ראשוןRishon
G-d commands Moses to count all Israelite men of military age and appoints a leader from each tribe to assist with the census. The census also establishes the tribal lineage of the Israelites.
שניSheni
The Torah gives the census totals for each tribe, totaling 603,550 men, excluding the Levites. The Levites are assigned to dismantle, carry, and reassemble the Tabernacle and to guard it and its vessels.
שלישיShlishi
The Torah describes how the Israelites are to camp around the Tabernacle. Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun camp to the east; Reuben, Simeon, and Gad to the south; Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin to the west; and Dan, Asher, and Naphtali to the north.
רביעיRevi'i
The Levites are appointed to serve in the Tabernacle and assist the Kohanim. Their service replaces the firstborn Israelites, whose special status had been given to them after the Exodus.
חמישיChamishi
Moses counts all Levite males from one month old and up and records the three Levite families. Gershon carries the curtains and coverings, Kehot carries the holy vessels, and Merari carries the beams, panels, and sockets.
שישיShishi
G-d commands Moses to count the Israelite firstborn and transfer their sacred status to the Levites. Since there are 273 more firstborn than Levites, each extra firstborn is redeemed by paying five shekels to the Kohanim.
שביעיShvi'i
Moses is commanded to count the men of the Kehot family between thirty and fifty who are eligible to transport the Tabernacle’s vessels. Before they carry them, the Kohanim cover each sacred vessel with its designated coverings.