The Census and the Bible
by Marc Gibson
May 2, 2010

You are probably aware of the census that is being carried out in our country this year. You may have already received your census forms in the mail, filled them out, and sent them back. A census is defined as “an official enumeration of the population with details as to age, sex, occupation, etc.” (Webster). The U.S. Constitution requires that every resident of this country be counted by a census every ten years:

The actual enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States, and within every subsequent term of 10 years, in such a manner as they shall by Law direct (Article 1, Section 2, Constitution of the United States).

A counting of the number of people who live in a certain place is designed to facilitate the apportionment of federal funds and determine the number of seats a state will have in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The taking of a census is not new: “Use of the census as an administrative device, especially for taxation and for military purposes, is very ancient” (International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, rev. ed, vol. 1, 628). There were occasions of census-taking recorded in the Bible, the first done by Moses in the wilderness for the purpose of raising ransom money to be used for the tabernacle (Exodus 30:11-16).

The book of Numbers is so named for the two censuses recorded in the book, the first taking place early in the wilderness wanderings:

Now the Lord spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying: “Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of names, every male individually, from twenty years old and above – all who are able to go to war in Israel. You and Aaron shall number them by their armies” (Numbers 1:1-3).

The final tally was 603,550 men (v. 46). The Levites were counted separately, numbering 22,000 (3:14-39).

A second census was taken 38 years later in the plains of Moab by the Jordan River as the people were preparing to enter the Promised Land (Numbers 26). The tally this time was 601,730 men. A sobering note is given in scripture at the end of this census to remind us all about the consequences of unbelief:

These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho. But among these there was not a man of those who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they numbered the children of Israel in the Wilderness of Sinai. For the Lord had said of them, “They shall surely die in the wilderness.” So there was not left a man of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun (Numbers 26:63-65).

Another writer called this second census “a monument to God’s faithfulness”:

When He judged the people for their lack of faith, He also made a promise: “But to your little ones, whom you said would be victims, I will bring in, and they shall know the land which you have despised” (Numbers 14:31). God kept His word, and the number of little ones who were able to go to war thirty-eight years later was just 1,820 less than the original number. Those who, by man’s wisdom, were sure to perish in the wilderness were the very ones to inherit the land (Philip Rosenbaum, How to Enjoy the Boring Parts of the Bible, 117).

In the days of the United Kingdom, King David told Joab, commander of the army, to “go throughout all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and count the people, that I may know the number of the people” (2 Samuel 24:2). Joab protested this census, but was overruled (vv. 3-4). What is most interesting about this incident is that we are told that the “anger of the Lord was aroused against Israel, and He moved David against them to say, ‘Go, number Israel and Judah’” (v. 1). To make this even more interesting is the parallel account in 1 Chronicles 21:1 which reads, “Now Satan stood up against Israel, and moved David to number Israel.” How are these two accounts to be harmonized?

Two major explanations have been offered, both of which have merit. First, it may be that God is spoken of bringing about an event simply because He did not prevent it. It is clear that Satan tempted David, but God allowed it to happen in a universe of free-will (consider God’s involvement in the troubles Satan brought upon Job - Job 2:3). Second, the pronoun “he” in 2 Samuel 24:1 may refer to Satan (“adversary,” as noted in 1 Chron. 21:1), and God’s anger was aroused against David for falling to the temptation of the devil. And we may further ask:

Why did David carry out this census without the authority of God? Was it the arrogance found in desiring great numbers, instead of putting complete faith in God’s strength? Whatever his motivation, David realized he had sinned, confessed it to God, and prayed for forgiveness for his foolish actions (2 Samuel 24:10). God still brought a plague that killed 70,000 men of Israel (vv. 11-16). How tragic are the consequences of sin! If only David had questioned his intentions as Joab had done. Let us be sure that everything we say and do is according to the authority of God and His word.

Other censuses mentioned in the Old Testament include King Solomon numbering the foreigners in the land of Israel (2 Chronicles 2:17-18), and the numberings of the exiles that returned from foreign captivity (Ezra 2; Nehemiah 7:5ff).

Another important census took place at the time that Mary was to give birth to Jesus:

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child (Luke 2:1-5).

The timing of this census was just right to place the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem (vv. 6-7, 11), which was according to inspired prophecy (Micah 5:2). This was all part of God’s grand plan to bring the Savior to earth in the fullness of times for our salvation!

Attitude Adjustments:

Trouble in spiritual realms will result when we make doctrine relative and opinions absolute rather than the other way around.

Contentment is not based on what you have, but who you are; not what is happening now, but where you are headed eternally; not feelings, but faith; not pride, but principle; not locality, but love; not satisfying present desires, but upholding timeless values; not in multiplying physical relationships, but in cultivating your relationship with the heavenly Father.
Thoughts about the past can take us in different directions. If we learn from them, they urge us towards wisdom. If we dwell in them, they take away our hope and our zeal for present action. If we rejoice in them, they make us thankful. If we live in them, they lead us to despair. The past was a beginning, the present is where we live, but our hope must always be focused on a future at home with God.

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