Numbers 1 - 3

Assessment and Placement
We begin a new book that has a new emphasis.  While Genesis dealt with beginnings, Exodus with redemption and leaving, and Leviticus with the Law, Numbers begins by assessing the strength of the tribes.  All the tribes are numbered with Judah having the most men and Manasseh having the least. After numbering, they are grouped in sets of three tribes and placed around the Tabernacle which is in the middle of the camp.  This is no surprise - God should always be in the center of our existence.

The duties of the Levites are enumerated and a breakdown by clan is identified.  The Levites belonged to God and thus were charged with assisting the priesthood of Aaron and his descendants.  Each clan had a specific duty concerning the temple.

All of this is in preparation for the children of Israel to begin their journey.  After leaving Egypt and crossing the Red Sea they camped at Mt Sinai and Moses received the Law.  Their approach to God, their reverence for the Tabernacle, and their moral duties to each other and foreigners all had to be defined first. To get them ready to move forward, there must be some organization of the resources.  Tribal leaders had to be designated and Moses and Aaron needed to know the strength of their army if they faced hostile inhabitants in the Promised Land.

Additionally, every person needed to know their place relative to each other and, more importantly, relative to the Tabernacle.  The Holy place of God had to be defended and without prior organization, there would be chaos. To emphasize the importance of the Tabernacle and the importance of each person's role, the scripture states three times (1:51, 3:10, and 3:38), "Anyone other than a priest or Levite who went too near the sanctuary was to be put to death."  These reiterations were important in inculcating the proper attitude towards God.

May God bless you and bless the reading of His Word.