“Count the people of Israel so that you will know how many people there are. Every time this is done, every person must make a payment for himself to the Lord. If each person does this, then no terrible thing will happen to the people.
Gather this money from the people of Israel. Use the money for the service in the Meeting Tent. [301] This payment will be a way for the Lord to remember his people. They will be paying for their own lives.”
He said, “Count the people of Israel. Count all the men who are 20 years old or older and list them by families. These are the men who are able to serve in the army of Israel.”