Overview
Numbers 1:1, God commands Moses to number the people; Numbers 1:5, The princes of the tribes; Numbers 1:17, The number of every tribe; Numbers 1:47, The Levites are exempted for the service of the Lord.

wilderness: Numbers 10:11, Numbers 10:12, Exodus 19:1, Leviticus 27:34
tabernacle: Exodus 25:22, Leviticus 1:1
on the first day: As the tabernacle was erected on the first day of the first month, in the second year of their departure from Egypt - Exodus 40:17, and this happened on the first day of the second month, in the same year, it is evident that the transactions related in the preceding book must all have taken place in the space of one month, and during the time the Israelites were encamped at mount Sinai. Numbers 9:1, Numbers 10:11, Exodus 40:17, 1 Kings 6:1
Reciprocal: Genesis 17:4 - a father Genesis 35:11 - a nation Genesis 42:13 - Thy servants Genesis 46:15 - Leah Exodus 3:12 - ye shall Exodus 12:3 - an house Leviticus 25:1 - General Numbers 3:1 - spake Numbers 7:89 - he heard Numbers 26:4 - General Numbers 26:64 - General Deuteronomy 23:12 - General

Take ye the sum: This numbering was probably intended to illustrate the Divine faithfulness in thus increasing the seed of Abraham; to prepare them to preserve due order in their march; and to distinguish the tribes and families. Numbers 26:2-4, Numbers 26:63, Numbers 26:64, Exodus 30:12, Exodus 38:26, 2 Samuel 24:1-3, 1 Chronicles 21:1, 1 Chronicles 21:2, 1 Chronicles 27:23, 1 Chronicles 27:24
the children: Genesis 49:1-3, Exodus 1:1-5
after: Numbers 1:18, Numbers 1:22, Numbers 1:26-54, Exodus 6:14-19
Reciprocal: Numbers 1:19 - General Numbers 1:44 - General 1 Chronicles 23:24 - by their polls 2 Chronicles 17:14 - to the house

Shelumiel: Numbers 2:12, Numbers 7:36
Reciprocal: Genesis 46:10 - Simeon Numbers 10:19 - Simeon Job 9:5 - which overturneth

Nethaneel: Numbers 2:5, Numbers 7:18, Numbers 10:15
Reciprocal: Genesis 46:13 - Issachar

Eliab: Numbers 2:7, Numbers 7:24, Numbers 10:16
Reciprocal: Genesis 46:14 - Zebulun Ezekiel 42:13 - the most holy

Abidan: Numbers 2:22, Numbers 7:60, Numbers 10:24
Reciprocal: Genesis 46:16 - sons of Genesis 46:21 - the sons

Pagiel: Numbers 2:27, Numbers 7:72, Numbers 10:26
Reciprocal: Genesis 46:17 - Asher

Eliasaph: Numbers 7:42, Numbers 10:20, Son of Reuel, Numbers 2:14
Deuel: As the ד, daleth is very like the ר, resh, they might be easily mistaken for each other; and hence this person being called both Deuel and Reuel, may be easily accounted for. The Septuagint and Syriac have Reuel, in this chapter; and in Numbers 2:14, the Samaritan, Vulgate, and Arabic have Deuel, instead of Reuel, with which reading a vast number of manuscripts concur, and which is also supported by Numbers 7:42, Numbers 10:20. We may therefore safely conclude, the Deuel, and not Reuel, was the original reading.
Reciprocal: Jeremiah 11:19 - that his

Ahira: Numbers 2:29, Numbers 7:78, Numbers 10:27
Reciprocal: Genesis 46:24 - Naphtali

the renowned: Keruey haâidah, literally "the called of the congregation," those who were summoned by name to attend. Numbers 2:3-31, Numbers 7:2, Numbers 7:10-83, Numbers 10:14-27, Numbers 11:17, Numbers 16:2, Numbers 26:9, Judges 6:15, 1 Chronicles 27:16-22
heads: Numbers 1:4, Exodus 18:21, Exodus 18:25, Deuteronomy 1:15, 1 Samuel 22:7, 1 Samuel 23:23, Micah 5:2
Reciprocal: Leviticus 4:22 - a ruler hath sinned

their pedigrees: Ezra 2:59, Nehemiah 7:61, Hebrews 7:3, Hebrews 7:6, *marg.
by the: Numbers 1:2
according: Numbers 1:20-54
from twenty: In this census no women were reckoned, nor children, nor minors, nor strangers, nor Levites, nor old men; which, collectively, must have formed an immense multitude; the Levites alone amounted to 22,300 men.
Reciprocal: Exodus 30:14 - from twenty 1 Chronicles 23:24 - by their polls 1 Chronicles 27:23 - from twenty 2 Chronicles 17:14 - to the house

