The First Numbering of Israel
Minister: |
Rev. Ronald Van Overloop |
Date: |
7/25/2010 PM
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Text:
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Numbers 1:1-3
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Psalters: |
400, 73, 201, 350 |
- The census.
- Those counted were all the men who were 20 years old and upward, able to go to war.
- Assistance was given by a man of good reputation from each tribe (1:4-17).
- The count of 12 tribes came to 603,550 soldiers (44-46) (estimated 2 million total).
- Some significance.
- A great increase considering that 430 years before only 66 had gone down into Egypt.
- In the small size of Reuben and large size of Judah
- Of these 603,550 fighting men, only two would survive the next 39 years.
- The Levites were not counted (1:47-49); were give to Aaron to serve him (2:6-9).
- God also gave the arrangement for how they were to camp and travel.
- The tabernacle was to be in the center of the camp.
- Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were to camp at the entrance (east side) of the court of the tabernacle.
- Levi’s three sons were arranged in a large rectangle around the tabernacle.
- The twelve tribes were arranged by God into four groups of three tribes each.
- God, as a God of order, calls for all things to be done decently and in order (I Cor. 14:40).
- The Levites were taken in the place of all the firstborn males of the other twelve tribes.
- God especially took possession of all the firstborn males when He provided lamb’s blood to spare their lives (Ex. 12:22,23; 13:2).
- All Levi’s males older than a month (22,000) were counted for Israel’s firstborn males older than a month (22,273).
- God numbered the Levites who were to serve in the tabernacle.
- Gershonites cared for the tent; Kohathites for the contents and vessels; Merarites the solid frame and court.
- They had to be between 30 and 50 years old (4:3,23,30,47).