Moving From Mt Sinai to Canaan; Like a Marching Army

Twelve sons of Jacob, who fathered Levi, who fathered Kohath, who fathered Amram, who fathered Moses.  From Jacob to Moses, a direct descendant, was 4 generations.  Moses was the gggrandson of Jacob.                                     

  Jacob was the father of the 12 Tribes of Israel (Jacob's new name-granted to reflect a new state of mind) who were the slaves of the Egyptians. Jacob took 4 wives,, Leah, daughter of Laban-brother of Rebekah-wife of Isaac; Rachel, daughter of Laban-brother of Rebekah-wife of Isaac, then their handmaids, Bilhah and Zilpah.  Remember that Abraham, son of Terah-husband of Sarah, daughter of Haran, sister of Lot, niece of Abraham and wife,  begat Isaac and Isaac begat Jacob.  

The following is how Moses arranged the manner in which they would all leave Egypt when he received the word that he was getting the release of the Israelites from Egyptian bondage. They took 40 years to reach their destination, giving Moses time to create a new fighting force of people from their descendants with the proper education.  

                      

  According to the Torah, Kehath (Hebrew: קְהָת, Qəhāṯ) or Kohath was one of the sons of Levi and the patriarchal founder of the Kehathites, one of the four main divisions of the Levites in biblical times.  They were the direct descendants of Aaron, brother of Moses.  It was Aaron and his sister, Mirium, who had approached Moses, telling him that they were his long lost sibling from when just a baby.  On the Exodus, they were the ones who carried the Ark of the Covenant and the other holy vessels.  When reaching their destination, they would find the Tabernacle already properly set up for them, and they would be able to put their load down.  This happened in 1310 BCE,  3,332 years ago.  

The details found in "Numbers" is astounding. People were named and the order that the Israelites marched was given. These slaves, who had started off as a free people of 70 that had increased to 601,730 over 400 years, as according to the 2nd census that Moses had taken at the end of their exodus of 40 years from Egypt. 

                                        Heading for Moab

They had followed Moses in a manner that generals would be proud; marked by knowing where each tribe was and by banners held high as markers.  It was 10 months and19 days after the group had arrived at Mt. Sinai, they started their journey towards Moab and their destiny, the Holy Land of Canaan.  They were guided by a mysterious cloud.                     

    Romans would copy this way of marching in 70 CE, 1,400 years in the future.  Our Israelites would be fighting people that were not going to let them pass on their land.  They found the land to be populated after 400 years.  
                

1. First in line was the tribe of Judah of 74,600 people, which was the most populated tribe.    Nahshon, son of Amminadab was their leader.  We Jews are the descendants of this tribe today, as we lost the 10 northern tribes much later in 721 BCE.  Judah's mother was Leah. Judah gained 1,900 people by last census.

2. Next was the tribe of Issachar of 54,400 people.  Nethanel, son of Zuar was their leader. Mother of Issachar was Leah. Issachar gained 9,900 people.

3. Next was the tribe of Zebulun of 57,400 people.   Eliab, the son of Elon was their leader. Mother of Zebulun was Leah.  Had a gain of 3,100.

The sons of Gershon and the sons of Merari, who carried the Tabernacle which had been taken down, as it was in a portable state, started their walk.  The main source describing the tabernacle is the biblical Book of Exodus, specifically Exodus 25–31 and 35–40. Those passages describe an inner sanctuary, the Holy of Holies, created by the veil suspended by four pillars. This sanctuary contained the Ark of the Covenant, with its cherubim-covered mercy seat.

According to the Torah, Gershon (Hebrew: גֵּרְשׁוֹן Gērǝšôn) was the eldest of the sons of Levi, and the patriarchal founder of the Gershonites, one of the four main divisions among the Levites in biblical times. The Gershonites were charged with the care of the outer tabernacle including components such as the tent and its covering, screens, doors, and hangings. Biblical scholars regard the name as being essentially the same as "Gershom" (גֵּרְשֹׁם‎ Gēršōm), which appears to mean "a sojourner there" (גר שם), and it is Gershom rather than Gershon who is sometimes listed in the Book of Chronicles as a founder of one of the principal Levite factions. The Torah names Gershon's sons as Libni and Shimei.

4. Next was the tribe of Reuben of 46,500 people.  Elizur, the son of Shedeur, was their leader. Mother of Reuben was Leah. Reuben suffered a loss of 2,770 people.  

5. Next was the tribe of Simeon of 59,300 people.  Shelumiel, the son of Zurishaddai, was their leader. Mother of Simeon was Leah. Suffered a loss of 37,000.   

6. Next was the tribe of Gad of 45,650 people. Eliasaph, the son of Deuiel, was their leader. Mother was Zilpah.  Suffered a loss of 5,150 people.  

Then came the Koathites, who were the carriers of the sanctuary, came next.  A sanctuary is a holy place or a place of safety. The Lord wanted the children of Israel to build a tabernacle (or sanctuary). In our day, a temple is considered a sanctuary.  The Kohathites were one of the four main divisions among the Levites in biblical times, the other three being the Gershonites, the Merarites, and the Aaronites (more commonly known as Kohen). The Bible claims that the Kohathites were all descended from the eponymous Kohath, a son of Levi.

7. Next was the tribe of Ephraim of 40,500 people.  Elishama, the son of Ammihud, was their leader.  Grandmother of Ephraim was Rachel, sister of Leah.  Suffered a loss of 8,000 people.  

8. Next was the tribe of Manasseh of 32,200 people.  Gamaliel, the son of  Pedahzur, was their leader.  Grandmother of Manasseh was Rachel, sister of Leah. Gained 20,500 people.    

9.  Next was the tribe of Benjamin of 35,400 people.  Abidan, the son of Gideoni, was their leader.  Mother of Benjamin was Rachel. Gained 10,200 people.   

10. Next was the tribe of Dan of 62,700 people, who took the rear position in all the camps.  Ahiezer, the son of Ammishaddai, was their leader.  Mother of Dan was Bilhah. Gained 1,700 people.  

11. Next was the tribe of Asher of 41,500 people.  Pagiel, the son of Ochran was their leader.  Mother of Asher was Zilpah.  Gained 11,900 people.  

12. Last was the tribe of Naphtali of 53,400 people.  Ahira, the son of Enon, was their leader.   Mother of Naphtali was Bilhah. Suffered a loss of 8,000. 

https://jewishbubba.blogspot.com/2022/06/the-importance-of-gilgal-in-israel.html 

Update: 6/17/22.  

Why this article?  It's not about any controversy.  As a genealogist, I was so excited to find actual names of each of the 12 tribes!  It is my chance to honor them by remembering them in an article, part of our important ancient history that is most likely glossed over when reading being it is only names.   It's to realize the authenticity of our Torah, recording real-life, not imaginary tales.  Moses was trying his hardest to record history, not make-believe stories.  

References:

Tanakh, Stone edition of ArtScroll series, appendix B, p2035

Pentateuch and Haftorah II, Numbers 10, p. 612, 613

The New Standard Jewish Encyclopedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kohathites#:~:text=The%20Kohathites%20were%20one%20of,Kohath%2C%20a%20son%20of%20Levi.

https://bible365podcast.com/numbers-weekly/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=paid&utm_campaign=Torah%20Weekly&utm_content=authors_balaamtwo&fbclid=IwAR2vHFenUINbbL2Js-O1Ie_cDAeAhGcy21jAY3NKLOIBKMzW-o3bSmnj-XA

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