Numbers 1:1
New International Version
The LORD spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said:

New Living Translation
A year after Israel’s departure from Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the Tabernacle in the wilderness of Sinai. On the first day of the second month of that year he said,

English Standard Version
The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

Berean Standard Bible
On the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Wilderness of Sinai. He said:

King James Bible
And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

New King James Version
Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying:

New American Standard Bible
Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

NASB 1995
Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

NASB 1977
Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

Amplified Bible
The LORD spoke [by special revelation] to Moses in the Wilderness of Sinai in the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle) on the first day of the second month in the second year after the Israelites came out of the land of Egypt, saying,

Christian Standard Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Wilderness of Sinai, on the first day of the second month of the second year after Israel’s departure from the land of Egypt:

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Wilderness of Sinai, on the first day of the second month of the second year after Israel’s departure from the land of Egypt: “

American Standard Version
And Jehovah spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

Contemporary English Version
The people of Israel had left Egypt and were living in the Sinai Desert. Then on the first day of the second month of the second year, when Moses was in the sacred tent the LORD said:

English Revised Version
And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The LORD spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai. It was the first day of the second month in the second year after leaving Egypt. He said,

Good News Translation
On the first day of the second month in the second year after the people of Israel left Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses there in the Tent of his presence in the Sinai Desert. He said,

International Standard Version
In the Sinai desert, the LORD spoke to Moses inside the Tent of Meeting on the first day of the second month of the second year after they had left the land of Egypt. He said,

Majority Standard Bible
On the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Wilderness of Sinai. He said:

NET Bible
Now the LORD spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the wilderness of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites departed from the land of Egypt. He said:

New Heart English Bible
The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

Webster's Bible Translation
And the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

World English Bible
Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And YHWH speaks to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year of their going out of the land of Egypt, saying,

Young's Literal Translation
And Jehovah speaketh unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first of the second month, in the second year of their going out of the land of Egypt, saying:

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will speak to Moses in the desert of Sinai, in the tent of appointment, in one of the second month, in the second year of their coming out of the land of Egypt, saying,
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Lord spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai in the tabernacle of the covenant, the first day of the second month, the second year of their going out of Egypt, saying:

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Lord spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the covenant, on the first day of the second month, in the year after their departure from Egypt, saying:

New American Bible
In the second year after the Israelites’ departure from the land of Egypt, on the first day of the second month, the LORD said to Moses at the tent of meeting in the wilderness of Sinai:

New Revised Standard Version
The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying:
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
AND the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after the children of Israel were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And LORD JEHOVAH spoke with Moshe in the wilderness of Sinai in the Time Tabernacle, in the first day, in the second month, in the second year when the children of Israel went out from the land of Egypt, and he said to him:
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
AND THE LORD spoke unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after the were come out of the land of Egypt, saying:

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sina, in the tabernacle of witness, on the first day of the second month, in the second year of their departure from the land of Egypt, saying,

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Census of Israel's Warriors
1On the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, the LORD spoke to Moses in the Tent of Meeting in the Wilderness of Sinai. He said: 2“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one.…

Cross References
Exodus 40:17
So the tabernacle was set up on the first day of the first month of the second year.

Leviticus 1:1
Then the LORD called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying,

Deuteronomy 1:3
In the fortieth year, on the first day of the eleventh month, Moses proclaimed to the Israelites all that the LORD had commanded him concerning them.

Exodus 19:1
In the third month, on the same day of the month that the Israelites had left the land of Egypt, they came to the Wilderness of Sinai.

Exodus 25:1
Then the LORD said to Moses,

Exodus 34:32
And after this all the Israelites came near, and Moses commanded them to do everything that the LORD had told him on Mount Sinai.

Leviticus 25:1
Then the LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai,

1 Kings 6:1
In the four hundred and eightieth year after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt, in the fourth year of Solomon’s reign over Israel, in the month of Ziv, the second month, he began to build the house of the LORD.

Psalm 81:5
He ordained it as a testimony for Joseph when he went out over the land of Egypt, where I heard an unfamiliar language:

Ezekiel 20:12
I also gave them My Sabbaths as a sign between us, so that they would know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.

Acts 7:38
He was in the assembly in the wilderness with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers. And he received living words to pass on to us.

Hebrews 3:2
He was faithful to the One who appointed Him, just as Moses was faithful in all God’s house.

John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Acts 7:44
Our fathers had the tabernacle of the Testimony with them in the wilderness. It was constructed exactly as God had directed Moses, according to the pattern he had seen.

Hebrews 8:5
The place where they serve is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”


Treasury of Scripture

And the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tabernacle of the congregation, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

wilderness

Numbers 10:11,12
And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony…

Exodus 19:1
In the third month, when the children of Israel were gone forth out of the land of Egypt, the same day came they into the wilderness of Sinai.

Leviticus 27:34
These are the commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses for the children of Israel in mount Sinai.

tabernacle

Exodus 25:22
And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubims which are upon the ark of the testimony, of all things which I will give thee in commandment unto the children of Israel.

Leviticus 1:1
And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying,

on the first day.

Numbers 9:1
And the LORD spake unto Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the first month of the second year after they were come out of the land of Egypt, saying,

Numbers 10:11
And it came to pass on the twentieth day of the second month, in the second year, that the cloud was taken up from off the tabernacle of the testimony.

