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I have done some digging and I cannot seem to find anywhere where people try to explain this apparent discrepancy.

Numbers 1 says the total number of Israelites were 603,550. However, if you add up the numbers listed for the 12 tribes yourself, the total comes to 563,050. This is 40,500 less than the total given in the text.

Reuben - 46500 Simeon - 59300 Gad - 45650 Judah - 74600 Issachar - 54400 Zebulun - 57400 Joseph Ephraim - 40500 Manasseh - 32200 Benjamin - 35400 Dan - 62700 Asher - 41500 Naphtali - 53400 Real total: 563050

Why is there a difference between the real total and what the text gives as the total? Are the remaining 40500 the tribe of Levi? Or are they proselytes? Is there any way of knowing for sure?

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    How sure are you of your arithmetic here?
    – Joel K
    Dec 25, 2019 at 18:40
  • I added up the numbers as you give for each tribe and the total is 603550. You forgot to add in Ephraim.
    – sabbahillel
    Dec 26, 2019 at 0:39
  • Shouldn't this question deleted for being factually wrong?
    – Kazi bácsi
    Dec 26, 2019 at 16:26
  • @Kazibácsi Why is that a delete reason?
    – DonielF
    Dec 26, 2019 at 17:15
  • @DonielF If someone can't add up a few numbers that should rather go to Maths SE, therefore it's off topic.
    – Kazi bácsi
    Dec 26, 2019 at 17:32

1 Answer 1

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I think you made a calculation error here, because when I add them up I get 603,550 as the passuk says. Note that 40,500 is exactly the number of people in Shevet Ephraim; did you forget to count them in tallying up these numbers?

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