If the numbers in our present copies, from which those given by Josephus do not materially differ, be correct, it seems likely that these two numberings were in foct ofae, but applied to different purposes. We can hardly otherwise account for tiie identity of numbers even within the few months of interval (Calmet on Num. i ; Kitto, Pictorial Bible, ib.^f. It may be remarked that the system of appointing head men in each tribe as lead- ers, as well as the care taken in preserving the pedi- grees of the fiimilies, corresponds with the practice of the Arab tribes at the present day (Crichton, Artt- bioj ii, 185, 186 ; Niebnhr, Descr, de FArabie, p. 14; Buckingham, Arab Trii^ p. 88; Jahn, Hitt. bk. ii, 8, 11 ; Malcolm, Sketches of Persia, xiv, 157, 169).
8. Another numbering took place 88 years af- terwards, previous to the entrance into Canaan, when the total number, excepting the Levites, amounted to 601,780 males, showmg a decrease of 1870. All the tribes presented an increase, except Reuben, which had decreased 2770; Simeon, 87,100 ; Gad, 5150 ; Ephraim and Naphtali, 8000 each. The tribe of Levi had increased 727 (Num. xxvi). The great diminution which took place in the tribe of Simeon may probably be assigned to the plague consequent on the misconduct of
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Ztmxi (CaliAt on Nmn. xzr, 9). On the other hand, the chief instances of increase are found in Manasseh of 20,500; Benjamin, 10,200 ; Asher, 11,900; andlssa- char, 9900. None were numbered at this census who had been above 20 years of age at the previous one in the second year, excepting Caleb and Joshua (Num. zxvi, 63-66).
4. The next formal nnmbering of the whole peo^ was in the reign of David, who in a moment of pro- sumption, contrary to the advice of Joab,gave orders to number the people without requiring the statutable offering of a half-shekeL The men of Israel above 20 years of age were 800,000, and of Judah 500,000 ; total, 1,800,000. The book of Chron. gives the numbers of Israel 1,100,000, and of Judah 470,000; total, 1,570,000; but informs us that Levi and Benjamin were not num- bered (1 Chron. xxi, 6; xxvii, 24). Josephus gives the numbers of Israel and Judah respectively 900,000 and 400,000 (2 Sam. xxiv, 1, 9 ; and Calmet, in loc. ; 1 Chron. xxi, 1, 5 ; xxvii, 24 ; Joseph, ^n/. vii, 13, 1).
5. The census of David was completed by Solomon, by causing the foreigners and remnants of the con- quered nations retident within Palestine to be num- bered. Their number amounted to 153,600, and they were employed in forced labor on his great architect- ural works (Josh, ix, 27 ; IKings v,15; ix, 20,21; 1 Chron. xxii, 2 ; 2 Chron. ii, 17, 18).
Between this time and the Captivity, mention is nude of the numbers of armies under successive kings of Israel and Judah, from which may be gathered with more or less probability, and with due consideration of the circumstances of the times as influencing the numbers of the levies, estimates of the population at the various times mentioned.
6. Behoboam collected fh)m Judah and Benjamin 180,000 men to fight against Jeroboam CI Kings, xil, 21).
7. Ab^jah, with 400,000 men, made war on Jeroboam with 800,000, of whom 500,000 were slain (2 Chron. xiii,8,17).
8. Asa had an army of 800,000 men from Judah, and 280,000 (Josephus says 250,000) from BeQamin, with which he defeated Zerah the Ethiopian, with an army of 1,000,000 (2 Chron. xiv, 8, 9; Josephus, AM, viii, 12, 1>
9. Jehoshaphat, besides men in garrisons, had under arms 1,160,000 men, including perhaps subject foreign- ers (2 Chron. xvii, 14-19; Jahn, ffitt, v, 87).
10. Amasiah had from Judah and Benjamin 800,000, besides 100,000 mercenaries from Israel (2 Chron. xxv, 5,6).
11. Usdah could bring into the field 807,500 men (807,000, Josephus), well armed, under 2600 ofiloers (2 Chron. xxvi, 11-15 ; Joseph. Ant. ix, 10, 8).
Besides these more general statements, we haf e other and partial notices of numbers indicating popu- lation. Thus, a, Gideon from 4 tribes coUected 82,000 men (Judg. vi, 85 ; viij 8). *5. Jephthah put to death 42,000 Ephraimites (Judg. xii, 6). The numbers of Ephraim 800 years before were 82,500 (Num. xxvi, 87). e. Of Benjamin 25,000 were slain at the battle of Gibeah, by which slaughter, and that of the inhab- itants of its cities, the tribe was reduced to 600 men. Its numbers in the wildemess were 45,600 (Num. xxvi, 41 ; Judg. XX, 85, 46). d. The number of those who joined David after Saul's death, besides the tribe of Issachar, was 840,922 (1 Chron. xii, 28-88). «. At the time when Jeho^phat could muster 1,160,000 men, Ahab in Israel could only bring 7000 against the Syr- ians (1 Kings XX, 15). f. The numbers carried cap- tive to Babylon, B.C. 598-82, from Judah are said (2 Kings xxiv, 14, 16) to have been from 8000 to 10,000, by Jeremiah 4600 (Jer. lU, 80).
12. The number of those who returned with Zerub- babel in the first caravan is reckoned at 42,860 (Ezra ii, 64), but of these perhaps 12,542 belonired to other ''-^^ than Judah and Bei^Jamin. It is thus that the
difference between the total (v, 64) and the sereral de- tails is to be accounted for. The purpose of this oea- sus, which does not materially differ tem the statD* ment in Nehemiah (Neh. vii), was to settle with lefsr- ence to the year of Jubilee the inheritances in dw Holy Land, which had been disturbed by the Capdv. ity, and also to ascertain the fSsmily genealogies, and ensure, as for as possible, the parity of the Jewirii me (EaraU,59; x, 2,8,18,44; Lev. xxr, 10).