The Twelve Tribes of Israel: Difference between revisions

God set apart the tribe of Levi as His possession and appointed them to take care of the [[Sanctuary (Tabernacle)|tabernacle]]. Therefore, the tribe of Levi was not included in the census of men twenty years old or older who were fit for military service. Unlike the other tribes, when the land of Canaan was divided, the tribe of Levi received only towns to live in and pasturelands.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=Numbers+3%3A6-12&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=Numbers 3:6–12 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref>

According to God’s command, the Israelites conducted two censuses in the desert. The '''first census''' took place in the desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites left Egypt. Its purpose was to count the number of men twenty years old or older who were fit for military service. The total count from all tribes was 603,550.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=Numbers+1%3A1-46&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=Numbers 1:1–46 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> The tribe of Levi was excluded from this census as they were tasked with the responsibilities of the tabernacle as commanded by God.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=Numbers+1%3A49-51&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=Numbers 1:49–51 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref>  

When the Israelites journeyed in the desert, they arranged their camps around the tabernacle in groups of three tribes each.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=Numbers+2%3A2&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=Numbers 2:2 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> As the tribe of Levi was entrusted with the care of the tabernacle, they pitched their tents in the middle of the encampment. On the east, the tribes of Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun encamped. On the south were the tribes of Reuben, Simeon, and Gad. On the west were the tribes of Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin. And on the north were the tribes of Dan, Asher, and Naphtali.  

The '''tribe of Levi''', responsible for the care of the tabernacle, was in the middle of the camps. The Levites took down the tabernacle when the Israelites moved, and set it up again when they stayed. The Levites set out in the same order as they encamped, each in their own place under their standard.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=Numbers+2%3A17&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=Numbers 2:17 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Next, the '''camp of Ephraim''' set out. The tribe of Ephraim organized their division under their standard. The tribes of Manasseh and Benjamin, who camped together in the west, followed. All the men assigned to the camp of Ephraim numbered 188,100.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=Numbers+2%3A24&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=Numbers 2:24 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref> Lastly, the '''camp of Dan''' set out. The tribe of Dan, who camped in the north, set out with the standard, followed by the tribes of Asher and Naphtali. The total number of men assigned to the camp of Dan was 157,600.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.studylight.org/study-desk.html?q1=Numbers+2%3A31&q2=&ss=0&t1=eng_n84&t2=eng_kjv&t3=eng_nas&ns=0&sr=1&ot=bhs&nt=wh&hv1=1&b=verse&d=3 |title=Numbers 2:31 |publisher= |quote= }}</ref>