True to its name in English, the fourth book of the Torah, Numbers, begins with a census of all Israelite males over the age of twenty who would be eligible for military service. The total came to 605,550.

Because of their consecrated role in the Sanctuary, the Levites were exempt from military service and were not a part of this population tally. However, in a separate survey there were found to be 22,000 male Levites, who were to serve in a religiously dedicated capacity in place of all other firstborn males. In the general population 22,273 first born males were numbered. The extra 273 first born Israelites (for whom there were no corresponding Levites) had to pay the sum of five sh’kalim to Aaron as their redemption price from service in the Sanctuary.

The Torah provides us with a description of the configuration of the Israelite encampment. The Sanctuary was at the center with the priests and the other three Levitical families stationed on each of its four sides. The twelve tribes formed the outer cordon, with three tribes arrayed on each side.