East of the Jordan, with a war looming, the Israelites number themselves, again. Before making their fateful entrance into the Promised Land, it seems they need to take stock of who they've got. This is the second time in the Book of Numbers that we have seen a detailed census take place (hence the name of the book). It strikes me as significant that these numbers seem so precise, so labored over. Names, tribes, families are all taken into account. This very well could be simply to see what their fighting forces would look like. How many men would be bearing arms as they cross the Jordan to claim what is theirs? But what it does essentially is add to the historicity of these books. We don't see these types of things occur in ancient myths and legends from other cultures. The tribe of Zabulon had 60,500 fighting men. This seems like a plain and simple historical record, much like a parishioner count from a medieval church.
As would be expected, the number of Israelites had dwindled some since their last census 38 years earlier when they first started their sojourn through the desert. Many men had died, either by natural causes or by the several punishments that the Israelites brought upon themselves by means of their incessant disobedience. Yet, some particular tribes enjoyed an increase in population. At the risk of getting too "statistical," I thought I'd list the increases and decreases that each tribe underwent during their wanderings in the desert:
The tribe of Ruben originally numbered 46,600. They lost 2,870 men so they now number 43,730.
The tribe of Simeon originally numbered 59,300. They now number 22,200, which means they lost 37,100! This tribe lost more men than any other. Is there a significance there?
The tribe of Gad originally numbered 45,650. They lost 5,100 men so they now number 40,550.
The tribe of Juda originally numbered 74,600. They gained 1,900 people, so that they now number 76,500. A prosperous tribe, and the one Jesus would be born into.
The tribe of Issachar originally numbered 54,400. They also gained men. They gained 9,900 to now number at 64,300.
The tribe of Zabulon originally numbered 57,400. They gained 3,100 to now number at 60,500.
The tribe of Manasses originally numbered 32,200, a small tribe. But they gained 20,500 men! Which gives them an immense increase to reach 52,700 men!
The tribe of Ephraim originally numbered 40,500. And they lost 8,000 men, leaving them with 32,500.
The tribe of Benjamin originally numbered 35,400. They added 10,200 men to reach 45,600.
The tribe of Dan originally numbered 62,700. They added 1,700 men to reach 64,400.
The tribe of Aser originally numbered 41,500. They enjoyed an increase of 11,900 to reach 53,400.
The tribe of Nephtali originally numbered 53,400. They, however, lost 8,000 men so that they now numbered 45,400.
These were impressive numbers, especially for a wandering people. One can see why the local kings were so unnerved by the arrival of this massive body of people to their lands, and why Balac wanted them cursed. And yet, amazingly, virtually all of these people would be barred from entering the Promised Land. Their infidelity to the One True God would catch up to them, and in the end their imperfections kept them out of a promised place. Not even Moses could bring the people into the Holy Land. That job was reserved for one who stood for Christ, Joshua. And we come to that next.
No comments:
Post a Comment