Peace of Christ!
As some of you already know, I am a statistician.
One fine day, while studying a little biblical history and trivia, I discovered six occasions when censuses relating to the Jewish people were conducted!
Do you not know what a census is?
"A census or demographic enumeration is a statistical study of a population that allows various kinds of information to be collected, such as the number of men, women, children, and elderly people; where and how people live; their occupations; and other things." Source: Wikipedia
The six passages follow below:
1 - In the fourth month after the Exodus, when the people were camped at the foot of Sinai. The number of men over twenty years old was 603,550.
"Six grams for each of those counted, six hundred and three thousand, five hundred and fifty men aged twenty years and older." Exodus 38:26
2 - Another census was conducted just before entering Canaan, when the number found was 601,730, a slight decrease.
"The total number of the men of Israel was 601,730. Numbers 26:51" Numbers 26:51
3 - The next census was in King David's time, when the number, exclusively from the tribes of Levi and Benjamin, was 1,300,000.
"Then Joab presented the king with the report of the census of the people; in Israel there were eight hundred thousand men qualified for military service, and in Judah, five hundred thousand." 2 Samuel 24:9
4 - Solomon conducted a census of the foreigners in his territory and found 153,600 workers without disabilities.
Solomon conducted a census of all the foreigners living in Israel, like the one his father David had conducted; they were found to number one hundred and fifty-three thousand, six hundred.
He appointed seventy thousand of them as carriers and eighty thousand as stonecutters in the hills, with three thousand six hundred overseers to keep the people working.2 Chronicles 2:17-18
"Solomon conducted a census of all the foreigners living in Israel, like the one his father David had conducted; they were found to number one hundred and fifty-three thousand, six hundred. He appointed seventy thousand of them as carriers and eighty thousand as stonecutters in the hills, with three thousand six hundred overseers to keep the people working." 2 Chronicles 2:17-18
5 - After returning from Exile, the entire congregation of Israel was counted, and the number found was 42,360 men.
"The total number of those who returned from exile reached 42,360 men, besides their 7,337 male and female servants; among them were 200 male and female singers." Ezra 2:64-65
6 - A census was conducted by the Roman government in Jesus' time.
"In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree ordering a census of the entire Roman Empire." Luke 2:1
For more information (in English), Bible Hub.
May God bless you!
Wishing you success!
João Victor Dias