Census Data

Three biblical enumerations — each row linked to its scripture source. Numbers 1 and 26 count men 20 and older able to bear arms, by tribe. Ezra 2 lists returnees from Babylonian exile by family, town, and role.

Numbers 1 & Numbers 26 — Military Censuses

Numbers 1: taken at Sinai, second year after the Exodus (Num 1:1–3). Numbers 26: taken on the plains of Moab before entering Canaan (Num 26:1–4). Levi excluded from both (Num 1:47); Joseph counted as Ephraim and Manasseh. Hover the ⓘ for textual notes on individual tribes.

Tribe	Numbers 1 (Sinai)	Ref	Numbers 26 (Moab)	Ref	Change
Reuben	46,500	Numbers 1:20-21	43,730	Numbers 26:5-7	-2,770
Simeonⓘ	59,300	Numbers 1:22-23	22,200	Numbers 26:12-14	-37,100
Gad	45,650	Numbers 1:24-25	40,500	Numbers 26:15-18	-5,150
Judahⓘ	74,600	Numbers 1:26-27	76,500	Numbers 26:19-22	+1,900
Issachar	54,400	Numbers 1:28-29	64,300	Numbers 26:23-25	+9,900
Zebulun	57,400	Numbers 1:30-31	60,500	Numbers 26:26-27	+3,100
Ephraimⓘ	40,500	Numbers 1:32-33	32,500	Numbers 26:35-37	-8,000
Manassehⓘ	32,200	Numbers 1:34-35	52,700	Numbers 26:29-34	+20,500
Benjamin	35,400	Numbers 1:36-37	45,600	Numbers 26:38-41	+10,200
Danⓘ	62,700	Numbers 1:38-39	64,400	Numbers 26:42-43	+1,700
Asher	41,500	Numbers 1:40-41	53,400	Numbers 26:44-47	+11,900
Naphtali	53,400	Numbers 1:42-43	45,400	Numbers 26:48-50	-8,000
Total	603,550	Numbers 1:46	601,730	Numbers 26:51	-1,820

• Numbers 1: first census, taken at Sinai in the second year after the Exodus (Num 1:1-3).

• Numbers 26: second census, taken on the plains of Moab before entering Canaan (Num 26:1-4).

• Counted: men 20 years old and upward, able to go to war (Num 1:3; 26:2).

• Levi excluded from both military censuses (Num 1:47; 26:62); Joseph counted as two tribes (Ephraim and Manasseh).

• Totals: Numbers 1 = 603,550 (Num 1:46); Numbers 26 = 601,730 (Num 26:51).

Ezra 2 — Returnees from Babylon

The assembly that returned under Zerubbabel and Jeshua (c. 538 BC), organized by family, town of origin, and temple role. The same list appears with minor variants in Nehemiah 7:6–73. Unlike the Numbers censuses this list is not tribal; most groups are identified by family name or pre-exile hometown.

Group	Count	Scripture
People of Israel — by family(15,604 total)
Sons of Parosh	2,172	Ezra 2:3
Sons of Shephatiah	372	Ezra 2:4
Sons of Arah	775	Ezra 2:5
Sons of Pahath-moab (of Jeshua and Joab)	2,812	Ezra 2:6
Sons of Elam	1,254	Ezra 2:7
Sons of Zattu	945	Ezra 2:8
Sons of Zaccai	760	Ezra 2:9
Sons of Bani	642	Ezra 2:10
Sons of Bebai	623	Ezra 2:11
Sons of Azgad	1,222	Ezra 2:12
Sons of Adonikam	666	Ezra 2:13
Sons of Bigvai	2,056	Ezra 2:14
Sons of Adin	454	Ezra 2:15
Sons of Ater (of Hezekiah)	98	Ezra 2:16
Sons of Bezai	323	Ezra 2:17
Sons of Jorah	112	Ezra 2:18
Sons of Hashum	223	Ezra 2:19
Sons of Gibbar	95	Ezra 2:20
People of Israel — by town of origin(8,540 total)
Men of Bethlehem	123	Ezra 2:21
Men of Netophah	56	Ezra 2:22
Men of Anathoth	128	Ezra 2:23
Men of Azmaveth	42	Ezra 2:24
Men of Kiriath-arim, Chephirah, and Beeroth	743	Ezra 2:25
Men of Ramah and Geba	621	Ezra 2:26
Men of Michmash	122	Ezra 2:27
Men of Bethel and Ai	223	Ezra 2:28
Men of Nebo	52	Ezra 2:29
Men of Magbish	156	Ezra 2:30
Men of the other Elam	1,254	Ezra 2:31
Men of Harim	320	Ezra 2:32
Men of Lod, Hadid, and Ono	725	Ezra 2:33
Men of Jericho	345	Ezra 2:34
Men of Senaah	3,630	Ezra 2:35
Priests(4,289 total)
Sons of Jedaiah (house of Jeshua)	973	Ezra 2:36
Sons of Immer	1,052	Ezra 2:37
Sons of Pashhur	1,247	Ezra 2:38
Sons of Harim	1,017	Ezra 2:39
Levites(74 total)
Sons of Jeshua and Kadmiel (sons of Hodaviah) Strikingly few Levites returned relative to other groups.	74	Ezra 2:40
Singers(128 total)
Sons of Asaph	128	Ezra 2:41
Gatekeepers(139 total)
Sons of Shallum, Ater, Talmon, Akkub, Hatita, and Shobai	139	Ezra 2:42
Temple servants & Solomon's servants(392 total)
Temple servants (Nethinim) and sons of Solomon's servants Verses 43-54 list 35 named Nethinim groups; vv. 55-57 list sons of Solomon's servants (392 total per v.58).	392	Ezra 2:43-58
Uncertain Israelite descent(652 total)
Those unable to prove Israelite descent (from Tel-melah, Tel-harsha, Cherub, Addan, Immer) Could not prove their fathers' houses or their descent. Some priestly families in this group were excluded from serving until a priest could consult the Urim and Thummim (Ezra 2:63).	652	Ezra 2:59-60
Total assembly(as stated in text)	42,360	Ezra 2:64

• Ezra 2 lists the returnees from Babylonian exile under Zerubbabel and Jeshua (c. 538 BC).

• Unlike the Numbers censuses, this list is organized by family clan and town of origin, not by tribe.

• The same list appears with minor variants in Nehemiah 7:6-73.

• Total assembly: 42,360 (Ezra 2:64), not counting 7,337 servants and 200 singers (v.65).

• Note: the sub-totals in Ezra 2 do not sum to 42,360; the same discrepancy appears in Neh 7. The text does not explain it.