Numbers 1:44-46

C. TOTAL OF THE MARTIAL CENSUS vv. 44-46
TEXT

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. 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; 46. Even all they that were numbered were six hundred and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

PARAPHRASE

Numbers 1:44. These are the ones who were counted, whom Moses and Aaron numbered with the assistance of the leaders of Israel, twelve men, each representing his father's house. 45. So the entire number of the children of Israel, according to their father's houses, from twenty years of age and up, every able man who could go forth to war in Israel, 46. the total number was 603,550.

COMMENTARY

When Gray (ICC, p. 13) dismisses the census total as unrealistic he cites the number of firstborn at 22,273 (Numbers 3:43). From this he concludes that the total firstborn, male and female, would be double this figure, or 44,546; the total number of Israelites he then places between 2,000,000 and 2,500,000, and concludes that the average family must have had 50 children! Again, his preconceived conclusion (that the figures are unreliable) has blinded his reason to some important facts: we have no idea whatever how many firstborn males there might have been who were unfit for war; his words make no provision for the Levites, separately counted; and, as Keil proposes, the number may represent only those firstborn sons who were born after the exodus. Michaelis has proposed that the practice of polygamy was widespread among the Israelites, and only the firstborn of the fathers were counted. Baumgarten suggests that all firstborn male children under six years of age were counted, whereas those above that age were not, since they had already been redeemed by partaking of the passover in Egypt. Kurtz mentions other relevant factors; the remarkable fruitfulness of the Hebrew mothers; the exclusion of firstborn sons of the mother who were not also the firstborn of the father; and, like Michaelis, the possibility of polygamy among the Hebrews. Any and each of these may help explain an otherwise difficult question. (See PC xi, xii.)

Three important facts might be pointed out regarding this army: it was made up of Israelites only, and included none of the mixed multitude who would offer severe problems later; it was made up of the able-bodied only; and, all able-bodied men were included. There is much to be learned from each of them.

QUESTIONS AND RESEARCH ITEMS

27.

Compute the increase of the Israelites, tribe by tribe, since their ancestors first went to Egypt (See Genesis 46:5-27).

28.

Why would this census not include any of the mixed multitude among the children of Israel?

29.

How could such a multitude find sustenance in a wilderness?

30.

Why would the Lord not want the Levites to be included in the army?