The Levites, however, were not numbered among them by their fathers’ tribe. For the Lord had spoken to Moses, saying, “Only the tribe of Levi you shall not number, nor shall you take their census among the sons of Israel"... The Levites, however, were not numbered among the sons of Israel, just as the Lord had commanded Moses (Numbers 1:47-49; 2:33).

Even though the Levites were not numbered with the other tribes, it does not mean that they were not numbered at all. For we read later,

The Lord said to Moses in the Desert of Sinai, “Count the Levites by their families and clans. Count every male a month old or more.” So Moses counted them, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord (Numbers 3:15-16).

All the male Levites a month old or more numbered 23,000. They were not counted along with the other Israelites because they received no inheritance among them (Numbers 26:62).

As the second passage here indicates, they were not numbered with the other tribes because they had no inheritance among them. The land inheritance of the other tribes was based on the size of their clan.

However, even apart from the inheritance, the numbering of the Levites had an important function. Their number was to substitute for the offering of the firstborn sons of the remaining tribes of Israel, which God commanded to be dedicated to Him when He preserved the Israelites from the tenth plague against Egypt, which killed every firstborn son of Egypt. But since there were more firstborn sons of the other tribes than their were males in the tribe of Levi, the remaining sons had to be redeemed by a sum of money, which went to the priests:

The total number of Levites counted at the Lord’s command by Moses and Aaron according to their clans, including every male a month old or more, was 22,000 The Lord said to Moses, “Count all the firstborn Israelite males who are a month old or more and make a list of their names. Take the Levites for me in place of all the firstborn of the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites in place of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites. I am the Lord." So Moses counted all the firstborn of the Israelites, as the Lord commanded him. The total number of firstborn males a month old or more, listed by name, was 22,273. The Lord also said to Moses, “Take the Levites in place of all the firstborn of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites in place of their livestock. The Levites are to be mine. I am the Lord. To redeem the 273 firstborn Israelites who exceed the number of the Levites, collect five shekels for each one, according to the sanctuary shekel, which weighs twenty gerahs. Give the money for the redemption of the additional Israelites to Aaron and his sons.” So Moses collected the redemption money from those who exceeded the number redeemed by the Levites. From the firstborn of the Israelites he collected silver weighing 1,365 shekels, according to the sanctuary shekel. Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and his sons, as he was commanded by the word of the Lord (Numbers 3:39-51).

Isn't it interesting that there was no "close enough" calculation with respect to the redemption of the firstborn. 22,000 Levite males vs. 22,273 Israelite firstborn males. One might think, "It's just 273." Can't we just consider it within the margin of error and round down to the nearest thousand? No! As we noted in the description of the Tabernacle and the importance of every detail of procedure, God is concerned that His people be careful, precise, and comprehensive in their obedience to His commands.

Likewise, when we study God's Word, should we do any less?

Be diligent to present thyself approved to God -- a workman irreproachable, rightly dividing the word of the truth (Young's Literal Translation).

I have warned everyone here before. Prosperity theologians, those involved in the neo-charismatic movement, and preachers, who routinely apply Old Covenant laws to Christians, do not take this careful approach to Scripture. They make themselves appear erudite by citing the Hebrew or Greek, or finding a commentator just as misled as themselves to cite for support, but in reality they fail in the most important things, like considering the context, applying the "analogy of faith" (i.e. comparing Scripture with relevant Scripture), and avoiding the temptation to read an experience into a passage (eisegesis).

As we consider how careful our God is to every detail of His Word, we ought to do no less. Jesus taught,

Truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished (Matthew 5:18).

Paul gives this warning to a divisive Corinthian church:

Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, so that you may learn from us the meaning of the saying, “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not be puffed up in being a follower of one of us over against the other (1 Corinthians 4:6).

Friends, we are going through what is perhaps the hardest sections of the Bible to read. However, I encourage you to plod faithfully through it, because these passages too are the Word of God. I want to also discourage you from trying to make things more interesting by unearthing hidden meanings or trying to make unwarranted discoveries by fixating on certain words outside of their context. Many people do this, thinking that it is a spiritual exercise, but they do not realize that they are only harming themselves by doing this. For example, you will be much better equipped if you meditate on the whole counsel of Scripture than spending three months just contemplating the Name of God. Mystics do the latter, the biblically faithful do the former. 

