Census: There are five instances of a census of the Jewish people having been
taken.1. In the fourth month after the Exodus, when the people were
encamped at Sinai. The number of men from twenty years old and
upward was then 603,550
(Exodus 38:26)
2. Another census was made just before the entrance into Canaan,
when the number was found to be 601,000 showing thus a small
decrease
(Numbers 26:51)
3. The next census was in the time of David, when the number,
exclusive of the tribes of Levi and Benjamin, was found to be
1,300,000
(2 Samuel 24:9; 1 Chronicles 21:5)
4. Solomon made a census of the foreigners in the land, and found
153,600 able-bodied workmen
(2 Chronicles 2:17,18)
5. After the return from Exile the whole congregation of Israel was
numbered, and found to amount to 42,360
(Ezra 2:64) A census was
made by the Roman government in the time of our Lord
(Luke 2:1)
(See TAXING)