bear (up), carry (away, off); be cheerful, be confident; support, sustain; endure; take (away). Strong’s #5375 BDB #669. What Moses is to take is the masculine singular construct of rôʾsh (רֹאש or רֹאֶש) [pronounced rohsh], which is mostly translated head, but it can also be translated, chief, prince, officer; front, choicest, best; first. There are other meanings given, but I think what is really meant here is a headcount. Strong's #7218 BDB #910.

The people of Israel have already organized themselves into various groups or companies, and I believe that this was done to better facilitate the teaching which Moses received. He would come back and teach Aaron and various elders and tribal leaders, and then they would go out and teach various groups, as they had organized, or as the people themselves have organized.

God tells Moses and Aaron to take a headcount of the sons of Israel in these groups.

Translation: ...with regards to their families, belonging to the house of their fathers,...

Moses was to keep in mind the families when determining how many young males there were.

Translation: ...in the counting of names of every male regarding their headcount.

Apparently the names of these men would be taken, and they took enough names to make certain that these men were all uniquely identified. So the men were related to the company or group with which they congregated, as well as related to there family name.

Maybe this final word should be understood, with regards to their individual identities.

I believe that Moses and Aaron gathered more than raw numbers. They gathered all of the names of the individual males in Israel.

Numbers 1:1f–2 [He] said, “Take a census of every company of the sons of Israel, with regards to their families, belonging to the house of their fathers, in the counting of names of every male regarding their headcount. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Moses is about to go into battle with the surrounding Gentiles and needs to know his strength.

Translation: [Specifically count those who are] twenty years old and higher,...

Specifically, the men counted would be those who are twenty years old or older.

Translation: ...everyone [able to] go out to war with Israel.

Potentially, every person on this list would go to war. So, this census is less of a census and more of a draft. This was the concept of universal military training.

Translation: You (all) will take a census of them regarding their army.

The census is to be taken of all the men able to go to war. The word translated war is tsâbâʾ (צָבָא) [pronounced tsaw^b-VAW], and it can mean army, war, or warfare. It is usually translated hosts in the KJV, which often is sort of a pansy translation, as you do not realize that we are speaking of war and warfare when you hear the word host. Most people seem to think that we are speaking of a band of angels carrying harps and singing sweet hymns. However, the picture is more of a huge army of angels ready to do battle. In this context, we are speaking of all the sons of Israel who are draft age—who are old enough to go to war. God has clearly given the promised land to Israel; however, they will have to take it, which includes going to war against the present inhabitants. This census is not taken for the purposes of siple information or for taxation purposes, but to determine how many men will be going to war. This is a military census. We will see this phrase another thirteen times throughout this chapter.

Moses and Aaron would oversee a census being taken. Just as the words of God would be passed along to elders and tribal leaders, so the assembling of the names of the males who are twenty years and older. They have just been drafted into Israel’s military.

Translation: You and Aaron [will do this]. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

God tells Moses and he and Aaron would do this. They would initiate this census for the draft. Hundreds or thousands of others would actually do the legwork involved.

Numbers 1:3 [Specifically count those who are] twenty years old and higher, everyone [able to] go out to war with Israel. You (all) will take a census of them regarding their army. You and Aaron [will do this]. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Numbers 1:1–3 And so Y^ehowah speaks to Moses in the desert-wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Assembly, on the first [day] of the second month in the second year, regarding their coming out from the land of Egypt. [He] said, “Take a census of every company of the sons of Israel, with regards to their families, belonging to the house of their fathers, in the counting of names of every male regarding their headcount. [Specifically count those who are] twenty years old and higher, everyone [able to] go out to war with Israel. You (all) will take a census of them regarding their army. You and Aaron [will do this]. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Numbers 1:1–3 On the first day of the second month of the second year since Israel was guided out of Egypt, Jehovah spoke to Moses. At this time, they were in the desert-wilderness of Sinai, and God spoke to Moses from the Tent of Assembly. He said to him, “Take a census of every group of the sons of Israel with regards to their family, as members of the households of their fathers. Count the names of every male who is twenty years old and older, anyone who is able to to out to war with the rest of Israel’s army. You and Aaron will both oversee the taking of a census for the purpose of a universal draft in Israel. (Kukis paraphrase)

——————————

In some translations, v. 4 is continued from v. 3; in most translations this is treated as a separate sentence; and in a few translations, v. 4 is continued into v. 5 (and what follows). We have the masculine plural, Qal imperfect of the verb to be, but with no plural noun in v. 4. In looking back at v. 3, I do not see the continuation of the sentence, so the subject of the verb refers to the people drafted into Israel’s army or to something which follows in v. 5. For this reason, I am not completely sold on my translation below (but I have reservations concerning any translation which I have read).