That a comparative view may be easily taken of the state of the tribes, we will here produce them, compared with that of the second census - Numbers 26:1, in their decreasing proportion, beginning with the greatest and proceeding to the least.
Tribe 1st Census 2nd Census
Judah 74,600 76,500
Dan 62,700 64,400
Simeon 59,300 22,200
Zebulun 57,400 60,500
Issachar 54,400 64,300
Naphtali 53,400 45,400
Reuben 46,500 43,730
Gad 45,650 40,500
Asher 41,500 53,400
Ephraim 40,500 32,500
Benjamin 35,400 45,600
Manasseh 32,200 52,700
Totals: 603,550 601,730
Thus we find Judah the most populous tribe, and Manasseh the least so; the difference between them being as great as 42,000. Jacob had given Judah the pre-eminence in his prophetic blessing; and that tribe was to have the precedency in the encampments of Israel: accordingly God had increased them more than any of their brethren. Ephraim and Manasseh, according to the same prophecy, were numbered as distinct tribes, Ephraim having the superiority, as it was foretold; and Joseph indeed appears "a fruitful bough." Numbers 2:10, Numbers 2:11, Numbers 26:7
Reciprocal: Genesis 46:8 - Reuben Numbers 3:34 - General

The tribe of Gad marched, along with that of Simeon, under the standard of Reuben; and it seems, on that account, to have been introduced in this order. The other tribes also, are here classed together according to their encampments, and the order of their subsequent march. Numbers 2:14, Numbers 2:15, Numbers 26:15-18, Genesis 30:10, Genesis 30:11, Genesis 46:16, Genesis 49:19
Reciprocal: Numbers 26:18 - General

Numbers 2:6, Numbers 26:25
Reciprocal: Numbers 2:5 - General

Numbers 2:8, Numbers 26:27
Reciprocal: Genesis 46:14 - Zebulun Numbers 2:7 - General

the tribe: Genesis 48:5, Deuteronomy 33:17
were forty: Numbers 2:19, Numbers 26:37
Reciprocal: Genesis 48:19 - I know it

Naphtali: Genesis 30:7, Genesis 30:8, Genesis 46:24, Genesis 49:21, Respecting the manner in which this vast multitude sprang from 75 persons, Scheuchzer has some valuable calculations, with the results of which we present the reader:
Tribe 1st Gen 2nd Gen 3rd Gen 4th Gen Totals - 3 and 4
Judah 25 238 3,865 70,735 74,600
Dan 11 132 2,508 60,192 62,700
Simeon 39 359 3,953 55,347 59,300
Zebulun 20 143 2,296 55,104 57,400
Issachar 27 251 3,022 51,378 54,400
Naphtali 26 296 3,560 49,840 53,400
Reuben 31 215 2,583 43,917 46,500
Gad 67 475 3,804 41,846 45,650
Asher 39 310 3,192 38,308 41,500
Ephraim 16 160 1,928 38,572 40,500
Benjamin 98 885 4,425 30,975 35,400
Manasseh 10 134 1,610 30,590 32,200
Levi 8 96 1,240 21,060 22,300
Reciprocal: Numbers 2:29 - the tribe Numbers 2:30 - General Numbers 26:50 - General

Numbers 2:30, Numbers 26:50
Reciprocal: Genesis 46:24 - Naphtali Numbers 2:29 - the tribe

Reciprocal: Numbers 14:29 - all that were

What an astonishing increase from seventy persons who went down into Egypt about 215 years before, where they had latterly endured the greatest hardships! Such was the effect of God's promise, which cannot fail. Numbers 2:32, Numbers 23:10, Numbers 26:51, Genesis 12:2, Genesis 13:16, Genesis 15:5, Genesis 17:6, Genesis 22:17, Genesis 26:3, Genesis 28:14, Genesis 46:3, Genesis 46:4, Exodus 12:37, Exodus 38:26, Deuteronomy 10:22, 1 Kings 4:20, 2 Samuel 24:9, 1 Chronicles 21:5, 2 Chronicles 13:3, 2 Chronicles 17:14-19, Hebrews 11:11, Hebrews 11:12, Revelation 7:4-9
Reciprocal: Genesis 48:16 - grow into Numbers 11:21 - General Deuteronomy 1:10 - your God Judges 20:17 - four hundred

Numbers 2:33, Numbers 26:62
Reciprocal: Numbers 3:6 - General Numbers 8:11 - they may execute