those listed of the tribe of Issachar were 54,400.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This census wasn't just a headcount; it was a strategic military assessment, listing only those fit for battle. For the tribe of Issachar, this meant 54,400 men were ready to serve, highlighting God's meticulous care for His people's readiness.
those listed of the tribe of Issachar were 54,400.
English Standard Version (ESV)
God has commanded Moses and Aaron to take a census of all the adult males in Israel, from twenty years old and upward, who are able to go to war. This detailed count, organized by tribe and family, is the second census since their Exodus from Egypt and takes place as they prepare to move from the wilderness of Sinai. The purpose is to ascertain their military strength and to prepare for the division of the Promised Land, though the Levites are intentionally excluded from this military tally.
Why did God command this extensive census of Israel?
This isn't just a headcount; it's a divine inventory. God is meticulously accounting for His people, the descendants of Abraham, as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The census specifically targets men twenty years and older who are able to go to war.
Reasons for the Census:
What does Issachar's specific number tell us about this tribe?
The tribe of Issachar, numbering 54,400, falls in the middle range of the census numbers. This isn't a small tribe, but it's not the largest either.
Understanding the Numbers:
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This detailed census wasn't just about numbers; it was God organizing His people for conquest and settlement, setting the stage for their future in the Promised Land. The strong showing of Issachar highlights their significant contribution to the Israelite nation at this pivotal moment.
~1446 BC
Israelites Leave Egypt
Following God's liberation of the Israelites from slavery in Egypt, they begin their journey through the wilderness towards the Promised Land.
c. 1446 BC
Tabernacle Constructed
The Israelites complete the construction of the Tabernacle in the Sinai wilderness, God's dwelling place among them.
c. 1446 BC— this verse
First Census Ordered
God commands Moses and Aaron to take a census of all the men of Israel, twenty years old and upward, able to go to war. This census is to organize the people by tribes and families.
c. 1446 BC
Tribal Levies Recorded
The census results are recorded, detailing the military strength of each tribe. The tribe of Issachar is counted at 54,400 able-bodied men.
c. 1446 BC
Levites Excluded from Census
The tribe of Levi is intentionally excluded from this military census, as they are set apart for service at the Tabernacle.
c. 1445 BC
Camp Organized
The twelve tribes and the Levites are assigned specific positions around the Tabernacle, forming an organized camp according to God's instructions.
This verse describes Issachar as 'a sturdy donkey resting between two burdens,' hinting at his settled, perhaps less martial, nature, contrasting with the military census taken here.
Joshua 19:17-23This passage details the territory allotted to the tribe of Issachar, providing geographical context for the people counted in Numbers 1.
1 Chronicles 7:1-5This provides a parallel account of the genealogy and census of Issachar, reinforcing the importance of these counts for understanding the tribal structure and population.
Nehemiah 9:22This passage reflects on God's faithfulness in providing for Israel, mentioning the blessing and multiplication of their numbers, which this census illustrates in concrete terms.
gillNumbers 1:29: "Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred."
Those that were numbered of them, even of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty and four thousand and four hundred. 54,400 men. See Gill on Numbers 1:20 .
calvinNumbers 1:1-54: "And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,"
And the Lord spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
Loquutus est autem Jehova ad Mosen in deserto Sinai, in…
This census wasn't just a headcount; it was a strategic military assessment, listing only those fit for battle. For the tribe of Issachar, this meant 54,400 men were ready to serve, highlighting God's meticulous care for His people's readiness.
God has commanded Moses and Aaron to take a census of all the adult males in Israel, from twenty years old and upward, who are able to go to war. This detailed count, organized by tribe and family, is the second census since their Exodus from Egypt and takes place as they prepare to move from the wilderness of Sinai. The purpose is to ascertain their military strength and to prepare for the division of the Promised Land, though the Levites are intentionally excluded from this military tally.
God has commanded Moses and Aaron to take a census of all the adult males in Israel, from twenty years old and upward, who are able to go to war. This detailed count, organized by tribe and family, is the second census since their Exodus from Egypt and takes place as they prepare to move from the wilderness of Sinai. The purpose is to ascertain their military strength and to prepare for the division of the Promised Land, though the Levites are intentionally excluded from this military tally.
"those listed of the tribe of Issachar were 54,400." — This census wasn't just a headcount; it was a strategic military assessment, listing only those fit for battle. For the tribe of Issachar, this meant 54,400 men were ready to serve, highlighting God'…
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Last reviewed October 2026