Here is how others have translated this passage:

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And with them were, a man a man to the staff, a man, a head, to a house of his fathers he [is].

Dead Sea Scrolls                   .

Jerusalem targum                  .

Targum (Onkelos)                  .

Targum (Pseudo-Jonathan)   .

Aramaic Targum                    .

The Psalms Targum              .

Updated Douay-Rheims         .

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) And there shall be with you the princes of the tribes, and of the houses in their kindreds,...

Aramaic ESV of Peshitta        With you there shall be a man of every tribe; everyone head of his fathers' house.

Original Aramaic Psalms        .

V. Alexander’s Aramaic T.     .

Plain English Aramaic Bible   .

Lamsa’s Peshitta (Syriac)     .

Samaritan Pentateuch           .

Updated Brenton (Greek)       And with you there shall be each one of the rulers according to the tribe of each: they shall be according to the houses of their families.

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             And to give you help, take one man from every tribe, the head of his father's house.

Easy English                          .

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  One man from each tribe will help you. This man will be the leader of his tribe.

God’s Word™                         One man from each tribe will help you. Each of these men must be the head of a household.

Good News Bible (TEV)         Ask one clan chief from each tribe to help you."

The Message                         .

Names of God Bible               .

NIRV                                      .

New Simplified Bible              .

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Casual English Bible             .

Contemporary English V.       V. 4 will be placed with the next passage for context.

The Living Bible                     .

New Berkeley Version           .

New Life Version                    .

New Living Translation           .

The Passion Translation        .

Unfolding Bible Simplified      I have chosen one man from each of the tribes to help you to do this. Each one must be a leader of his clan.

Partially literal and partially paraphrased translations:

American English Bible          .

Beck’s American Translation .

Common English Bible           .

New Advent (Knox) Bible       .

Translation for Translators     .

Mostly literal renderings (with some occasional paraphrasing):

Berean Study Bible                And one man from each tribe, the head of each family, must be there with you.

Christian Standard Bible        .

Conservapedia Translation    .

Revised Ferrar-Fenton Bible  .

God’s Truth (Tyndale)           .

The Heritage Bible                 And a man from every tribe shall be with you; every man, the head of the house of his fathers.

International Standard V        One man from each tribe is to accompany you, each man being the leader of his ancestral house.

H. C. Leupold                         .

Lexham English Bible            .

NIV, ©2011                             .

Unfolding Bible Literal Text    .

Urim-Thummim Version         And with you there will be a man from every tribe, each one head of his father's ancestral house.

Wikipedia Bible Project          And they will be with you, each man to the staff of command, each man, he counts as a head for the house of his fathers.

Catholic Bibles (those having the imprimatur):

Christian Community (1988)  .

New American Bible (2011)   .

The Catholic Bible                  .

New Jerusalem Bible             .

NRSV (Anglicized Cath. Ed.) .

Revised English Bible–1989   .

Jewish/Hebrew Names Bibles:

Complete Jewish Bible           .

exeGeses companion Bible   .

Hebraic Roots Bible               .

Kaplan Translation                 Alongside you there shall be [one] man from each tribe, [and] he shall be the head of his paternal line.

The Scriptures–2009              .

Tree of Life Version                One man from each tribe, each head of his father’s household, is to assist you.

Weird English, Olde English, Anachronistic English Translations:

Alpha & Omega Bible            AND WITH YOU THERE SHALL BE EACH ONE OF THE RULERS ACCORDING TO THE TRIBE OF EACH: THEY SHALL BE ACCORDING TO THE HOUSES OF THEIR FAMILIES.

Awful Scroll Bible                   With a man from each tribe, even the one that is the chief of the house of his father.

Concordant Literal Version    And with you shall come to be a man for each stock; each the head of his fathers' house shall he be.

exeGeses companion Bible   and there be a man per rod with you

- every one a head of the house of his fathers..

Orthodox Jewish Bible           And with you there shall be a man of every tribe; every one Rosh of the bais of his Avot.

