A year after Israel’s departure from Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the Tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai. On the first day of the second month of that year he said, “From the whole community of Israel, record the names of all the warriors by their clans and families. List all the men twenty years old or older who are able to go to war. You and Aaron must register the troops, and you will be assisted by one family leader from each tribe.

Numbers 1:1-4

They were registered by families—all the men of Israel who were twenty years old or older and able to go to war. The total number was 603,550.
Numbers 1:45-46

• The book of Numbers continues the story of the Israelites on their way to the Promised Land.
• Exodus tells the story of the Israelites being brought out of Egypt. 
• Numbers tells the story of Egypt being taken out of the Israelites. 
• Bamidbar is the fourth book in the Torah. 
• It is called Numbers in English because it records the counting of the Israelites in the wilderness. 
• God commands Moses to count the people. 
• Israel is counted 10 times in the Old Testament. 
• Jacob going down to Egypt. Genesis 46:7-27
• God bringing Israel out of Egypt. Exodus 12:37
• The Golden Calf incident. Exodus 30:12; 38:26
• Arrangement around the Tabernacle. Numbers 1:2
• Before entering the Promised Land. Numbers 26:2
• Saul counted them in Bazek. 1 Samuel 11:8
• Saul counted them in Telaim. 1 Samuel 15:4
• David commanded Joab to take a census. 2 Samuel 24:2
• Ezra counted those returning from the Exile. Ezra 2:1-64
• God will count them in the future. Jeremiah 33:13
• God ordered the census to arrange them in order around the Tabernacle. 
• God ordered the census to determine the family and tribe of each person. God showed the other nations that Israel was chosen by Him. 
• God ordered the census to accurately count the number who had come out of Egypt. The division of the Promised Land was based on this census. 
• God ordered the census to put them in order as a fighting force. 
• RTW February 27, 2021

Continue to see that God has a plan. Every detail matters. Don’t let the text confuse you…keep that in mind.