Parashat BeMidbar In Inglish.

In the Sinai Desert, Elohim commands a census of the twelve tribes of Israel. Moshe counts 603,550 men between the ages of 20 and 60; separately is counted the tribe of Levi, totaling 22,300 men one month of age and older. The Levites are to serve in the sanctuary, replacing the firstborn, whose numbers they approached, as the latter was disqualified for their participation in the idolatry of the Golden Calf. The 273 firstborns who did not have a Levite to replace them had to pay a "ransom" of five shekel to be redeemed from service. When the people set up camp to travel, the three Levitical clans dismantled and transported the sanctuary, then rearmed it in the center of the next place. Then they erected their tents around them: the Kehatites, who carried on their shoulders the utensils (the ark, the menorah, etc.) in their specially designed coverings, camped in the south; the Gershonites, in charge of the tapestries and curtains, to the west; and the families of Merari, who transported the wall panels and pillars, to the north. In front of the entrance to the sanctuary, to the east, were the tents of Moshe, Aaron, and their sons. Beyond the circle of the Levites, the twelve tribes camped in four groups of three tribes each. To the east were the tribes of Judah (pop. 74,600), Isaacar (54,400), and Zvulun (67,400); to the south, Reuben (46,500), Shimon (59,300) and Gad (45,650); to the west Ephraim (40,500), Menashe (32,200) and Binamien (35,400); and to the north Dan (62,700), Asher (41,500) and Naftali (53,400). This formation was also maintained while traveling. Each tribe had its nasí (prince or leader) and its flag with the tribe's color and emblem.