The Second Census of Israel
(Numbers 1:1–4)

1After the plague had ended, the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out) and Eleazar (God has helped) son of Aaron (light bringer) the priest, 2“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel (he wrestles with God) by the houses of their fathers—all those twenty years of age or older who can serve in the army of Israel.”

3So on the plains of Moab (of his father) by the Jordan (flowing down), across from Jericho (city of palms), Moses (drawn out) and Eleazar (God has helped) the priest issued the instruction, 4“Take a census of the men twenty years of age or older,a as the LORD {YHWH} has commanded Moses (drawn out).”

And these were the Israelites (God prevails) who came out of the land of Egypt (land of bondage):

The Tribe of Reuben

5Reuben (behold a son) was the firstborn of Israel (he wrestles with God). These were the descendants of Reuben:

The Hanochite clan from Hanoch (dedicated),

the Palluite clan from Pallu (distinguished),

6the Hezronite clan from Hezron (surrounded by a wall),

and the Carmite (my vineyard) clan from Carmi.

7These were the clans of Reuben, and their registration numbered 43,730.

8Now the son of Pallu (distinguished) was Eliab (God is father), 9and the sons of Eliab (God is father) were Nemuel (day of God), Dathan (belonging to a fountain), and Abiram (my father is exalted).

It was Dathan and Abiram, chosen by the congregation, who rebelled against Moses (drawn out) and Aaron (light bringer) with the followers of Korah (bald) who rebelled against the LORD {YHWH}. 10And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah (bald), whose followers died when the fire consumed 250 men. They serve as a warning sign. 11However, the line of Korah (bald) did not die out.

The Tribe of Simeon

12These were the descendants of Simeon (heard) by their clans:

The Nemuelite clan from Nemuel (Jemuel),b

the Jaminite clan from Jamin (right hand),

the Jachinite clan from Jachin (He will establish),

13the Zerahite clan from Zerah (Zohar),c

and the Shaulite clan from Shaul (desired).

14These were the clans of Simeon, and there were 22,200 men.

The Tribe of Gad

15These were the descendants of Gad (troop) by their clans:

The Zephonite clan from Zephon (treasure),

the Haggite (festive) clan from Haggi,

the Shunite clan from Shuni (fortunate),

16the Oznite (my hearing) clan from Ozni,

the Erite clan from Eri (watchful),

17the Arodite (I shall subdue) clan from Arod [Arodi],d

and the Arelite (lion of God) clan from Areli.

18These were the clans of Gad (troop), and their registration numbered 40,500.

The Tribe of Judah

19The sons of Judah (praised) were Er (awake) and Onan (strong), but they died in the land of Canaan (lowland). 20These were the descendants of Judah (praised) by their clans:

The Shelanite clan from Shelah (a petition),

the Perezite clan from Perez (breaking out),

and the Zerahite clan from Zerah (rising).

21And these were the descendants of Perez (breaking out):

the Hezronite clan from Hezron (surrounded by a wall)

and the Hamulite (spared) clan from Hamul.

22These were the clans of Judah (praised), and their registration numbered 76,500.

The Tribe of Issachar

23These were the descendants of Issachar (there is recompense) by their clans:

The Tolaite clan from Tola (worm),

the Punite clan from Puvah [the Puite clan from Puah],e

24the Jashubite clan from Jashub (Job),f

and the Shimronite clan from Shimron (watch-height).

25These were the clans of Issachar (there is recompense), and their registration numbered 64,300.

The Tribe of Zebulun

26These were the descendants of Zebulun (exalted) by their clans:

The Seredite clan from Sered (fear),

the Elonite (might) clan from Elon (mighty),

and the Jahleelite (the hope of God) clan from Jahleel (God waits).

27These were the clans of Zebulun, and their registration numbered 60,500.

The Tribe of Manasseh

28The descendants of Joseph (YHWH has added) included the clans of Manasseh (causing to forget) and Ephraim (doubly fruitful).

29These were the descendants of Manasseh (causing to forget):

The Machirite (a salesman) clan from Machir (sold), the father of Gilead (rocky region),

and the Gileadite clan from Gilead.

30These were the descendants of Gilead (rocky region):

the Iezerite (no help) clan from Iezer (Abiezer),g

the Helekite (flattering) clan from Helek (portion),

31the Asrielite (I shall be prince of God) clan from Asriel,

the Shechemite (shoulder) clan from Shechem,

32the Shemidaite clan from Shemida (wise),

and the Hepherite clan from Hepher (a well).

33Now Zelophehad (first-born) son of Hepher (a well) had no sons but only daughters. The names of his daughters were Mahlah (disease), Noah (motion), Hoglah (partridge), Milcah (queen), and Tirzah (favorable).

