Numbers 1:49

“Do not number the tribe of Levi in the census with the other Israelites.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — The LORD speaks directly to Moses, issuing a command during the initial census of Israel.

The words — The Hebrew תִפְקֹד (tif.Kod) means "you will enroll," combined with לֹא (lo') "not" to form the explicit prohibition.

The thread — This exclusion recurs in Numbers 2:33 and Numbers 26:62, where the Levites are repeatedly noted as uncounted among the other Israelites.

Why it lands — The text establishes that the Levites are excluded from the military census to be appointed over the tabernacle, its furnishings, and its care.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

אַ֣ךְ'akhonly אֶת־'et-<obj.>מַטֵּ֤הma.Teh[the] tribe of לֵוִי֙le.ViLevi לֹ֣אlo'not תִפְקֹ֔דtif.Kodyou will enroll וְאֶת־ve./'Etand/ <obj.>רֹאשָׁ֖םro.Sha/mhead/ their לֹ֣אlo'not תִשָּׂ֑אti.Sa'you will lift up בְּת֖וֹךְbe./Tokhin/ among בְּנֵ֥יbe.Nei[the] people of יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃Yis.ra.'ElIsrael

King James Version

Only thou shalt not number the tribe of Levi, neither take the sum of them among the children of Israel:

Cross-references

Numbers 26:62 The registration of the Levites totaled 23,000, every male a month old or more; they were not numbered among the other Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.
Numbers 2:33 But the Levites were not counted among the other Israelites, as the LORD had commanded Moses.