# 09 2026 Dev. Numbers 1-2 The Chosen! Read all of chapter one and two. We invite you into God’s space, to read His Word, to think on and interact with. This is God’s Story. Do you believe that this may also be part of our story, in our time? All passages are taken from the NIV.
Nu.1. God orders a census after the rules and commandments in Leviticus, God establishes a Theocracy, a Kingdom with God as King.
Nu. 2. God sets the order of assembly, where to pitch their tents in relation to the tabernacle. Also, the order of marching when moving from one area to another.
Vs.1-19 God gave Moses the names of the men to conduct the census one from each tribe. But Ephraim replaces Joseph and Manasseh replaces Levi, they are to tend the tabernacle as Priests, responsible for maintenance, break down and setup. They are the only ones who are allowed to carry the tabernacle, only the Levites can touch the holy things. They are to count “every man 20 yr. old and above who are able to serve in the army.” And every man was to be written down by name and tribe.
Vs. 20-46 All the tribes are counted, men, 20 yrs. old and above and there were 603,550 total. It appears the count included men ready for military service, plus the Levies were not counted, most scholars estimate a total population of two million plus.
Vs. 47-54 Basically lays out the role of the tribe of Levi. This chapter highlights the importance of organizing, and setting direction when God is in their midst 24/7. What about us? Are we thinking about God in our midst, living in us by His Spirit 24/7? “The Levites, however, are to set up their tents around the tabernacle of the covenant law so that my wrath will not fall on the Israelite community.” They are a hedge as Jesus is our hedge today, “by His stripes we are healed!”
Chapter 2 God, appoints the who and the what will comprise the composition of the groups of the tribes and progression of travel. Judah is first, he will camp east of the Tabernacle. He will be joined by two tribes, Issachar and Zebulun, making up group one. Moving counter clockwise, Reuben will be south of the camp. He is joined by the tribe of Simeon and Gad making up group two. At the west of the camp, the tribe of Ephraim. He will be joined by the tribe of Manasseh, and Benjamin making up group three. At the north of the camp will be the tribe of Dan. And he will be joined by the tribe of Asher and Naphtali making up group four. These are the groups God chose to camp around the Tabernacle and the order of departure, Judah being first. Of all the children of Jacob, Judah is the one chosen to be in the line of Christ, in spite of his indiscretion with Tamar a Canaanite woman who was married to Judah’s son. God works all things for the good of His people. Throughout, the long genealogies God added many persons from different tribes and peoples into the line of Jesus. Therefore, every kind of person is acceptable to God in Christ Jesus. That includes you!
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Heavenhigh 