34These were the clans of Manasseh (causing to forget), and their registration numbered 52,700.

The Tribe of Ephraim

35These were the descendants of Ephraim (doubly fruitful) by their clans:

The Shuthelahite clan from Shuthelah (noise of breaking),

the Becherite (first-born) clan from Becher (young camel),

and the Tahanite clan from Tahan (camp).

36And the descendants of Shuthelah were (noise of breaking) the Eranite clan from Eran (watcher).

37These were the clans of Ephraim (doubly fruitful), and their registration numbered 32,500.

These clans were the descendants of Joseph (YHWH has added).

The Tribe of Benjamin

38These were the descendants of Benjamin (son of the right hand) by their clans:

The Belaite (swallowing) clan from Bela (destruction),

the Ashbelite (fire of Bel) clan from Ashbel,

the Ahiramite (brother of mother) clan from Ahiram (my brother is exalted),

39the Shuphamite clan from Shupham [Shephupham],h

and the Huphamite clan from Hupham (coast-man).

40And the descendants of Bela (destruction) from Ard (I shall subdue) and Naaman were (pleasantness) the Ardite clan from Ardi and the Naamite clan from Naaman.

41These were the clans of Benjamin (son of the right hand), and their registration numbered 45,600.

The Tribe of Dan

42These were the descendants of Dan (He has judged) by their clans:

The Shuhamite clan from Shuham (pit-digger).

These were the clans of Dan. 43All of them were Shuhamite clans, and their registration numbered 64,400.

The Tribe of Asher

44These were the descendants of Asher (happy) by their clans:

The Imnite (right hand) clan from Imnah,

the Ishvite clan from Ishvi (he resembles me),

and the Beriite (in evil) clan from Beriah (with a friend).

45And these were the descendants of Beriah (with a friend):

the Heberite clan from Heber (comrade)

and the Malchielite clan from Malchiel (my king is God).

46And the name of Asher’s (happy) daughter was Serah (the prince breathed).

47These were the clans of Asher (happy), and their registration numbered 53,400.

The Tribe of Naphtali

48These were the descendants of Naphtali (wrestling) by their clans:

The Jahzeelite clan from Jahzeel (God divides),

the Gunite clan from Guni,

49the Jezerite (imagination) clan from Jezer (forming),

and the Shillemite clan from Shillem (repaid).

50These were the clans of Naphtali (wrestling), and their registration numbered 45,400.

51These men of Israel (he wrestles with God) numbered 601,730 in all.

Inheritance by Lot

52Then the LORD {YHWH} said to Moses (drawn out), 53“The land is to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance, according to the number of names. 54Increase the inheritance for a large tribe and decrease it for a small one; each tribe is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those registered.

55Indeed, the land must be divided by lot; they shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers. 56Each inheritance is to be divided by lot among the larger and smaller tribes.”

The Levites Numbered

57Now these were the Levites numbered by their clans:

The Gershonite clan from Gershon (exile),

the Kohathite clan from Kohath (assembly),

and the Merarite clan from Merari (bitter).

58These were the families of the Levites (joined to):

The Libnite clan,

the Hebronite clan,

the Mahlite clan,

the Mushite clan,

and the Korahite (one of Korah) clan.

Now Kohath (assembly) was the father of Amram (exalted people), 59and Amram’s (exalted people) wife was named Jochebed (YHWH is glory). She was also a daughter of Levi (joined to), born to Levi in Egypt (land of bondage). To Amram she bore Aaron (light bringer), Moses (drawn out), and their sister Miriam (rebellion). 60Nadab (generous), Abihu (he is my father), Eleazar (God has helped), and Ithamar (coast of palms) were born to Aaron (light bringer), 61but Nadab (generous) and Abihu (he is my father) died when they offered unauthorized (strange)j fire before the LORD {YHWH}.

62The registration of the Levites totaled 23,000, every male a month old or more; they were not numbered among the other Israelites (God prevails), because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.

Only Caleb and Joshua Remain

63These were the ones numbered by Moses (drawn out) and Eleazar (God has helped) the priest when they counted the Israelites (God prevails) on the plains of Moab (of his father) by the Jordan (flowing down), across from Jericho (city of palms).

64Among all these, however, there was not one who had been numbered by Moses (drawn out) and Aaron (light bringer) the priest when they counted the Israelites (God prevails) in the Wilderness of Sinai (thorny). 65For the LORD {YHWH} had told them that they would surely die in the wilderness. Not one was left except Caleb (dog) son of Jephunneh (He will be facing) and Joshua (YHWH saves) son of Nun (fish / posterity).