Day 45: Numbers 1-4 - It all counts

It was called numbers, mainly because of all the statistics. That added such a ring of authenticity to the historic account, but it also revealed a sophisticated level of organisation and some interesting revelations about camp life. 

Numbers is so named because it is a book of numbers, written by Moses but often dictated by God.  A census of the fighting men was taken twice and various other logistical considerations were addressed in the book. Its a great resource for posterity.

The first census (Chapter 1 and 2)

Before starting the census, the leader of each tribe was nominated. 

These were men of renown, of great repute in the nation. They were also specifically named and set apart on the 1^st day of the second month after they departed Egypt. They are a foreshadow of NT elders, who had to meet a high standard (1 Tim 3). 

The census showed that Judah was the largest tribe with 74,000 men, while Benjamin and the half tribes of Joseph were around 32,000 strong. The total number was 603,550 fighting men.

It was a significant fighting force, but it took 400 years to build that. God did that and other things over those tough years to ensure their emancipation persisted.

The layout of the camp reveals great organization. It is shown in the image in the colors of their breastplate stones. The Levite were excluded.

The priests were in the inner circle around the tabernacle. The twelve made up for their exclusion, by having separate camps for the two half-tribes of Joseph: Ephraim and Manasseh.

The camp was set on an East-West axis, but without a compass and despite as much as a 100 degree shift in the point of sunrise through the seasons. They would have set true east at the feast of Passover, which would coincide with Cardinal East.

The layout defined how they marched, with the first column led by Judah with the families to the east.  The next column was from the South, then the West and the North.

The organization of the Levites (Chapter 3, 4)

God chose the Levites as His firstborn. That is an anachronism, because Judah had become the firstborn and he was promoted to that status over Levi.

God made it clear that it was not determined by order of birth, but by His holy decree. He had set Levi apart for the priesthood.

The Levites were grouped by heads of families. All males older than 1 month, were counted, because the Levites were not men of war, but priests. As we learn from Samuel, that was not age dependent. 

There were 80,580 priests.  Women were not ordained as priests. Priests served from 30 on as applied to Jesus. Until then they studied and prepared for the priesthood. 

Aaron's family camped to the East, behind the tents of Moses and Aaron, to look after all the instruments of the Tabernacle.

Kohath to the South, looked after the Sanctuary and carried the ark. They used the veils of the tabernacle to cover the ark and the furnishings, with cloth and badger skins in a specific order. Thus the material was all segmented. Touching a sacred object could kill a man.

Gershon to the West looked after the tent, its hangings, coverings and doors, and carried those under the supervision of Ithamar, Aaron's younger son.

Merari to the North looked after the framework, boards, bars, sockets and so on.

The logic of assembly is reflected in the distribution of duties. That avoided overlapping functions, but ensured efficient specialization. When they moved, it was like you and I carrying our part of the church until we assemble again.

However, the outer cloths used with purple, scarlet and blue, which must have made for a breathtaking spectacle, reverenced by touch and by the witness of eyes. 

The Levitical families were in effect priests to the tribes in each sector. The sons of Aaron were Eleazar who had sole responsibility for the oil and the incense, and the younger Ithamar. As we know their two older siblings had already died.

The Lord also ordered Moses to number all the firstborn males of all Israel and that came to 22,273. It means that 1 in every 28 men were firstborn or roughly 1 in every 14 souls was firstborn. The firstborn were redeemed from the priesthood.

General organization

The price of redemption was five shekels, so they had their own currency: an underground system of exchange used to get around the deprivations of slavery.

Joseph endowed them with skills in finance and trade, so they could thrive, despite their sufferings, in the first Jewish Ghetto: Goshen. They coped then and in similar conditions throughout history, although there were poorer souls among them.

Under the bonnet of Egypt was anything but a backward litter of slaves. They transcended their overlords, which was part of their threat. The Egyptians could only suppress that.

Assuming a 50:50 male:female split, there were at least 1.2 million adults, maybe more. Assuming also that a third of all firstborns made up younger families, not elderly couples or the adults already counted, and we get to about 5-6 million souls.

What a logistical nightmare to support that kind of number without formal logistics. They had their food with them and received manna every day. Water was in abundant supply and evidently they also traded, found or grew olives and wheat.

They had no toilet cubicles as we see at mass events today, so that was all done discretely outside the camp – the walk alone was enough to keep one regular.

So it was not just financial acumen that defined the Jews. They were masters at organization and logistics and that is why they still influence humanity, despite the resentment of nations.

(c) Peter Missing @ bethelstone.com