Exodus 40:17
And it came to pass in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was reared up.

Jump to Previous
Congregation Departure Egypt First Israelites Meeting Month Moses Second Sinai Speaketh Tabernacle Tent Wilderness
Jump to Next
Congregation Departure Egypt First Israelites Meeting Month Moses Second Sinai Speaketh Tabernacle Tent Wilderness
Numbers 1
1. God commands Moses to number the people
5. The princes of the tribes
17. The number of every tribe
47. The Levites are exempted for the service of the Lord














On the first day of the second month
This phrase sets a precise chronological context for the events that follow. The Hebrew calendar is lunar-based, and the "second month" refers to Iyar, which corresponds to April-May in the Gregorian calendar. The specificity of the date underscores the importance of order and timing in God's plans. It reminds us that God is a God of order, who orchestrates events in His perfect timing. This precision also reflects the historical reliability of the biblical narrative, grounding it in real time and space.

in the second year
The "second year" marks a significant period since the Israelites' exodus from Egypt. This timeframe indicates that the Israelites have been in the wilderness for over a year, experiencing God's provision and guidance. It is a reminder of God's faithfulness and the ongoing journey of transformation and preparation for entering the Promised Land. Theologically, it speaks to the process of sanctification, where believers are continually being shaped and prepared for God's purposes.

after the Israelites had come out of the land of Egypt
This phrase recalls the miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from slavery, a foundational event in Israel's history. The Hebrew term for "come out" (יָצָא, yatsa) conveys the idea of departure and liberation. It is a powerful reminder of God's redemptive power and His covenant faithfulness. For Christians, it foreshadows the greater deliverance through Christ, who frees us from the bondage of sin.

the LORD spoke to Moses
The direct communication between the LORD (YHWH) and Moses highlights Moses' unique role as a prophet and leader. The Hebrew verb for "spoke" (דִּבֶּר, dibber) indicates a clear and authoritative communication. This divine interaction emphasizes the importance of revelation and obedience to God's word. It serves as a model for believers to seek and heed God's guidance in their lives.

in the Tent of Meeting
The "Tent of Meeting" (אֹהֶל מוֹעֵד, ohel mo'ed) was the sacred space where God met with Moses and the Israelites. It symbolizes God's desire to dwell among His people and be accessible to them. The Tent of Meeting is a precursor to the Tabernacle and later the Temple, and ultimately points to Jesus Christ, who "tabernacled" among us (John 1:14). It encourages believers to cultivate a personal and communal relationship with God.

in the Wilderness of Sinai
The "Wilderness of Sinai" is both a geographical and spiritual setting. Geographically, it is a rugged, desolate area, emphasizing the Israelites' dependence on God for survival. Spiritually, the wilderness is a place of testing, revelation, and transformation. It is where the Israelites received the Law and learned to trust in God's provision. For believers, the wilderness represents times of trial and growth, where faith is refined and deepened.

(1) In the tabernacle of the congregation.--The tabernacle of the congregation, or tent of meeting, so called because it was there that God met with Moses (Numbers 17:4; Exodus 25:22), had been set up one month previously (Exodus 40:17), nearly a year after the exodus.

Verse 1. - In the tabernacle of the congregation - where the Lord spake with Moses "face to face" (Exodus 33:11), and where all the laws of Leviticus had been given (Leviticus 1:1). On the first day of the second month, in the second year. On the first day of Zif (or Ijar); a year and a fortnight since the exodus, ten months and a half since their arrival at Sinai, and a month since the tabernacle had been set up.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
On the first
בְּאֶחָד֩ (bə·’e·ḥāḏ)
Preposition-b | Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

day of the second
הַשֵּׁנִ֜י (haš·šê·nî)
Article | Number - ordinal masculine singular
Strong's 8145: Second (an ordinal number)

month
לַחֹ֨דֶשׁ (la·ḥō·ḏeš)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2320: The new moon, a month

of the second
הַשֵּׁנִ֗ית (haš·šê·nîṯ)
Article | Number - ordinal feminine singular
Strong's 8145: Second (an ordinal number)

year
בַּשָּׁנָ֣ה (baš·šā·nāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8141: A year

after [the Israelites] had come out
לְצֵאתָ֛ם (lə·ṣê·ṯām)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

of the land
מֵאֶ֥רֶץ (mê·’e·reṣ)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 776: Earth, land

of Egypt,
מִצְרַ֖יִם (miṣ·ra·yim)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4714: Egypt -- a son of Ham, also his descendants and their country in Northwest Africa

the LORD
יְהוָ֧ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

spoke
וַיְדַבֵּ֨ר (way·ḏab·bêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1696: To arrange, to speak, to subdue

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Moses
מֹשֶׁ֛ה (mō·šeh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 4872: Moses -- a great Israelite leader, prophet and lawgiver

in the Tent
בְּאֹ֣הֶל (bə·’ō·hel)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 168: A tent

of Meeting
מוֹעֵ֑ד (mō·w·‘êḏ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4150: Appointed time, place, or meeting

in the Wilderness
בְּמִדְבַּ֥ר (bə·miḏ·bar)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4057: A pasture, a desert, speech

of Sinai.
סִינַ֖י (sî·nay)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 5514: Sinai -- the mountain where the law was given

He told him,
לֵאמֹֽר׃ (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say


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OT Law: Numbers 1:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness (Nu Num.)
Leviticus 27:34
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