Four interesting things should not be missed from this reading. First, notice that Joseph's two sons Ephraim and Manasseh were included among the twelve tribes of Israel (cf. Numbers 1:10,32-35;2:18-19). They were given independent positions in the formation of the camp. Furthermore, Joseph would be given a double portion of land corresponding to Ephraim and Manasseh in the Promised Land. This was traditionally the birthright of the firstborn, which is the tribe of Reuben; however, because of Joseph's special role in delivering Israel from famine, and because of the indiscretions of Reuben, who slept with his father's concubine, Joseph is given the honor of the firstborn (cf. 1 Chronicles 5:1-2). This is also why Jacob, Joseph's father, tells him that Joseph's first two sons would belong to Jacob, because they would be counted among Jacob's sons in the inheritance (cf. Genesis 48:5-6).

Second, even though Reuben is the firstborn and Joseph is given the honor of the firstborn, notice that Judah is in the position of leadership in the camp. His tribe will lead the group from the East side (Numbers 2:9). The tribe of Judah is the most numerous of all the tribes and is later described as the strongest (cf. 1 Chronicles 5:2). The blessing of royal authority was given to this tribe (remember that King David is of the tribe of Judah), as well as a prophecy of the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ (Genesis 49:10). Furthermore, unlike his three older brothers (Reuben, Simeon, and Levi), there was no negative mark upon him as there was with them. 

Third, notice that Israel needed protection on two major fronts. The armies of Israel lined up in such a way that they were prepared for attack on the outside from the surrounding nations. However, don't miss that the Levites also lined up around the Tabernacle in such a way as to protect the people of Israel from the LORD's anger on the inside (Numbers 1:53). As you read the history of Israel, you will observe that the LORD was a greater threat and afflicted a heavier toll on Israel than any and all of Israel's external enemies. What is the point? The LORD is holy. He was not to be their rabbit's foot to take into war. And it was more important for the armies of Israel be to pure and obedient to God than for them to be prepared for war. A New Testament concept that this should bring to mind is Matthew 6:33, where Jesus taught, "Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these (other) things will be added to you."

Fourth, notice that the tribes are generally arranged according to their nearest relative. So Judah, Isachar and Zebulun, all sons of Leah, are put together. Reuben and Simeon, sons of Leah and near brothers, are put together. Ephraim and Manasseh (sons of Joseph) and Benjamin, sons of Rachel, are put together. Dan and Naphtali are sons of Bilhah. Gad is put with Reuben and Simeon because he is from Leah's handmaid Zilpah. Asher is the only one that is out of sorts because although he is from Zipah, he is put together with Dan and Naphtali of Bilhah. Even so, they are all sons of handmaids. The tribe of Levi is separated out with responsibility over the tabernacle at the center of the camp. 

Friends, we face choices every day of our lives. And God knows our choices and even directs some of them (e.g. our choice to believe in Jesus as our Lord and Savior). To the extent that we are given freedom in the other choices, let us make them in keeping with His choice of us. Let us always choose God's side in every dispute. Let us give God the glory at every opportunity. And let us trust God in every situation. And so we will love God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). This is walking in step with the life the Spirit has given us (Galatians 5:25). This is Paul's aspiration when he wrote, "I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me" (Philippians 3:12).

Israel has journeyed from their enslavement at Goshen in Egypt hundreds of miles southward in the Sinai desert and now sit at the foot Mount Sinai where God has occupied the mountain. God instructs Moses to number the Israelites and a Census is taken.  (Num 1:2-4) "Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. You and Aaron are to number by their divisions all the men in Israel twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army. One man from each tribe, each the head of his family, is to help you."  Moses counts over 600 thousand men to serve in the army (>2 million total)- this is pretty amazing as they are all descendants from the 12 sons of Jacob.  God had told Abraham (Jacobs grandfather) your descendants will number as the stars in the sky about 400 years earlier and now we see the prophecy fulfilled.
 
God has also told Israel (Exo 3:8) that he would lead them to the land of Canaan (land of milk and honey) - and they would be required to drive out the inhabitants (Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites, Jebusites) - thus we can see Gods fulfillment of his plan through Israel's army of 600 thousand.
 
I was looking up some pictures tonight of Mt Sinai and the surrounding area - and its desolate rocky desert.  I couldn't imagine a worse place for Israel to dwell and now 2 million inhabitants are land locked with no one to provide for them - except God.  Exactly.  God has done everything from sending plagues on Egypt, to raining bread (manna) on the Israelites to get them to trust in Him, the occupation in this desolate place seems another lesson in trust.  God prepares Israel as they start the journey towards Canaan to fulfill the covenant made to Abraham.