Num 1:2 | MHM | STEP | v. 2-3 : Only the men who were twenty years old or older and able to fight were to be counted. Boys under twenty were not included, even if they were strong, because God did not want them to go to war so young. Men who were too old or sick were also not counted. The census was organized by families and tribes, so everyone knew their place and leaders could find them easily. This was different from the earlier census, which was just for collecting money for the tabernacle ( v. 2, 3; Exodus 38:25,26 ).

‏ Numbers 1:2

v. 2-3: Only the men who were twenty years old or older and able to fight were to be counted. Boys under twenty were not included, even if they were strong, because God did not want them to go to war so young. Men who were too old or sick were also not counted. The census was organized by families and tribes, so everyone knew their place and leaders could find them easily. This was different from the earlier census, which was just for collecting money for the tabernacle (v. 2, 3; Exodus 38:25,26 ^a).