Day 2: Numbers 1:20-54 (Study Notes)
Parsha: Bemidbar
Day 2: Numbers 1:20-54
(Study Notes)
This portion of Tanakh provides the details of the census taken by the 12 Chieftains, which was recorded by Moshe Rabbeinu. The census provides total numbers of the individuals enrolled in each Tribe of Israel. These numbers can be compared to the census taken in Genesis 46:8-26, which records the names of those 70 Hebrews who went down to Mitzrayim.
The census here in Numbers 1 does not provide the full list of names, arguably because the list was so vast: 603,500 men. We learn that the total number provided for each tribe is
“the registration of the clans (father’s house) of their ancestral house (Tribal house).”
If we could see the list of names for each Tribe, we would see that every name would be listed head-by-head. These names would be the names of the men 20 years or older that HaKadosh Baruch Hu commanded Moshe Rabbeinu to record in our last study. Again, these men are those who were of fighting age and do could bear arms.
On the list, we would not see a counting of only the fathers, or household leaders. Every male in every house (clan) would be named individually. This teaches us that in Hashem’s accounting system, every individual counts, matters, and has a unique purpose. In a census, HaKadosh Baruch Hu makes sure each individual is counted as such.
(Numbers 1:20-21)
RUBEN: noted as “Israel’s first-born”
Total Enrollment: 46,500 souls
Number that went to Mitzrayim: 5 souls (Ruben + 4 sons).
(Numbers 1:22-23)
SIMEON:
Total Enrollment: 59,300 souls
Number that went to Mitzrayim: 7 souls (Simeon + 6 sons).
(Numbers 1:24-25)
GAD:
Total Enrollment: 45,650 souls
Number that went to Mitzrayim: 8 souls (Gad + 7 sons).
(Numbers 1:26-27)
JUDAH:
Total Enrollment: 74,600 souls
Number that went to Mitzrayim: 6 souls (Judah + 3 sons + 2 grandsons).
The number in Judah’s clan leaves out the 5 sons of Zerah—were Zerah’s sons born in Mitzrayim? Were they born prior and did they not go to Mitzrayim?—in our study of Israel’s archaeological ruins, we pose the possibility that Zerah’s sons stay in the land of Canaan with Tamar. We consider that this could have created the necessary connection to Rehab, whom the 10 spies knew before going to her in Jericho. The familial safety net provided by HaKadosh Baruch Hu to ensure His people’s victory in Jericho. Such a connection would also explain the “red sash” of Rahab, her giving in marriage to a Jewish husband, and thus her acceptance into the Jewish community.
(Numbers 1:28-29)
ISSACHAR:
Total Enrollment: 54,400 souls
Number that went to Mitzrayim: 5 souls (Issachar + 4 sons).
(Numbers 1:30-31)
ZEBULUN:
Total Enrollment: 57,400 souls
Number that went to Mitzrayim: 4 souls (Zebulun + 3 sons).
(Numbers 1:32-35)
Descendants of JOSEPH:
EPHRAIM: 40,500 souls
MANASSEH: 32,200 souls
Total Enrollment: 72,700 souls
Number that went to Mitzrayim: 1 soul (Joseph. His two sons are counted in Genesis, but they were born in Mitzrayim).
Brief History: Joseph was sold into slavery in Mitzrayim by his 11 brothers. Yet, from the brothers’ wicked deed, the entire Hebrew population was saved and thrived in Mitzrayim during the 7 year global famine. Though the Hebrews would eventually be made slaves in Mitzrayim for 430 years, HaKadosh Baruch Hu only allowed this in order to keep His promises to Avraham Avinu , which He made in Genesis 15. Despite the abusive and torturous slavery in Mitzrayim and in spite of Pharaoh’s decree to kill all Hebrew baby boys, HaKadosh Baruch Hu made His people to grow and proliferate in Mitzrayim —the more the Hebrews were oppressed, the more HaKadosh Baruch Hu made them grow.
Significance: The numbers provided in the census in our studies today provide a mere glimpse of the massive scale blessing and miracles He performed for our ancestors in spite of tragedy, trauma, and torture. He took 70 souls and grew His first fruit harvest to over 600,000. While we could do the math for each Tribe, for simplicity sake (and to keep you from performing mathematics if you read this on Shabbat), if we divide the numbers outright, we see an increase of over 1,400 Hebrew souls per year over the 430 years (counting only the men of fighting age, excluding the Levites). Or 116-117 boys in each Tribe per year! That is a MASSIVE miracle and blessing!
(Numbers 1:36-37)
BENJAMIN:
Total Enrollment: 35,400 souls
Number that went to Mitzrayim: 11 souls (Benjamin + 10 sons).
(Numbers 1:38-39)
DAN:
Total Enrollment: 62,700 souls
Number that went to Mitzrayim: 2 souls (Dan + 1 sons).
(Numbers 1:40-41)
ASHER:
Total Enrollment: 41,500 souls
Number that went to Mitzrayim: 6 souls (Asher + 4 sons + 1 daughter).
(Numbers 1:42-43)
NAPHTALI:
Total Enrollment: 53,400 souls
Number that went to Mitzrayim: 5 souls (Naphtali + 4 sons).
(Numbers 1:44-46)
The total number of the enrolled men 20 years and older who could bear arms was 603,500 men.
As a comparison to modern numbers:
As of early 2026, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) maintain approximately 169,500 active personnel and roughly 465,000 in reserve.
The total entitled = 634,500.
In 1948, after the Holocaust, that number was only 21,000-30,000.
Meaning, HaKadosh Baruch Hu performed a similar miracle in the modern state of Israel. Though the wicked enemies tried to wipe out Israel in the atrocities of the Holocaust, HaKadosh Baruch Hu made His people survive and thrive! BARUCH HaKadosh Baruch Hu !
AM YISRAEL CHI!
(Numbers 1:44-46)
The total number does not include the Levites because the Levites are not counted in the numbers of fighting men. Instead of physical warfare, the Levites are counted for spiritual warfare, and are there counted and assigned separately.
(Numbers 1:49-50)
HaKadosh Baruch Hu instructed Moshe Rabbeinu not to include the Levites in the census because the census would be used to know how many men Israel could enlist in its army, which is not a task of the Levites.
The Levites have a different task: Taking and holding charge of:
the Tabernacle of The Pact
All furnishings of the Tabernacle
Everything pertaining to the Tabernacle , including the sacrificial system.
(Numbers 1:51-53)
Specifically, the Levites were responsible for:
breaking down the Tabernacle (when HaKadosh Baruch Hu’s presence moved out from the camp) and
Reassembling the Tabernacle wherever HaKadosh Baruch Hu’s presence came to rest.
We learn that any non-Levite who encroached on the Tabernacle or the Levitical duties would be put to death.
Furthermore, HaKadosh Baruch Hu instructs that the Levites were to camp around the Tabernacle while the other 12 (including 2 of Joseph) Tribes camped in formation at a distance, trip by troop. We learned previously that the High Priest was never to leave the sanctuary, but such a restriction was not placed on the other Priests.
HaKadosh Baruch Hu gives the reason the Levites were to dwell close to The Tabernacle: so that wrath would not strike the Israelite community. (Numbers 1:53)
We saw from the examples of Aaron’s two sons that drawing too close to HaKadosh Baruch Hu was not good and could even cause death. (Leviticus 10). But dwelling near has the connotation of remain close to HaKadosh Baruch Hu , His Presence, and His mitzvot while respecting the boundaries He rightfully set in place.
Am Yisrael Chai!
Kimberly Davis
Notes for Monday 5/11/2026