Day 54 —  We are still in the second month, but we’ve begun a new book! We’ve been reading for over a 1/12 of a year! Praise God! I hope that it’s become a GOOD habit that will continue.

   Day 54 – Numbers 1 – 2 (Counting men fit for service, arranging the camp)

I’m more of a “words” person than a “numbers” person, so I’ll give you that name of this book in the Hebrew Torah.  It is called “In The Wilderness” and that pretty much describes it, except for the census here and at the end.

In chapter 1, God TELLS Moses to count the men of Israel who are 20 years and up and able to go to war. They will serve as Israel’s army when they enter the Promised Land. God assigns a man from each of the 12 tribes to assist him in the registration. Right away, Moses and Aaron gathered the whole congregation together, and with the help of the twelve heads of tribes, held the first national draft.

Numbers then lists the amount of able soldiers from each tribe, naming them in birth order, and giving two tribes for Joseph (as Jacob adopted Ephraim & Manasseh back at the end of Genesis). The tribe of Levi is not counted because they were to serve the LORD in the Tabernacle, not in the army. Judah’s tribe (a Prince among his brothers”) is the largest.  The total number of eligible men from all twelve was 603,550. (In a whole congregation of about 2 million people.)

Chapter 2 explains how the entire group of people would be divided and arranged. The Tabernacle, with the visible symbol of God as fire and cloud, would be in the CENTER of the camp.  Around that would be  Moses, Aaron, & the priests on the East, and the three clans of priests on the other sides.

After that, on the EAST side, facing the entrance to the Tabernacle court and tent, were to be the leading Tribe, Judah, along with Issachar and Zebulun. Judah and these two would lead out any march, just behind the Ark of the Covenant.

On the SOUTH, Ruben and his two brothers Simeon and Gad would camp.  On the WEST (backside of the Tabernacle) would camp Ephraim with Manasseh and Benjamin. (These were the three smallest tribes.)  And finally on the NORTH, were Dan with Asher and Naphtali.

When the pillar of fire/cloud (symbol of God’s presence) would rise, the Levites would disassemble the Tabernacle (by specific directions). The Ark would lead the march, followed by Judah and his brothers. Next would come the Levites carrying the Tabernacle, it’s furniture, and courtyard items. Then, like a circle uncoiling, Rueben’s group on the south, Ephraim’s on the West, and finally Dan’s on the North would follow, Dan’s group (the second largest) bringing up the rear guard.

When it came time to set up camp, they would circle, setting up the Tabernacle – it becoming God’s presence in the center – with the tribes extending out to the four directions again…. much like a cross.