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. ...and <with you> shall be one man for each tribe,—||each man|| <head of his ancestral house> shall beʹ.

Expanded/Embellished Bibles:

The Amplified Bible                .

The Expanded Bible              .

Kretzmann’s Commentary    

Lexham English Bible            A man from each tribe will be with you, each man the head of his family. [Literally “the house of his father”]

Syndein/Thieme                     .

The Voice                               .

Bible Translations with Many Footnotes:

The Complete Tanach           .

The Geneva Bible                  .

Kaplan Translation                 .

NET Bible®                             .

New American Bible (2011)   .

New Catholic Bible                 .

Rotherham’s Emphasized B. .

Literal, almost word-for-word, renderings:

A Faithful Version                  .

C. Thomson Updated OT       .

Charles Thomson OT            .

Context Group Version          And with you (pl) there shall be a man of each tribe; [each] man head of his fathers' house.

English Standard Version      And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, each man being the head of the house of his fathers.

Green’s Literal Translation    .

Legacy Standard Bible           .

Literal Standard Version        .

Modern English Version         .

Modern Literal Version 2020  .

New American Standard B.    .

New European Version          .

New King James Version       .

Niobi Study Bible                   .

Owen's Translation                .

Revised Mechanical Trans.    ...and with you, each man will exist for the branch, a man for the head of the house of his fathers is he,...

Updated Bible Version 2.17   .

A Voice in the Wilderness      .

Webster’s Bible Translation  .

World English Bible                With you there shall be a man of every tribe, each one head of his fathers’ house.

Young's Literal Translation     .

Young’s Updated LT             .

The gist of this passage: 

Translation: And they were with them, anyone with the tribe, a head man.

Moses and Aaron will not personally count each and every person. There will be a man with them from each tribe of Israel, a head to the house of his fathers. That is, there will be a tribal leader from each of the twelve tribes of Israel. There is not word for each in this verse, although some translations have the word each occur twice. What is here twice is the word for man, ʾîysh (אִיש) [pronounced eesh].

I differed from most translations by putting a head man with the first phrase (or sentence).

At this point, I would understand they to refer to the twelve leaders of the twelve tribes. Each tribe would have a head man.

Translation: He [is] for the house of his fathers. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

This head man would be the representative of the house of his fathers. Given the overall context, let me suggest that he represents and entire tribe rather than simply those of his house with whom he grew up.

Numbers 1:4 And they were with them, anyone with the tribe, a head man. He [is] for the house of his fathers. (Kukis mostly literal translation)

Numbers 1:4 For each tribe there will be a man, a leader (or head man). He will represent the house of his fathers. (Kukis paraphrase)

——————————

Here is how others have translated this passage:

Ancient texts:

Masoretic Text (Hebrew)        And these names of the men who stood with you (all): to Reuben, Elizur ben Shedeur; to Simeon, Shelumiel ben Zurishaddai; to Judah, Nahshon ben Amminadab; to Issachar, Nethanel ben Zuar; to Zebulun, Eliab ben Helon; to sons of Joseph, to Ephraim, Elishama ben Ammihud; to Manasseh, Gamaliel ben Pedahzur; to Benjamin, Abidan ben Gideoni; to Dan, Ahiezer ben Ammishaddai; to Asher, Pagiel ben Ocran; to Gad, Eliasaph ben Deuel; to Naphtali, Ahira ben Enan.

Dead Sea Scrolls                   .

Jerusalem targum                  .

Targum (Onkelos)                  .

Targum (Pseudo-Jonathan)   .

Aramaic Targum                    .

The Psalms Targum              .

Updated Douay-Rheims         .

Douay-Rheims 1899 (Amer.) Whose names are these: Of Ruben, Elisur the son of Sedeur.

Of Simeon, Salamiel the son of Surisaddai.

Of Juda, Nahasson the son of Aminadab.

Of Issachar, Nathanael the son of Suar.

Of Zabulon, Eliab the son of Helon.

And of the sons of Joseph: of Ephraim, Elisama the son of Ammiud: of Manasses, Gamaliel the son of Phadassur.

Of Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gedeon.

Of Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammisaddai.

Of Aser, Phegiel the son of Ochran.

Of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Duel.

Of Nephtali, Ahira the son of Enan.

