提要
會幕落成（出40︰17）之後一個月，摩西在以色列人中作了一次人口普查，清點二十歲以上能拿兵器出去打仗的男丁人數。這次核點民數的行動也是十九天之後（民10︰11~12）他們要開始向前邁進的序曲。他們必須有良好的組織，隨時預備好面對戰爭，因為在前往迦南的路上他們將遭遇許多敵人。耶穌基督的教會經常被描繪成一支軍隊，要與敵人撒但爭戰。所有與基督有新約之關係的人都必須為祂的緣故作精兵，「打那美好的仗」（提前1︰18；提後2︰3~4）。
「上帝曉諭摩西」（1︰1）一詞在民數記中出現了十八次，清楚指出摩西確是本書的作者。上帝指引摩西的腳步；清點人數也是上帝直接的命令。上帝也在每一支派中指派一位精明能幹的人來幫助摩西和亞倫核算人數。這十二個人的責任多麼重大；他們的名字蒙上帝特別點召，又被上帝揀選來事奉祂，是多麼的光榮！那些有能力又願意作主工的人必蒙上帝揀選且尊重。
猶大支派在十二族中人數最多，所以在行進中也作前鋒（1︰26~27）。清點人數的結果，以色列中能爭戰的男丁數目有六十萬零三千五百五十人。一些自由派的解經家曾懷疑此數目過高，因為這個數字表示在曠野的以色列男女老少可能超過二百萬人次。
但這麼想就大大貶低了上帝眷顧以色列人的能力，而民數記實在表明了祂的全能。出埃及記一章七節描述以色列人在埃及驚人的成長，到一個地步，埃及人覺得他們威脅到國家的安全（出1︰9~10）。這次清點民數的結果證明了上帝信守祂對亞伯拉罕的應許，顯明上帝對他們的祝福（創12︰2），也是上帝看顧祂百姓的明證。祂被稱為以色列的牧人（詩80︰1），每一個牧者都會數算他的羊，並且認識每一隻羊，因為每隻羊都是寶貴的，他不願意有任何一隻迷失。耶穌也是今天我們這些跟隨祂者的好牧人。祂知道誰是屬祂的羊，並且按著每一隻羊的名字叫他們。
利未支派不在人口普查之內；他們不用服兵役，因為上帝呼召他們在會幕裡事奉上帝（1︰49~50）。主的僕人不應被那些會擾亂他們聖召的事務纏身。利未支派享有比其他支派更高的尊榮，因為他們在金牛犢事件（出32︰26）中表現出對上帝的忠心。只有他們能看或碰上帝的聖物；其他人皆不准碰觸，甚至接近，免得死的刑罰臨到他們。利未支派也要在會幕的四圍安營，以保護會幕的聖潔，防止可能有人因犯罪、玷污會幕而招來上帝的怒氣（1︰51~53）。
我們原本不配與上帝相交，也不配瞻仰祂的聖潔和榮耀，直到祂藉著祂的恩典召我們與祂的兒子耶穌基督相交，我們才得以親近祂。以賽亞曾預言上帝要向外邦人顯出祂的榮耀，並且必「從他們中間取人為祭司，為利未人」（賽66︰21）。
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Overview
One month after the Tabernacle had been erected (Ex.40:17), Moses took a census of all the men of Israel 20 years old and upward who were eligible to bear arms and go to battle. It marked the start of preparation for the Israelites to move onward which was to begin in just 19 days (Num.10:11-12). They had to be well organized and ready for war, since on their way to Canaan they would encounter many enemies. Only true Israelites, not those of the “mixed multitude”, among the people of God, and those not in covenant relationship with Him could not engage in His battles. The church of Jesus Christ is often pictured as an army engaged in a battle with the enemy, Satan. All who are in the New Covenant relationship with Christ must enlist as soldiers for His cause and “wage the good warfare” (1Tim.1:18; 2 Tim.2:3-4).
The words, “the Lord spoke to Moses” (1:1), are found about eighty times in the book of Numbers. This is a clear indication that Moses was indeed the author. God directed His steps, and the census was a direct command from Him. God also appointed an able man from each tribe to help Moses and Aaron calculate the numbers. What a great responsibility these twelve men were given, and how honored they were to have their names specifically mentioned by God and to be chosen to serve Him in this way! Those who are capable and willing to fulfill the task will be chosen and honored by God.
The tribe of Judah was the largest, and therefore they were the leaders in the march (1:26-27). The total number of the census came to 603,550 fighting men. Some liberal commentators have expressed doubt that the actual number was so high, because it would mean that there would have been over two million people in the wilderness. However, this type of thinking minimizes God’s ability to care for them all, as this book illustrates He did. Exodus 1:7 describes their remarkable growth while in Egypt, so much so that the Egyptians felt they were a threat to their national security (Ec.1:9-10). The census served to prove God’s faithfulness in keeping His promise to Abraham, and it is clear evidence of His blessings upon them (Gen.12:2). It also is evidence of the great care God took of His people. He is called the Shepherd of Israel (Ps.80:1): each shepherd takes count of his sheep and knows each one, for each is valuable and he does not want one to be lost. Jesus is the Good Shepherd of those who follow Him today. He knows those who are His own and calls them by name (John 10:3, 11 14).
The census excluded the tribe of Levi, which was exempted from military service because God had called them to serve in the Tabernacle (1:49-50). Ministers of the Lord should not become entangled with things that would distract them from their holy calling. The tribe of Levi was honored over the others because they had shown themselves faithful in the incident of the golden calf (Ex.32:26). Only they could touch or see the holy things of God; no one else was permitted to even come close, lest the judgment of death come upon him. The Levites were to camp around the Tabernacle in order to protect the sanctity of it and prevent the wrath of God upon those who might sin and defile it (1:51-53).
People are unworthy to have fellowship with God and behold His holiness and glory until they have been called by His grace into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ – only then are they made worthy. Isaiah prophesied that God would show His glory to be Gentiles, and He will “take some of them for priests and Levites” (Isa.66:21).
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