Aramaic ESV of Peshitta        These are the names of the men who shall stand with you: Of Reuben: Elizur the son of Shedeur.

Of Simeon: Shelumiel the son of Zurishaddai.

Of Yudah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab.

Of Issachar: Nethanel the son of Zuar.

Of Zebulun: Eliab the son of Helon.

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

Of Benyamin: Abidan the son of Gideoni.

Of Dan: Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.

Of Asher: Pagiel the son of Ochran.

Of Gad: Eliasaph the son of Deuel.

Of Naphtali: Ahira the son of Enan."

Original Aramaic Psalms        .

V. Alexander’s Aramaic T.     .

Plain English Aramaic Bible   .

Lamsa’s Peshitta (Syriac)     .

Samaritan Pentateuch           .

Updated Brenton (Greek)       And these are the names of the men who shall be present with you; of the tribe of Reuben, Elizur the son of Shedeur;

of Simeon, Shelumiel the son of Zuri-shaddai;

of Judah, Nahshon the son of Aminadab;

of Issachar, Nathanel the son of Zuar;

of Zebulun, Eliab the son of Helon;

of the sons of Joseph, of Ephraim, Elishama the son of Ammihud; of Manasseh, Gamalliel the son of Pedahzur;

of Benjamin, Abidan the son of Gideon;

of Dan, Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai;

of Asher, Pagiel the son of Ocran;

of Gad, Eliasaph the son of Duel;

of Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan.

Significant differences: 

Limited Vocabulary Translations:

Bible in Basic English             These are the names of those who are to be your helpers: from Reuben, Elizur, the son of Shedeur; 

From Simeon, Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai; 

From Judah, Nahshon, the son of Amminadab; 

From Issachar, Nethanel, the son of Zuar; 

From Zebulun, Eliab, the son of Helon; 

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

From Benjamin, Abidan, the son of Gideoni; 

From Dan, Ahiezer, the son of Ammi-shaddai; 

From Asher, Pagiel, the son of Ochran; 

From Gad, Eliasaph, the son of Reuel; 

From Naphtali, Ahira, the son of Enan.

Easy English                          .

Easy-to-Read Version–2008  These are the names of the men who will stand with you and help you: from the tribe of Reuben--Elizur son of Shedeur; from the tribe of Simeon--Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai; from the tribe of Judah--Nahshon son of Amminadab; from the tribe of Issachar--Nethanel son of Zuar; from the tribe of Zebulun--Eliab son of Helon; from the descendants of Joseph: from the tribe of Ephraim--Elishama son of Ammihud; from the tribe of Manasseh--Gamaliel son of Pedahzur; from the tribe of Benjamin--Abidan son of Gideoni; from the tribe of Dan--Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai; from the tribe of Asher--Pagiel son of Ocran; from the tribe of Gad--Eliasaph son of Deuel; from the tribe of Naphtali--Ahira son of Enan."

God’s Word™                         .

Good News Bible (TEV)         These are the men, leaders within their tribes, who were chosen from the community for this work:

                                               Tribe                    Clan chief

ReubenElizur son of Shedeur

SimeonShelumiel son of Zurishaddai

JudahNahshon son of Aminadab

IssacharNethanel son of Zuar

ZebulunEliab son of Helon

EphraimElishama son of Ammihud

ManassehGamaliel son of Pedahzur

BenjaminAbidan son of Gideon

                                               Dan                     Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai

AsherPagiel son of Ochran

                                               Gad                     Eliasaph son of Duel

NaphtaliAhira son of Enan.

The Message                         .

Names of God Bible               .

NIRV                                      .

New Simplified Bible              .

Thought-for-thought translations; dynamic translations; paraphrases:

Casual English Bible             .

Contemporary English V.       The following twelve family leaders, one from each tribe, will help you: Elizur son of Shedeur from Reuben, Shelumiel son of Zurishaddai from Simeon, Nahshon son of Amminadab from Judah, Nethanel son of Zuar from Issachar, Eliab son of Helon from Zebulun, Elishama son of Ammihud from Ephraim, Gamaliel son of Pedahzur from Manasseh, Abidan son of Gideoni from Benjamin, Ahiezer son of Ammishaddai from Dan, Pagiel son of Ochran from Asher, Eliasaph son of Deuel from Gad, and Ahira son of Enan from Naphtali. V. 4 is included for context.

The Living Bible                     .