Need Help With a Question

[oldhermit]

I have a challenge for all you mathematicians out there.

I have been doing some research in Exodus and Numbers, and in Numbers 33:49 it says that Israel "camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab." The distance from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim is said to be 12 miles. I am curious as to how many square miles would be required to accommodate a camp of some 3,000,000,000 people plus all the livestock they had with them. Bear in mind that the camp of the Israelites its self was laid out in a square. The mixed multitude that was with them was on outside of the camp parameter and would have always brought up the rear which in this camp meant they would have been camped to the south of the encampment. Beyond that would have been the livestock. If you are able to help with this I would appreciate it.

 

[dcontroversal]

Is that 3 billion or 3 million? There were 600,000 men over 20 that could fight, not including old, young and women....did you mean 3 million?

 

[dcontroversal]

I have heard that if you placed the current population shoulder to shoulder and packed that the whole state of Florida could hold all of humanity.....

 

[oldhermit]

Is that 3 billion or 3 million? There were 600,000 men over 20 that could fight, not including old, young and women....did you mean 3 million?

I'm sorry. That is supposed to be 3 million. Guess I got carried away with the zeros, LOL.

 

[Adstar]

I have a challenge for all you mathematicians out there.

I have been doing some research in Exodus and Numbers, and in Numbers 33:49 it says that Israel "camped by the Jordan, from Beth-jeshimoth as far as Abel-shittim in the plains of Moab." The distance from Beth-jeshimoth to Abel-shittim is said to be 12 miles. I am curious as to how many square miles would be required to accommodate a camp of some 3,000,000,000 people plus all the livestock they had with them. Bear in mind that the camp of the Israelites its self was laid out in a square. The mixed multitude that was with them was on outside of the camp parameter and would have always brought up the rear which in this camp meant they would have been camped to the south of the encampment. Beyond that would have been the livestock. If you are able to help with this I would appreciate it.

3 billion people??? i doubt it.. And they camped in squares for each tribe.. The actual overall shape of the enchampment was that of a cross..

I do not like chuck missler but this video of his explains the hebrews camping arrangment..

 

[dcontroversal]

generic math....let's see....there is 43,560 square feet in an acre....and 640 acres in a square mile....so that is 27,878,400 square feet in a mile....

27,878,400 divided by say a 10x10 tent and walk ways of say 3 feet so 13x13 =169 square feet....

27,878,400 divided by 169 = 164,960 10 by 10 tents with a three feet walk way around each tent per square mile.......NOT saying that is what they had, just to grasp an idea of what could go in a square mile......and say 4 to 8 per tent = 679,960 to 1,640,960 people could live in a square mile albeit crammed in.....and it seems that herds would be scattered out to feed etc.....

Dhaka has a population density of almost 120,000 per square mile and Atlanta has 1800 per square mile.....just for comparison....

 

[dcontroversal]

I'm sorry. That is supposed to be 3 million. Guess I got carried away with the zeros, LOL.

HAHAH I figured.......we all like more zeros HAHAHAH

 

[trofimus]

"And they encamped by Jordan between Aesimoth, as far as Belsa to the west of Moab."
Nu 33:49

Its practically impossible that they would be about 3 million people.

The population of Egypt was about 2 millions. Whole the Egypt had 600 chariots and Israel feared them. Its not realistic to think that Israel was 3 million of people.

Israelites leaving Egypt were about 6,000 people. Thats why we cannot find any archeological evidence of any serious population decimation of Egypt or of any massive migration in the desert.

http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/articles_exodus.html

 

[oldhermit]

generic math....let's see....there is 43,560 square feet in an acre....and 640 acres in a square mile....so that is 27,878,400 square feet in a mile....

27,878,400 divided by say a 10x10 tent and walk ways of say 3 feet so 13x13 =169 square feet....

27,878,400 divided by 169 = 164,960 10 by 10 tents with a three feet walk way around each tent per square mile.......NOT saying that is what they had, just to grasp an idea of what could go in a square mile......and say 4 to 8 per tent = 679,960 to 1,640,960 people could live in a square mile albeit crammed in.....and it seems that herds would be scattered out to feed etc.....

Dhaka has a population density of almost 120,000 per square mile and Atlanta has 1800 per square mile.....just for comparison....

Well, 12 miles squared would be 144 square miles, would it not? I would imagine that the camp would have been more spread out. there would have been no reason for camping all crammed together. Remember, they also carried with them carts as well as all the booty from Egypt. They had to have room to more around easily within the camp. I really doubt that it would require 144 squire miles to accommodate such a camp. If we are looking at a population of three million people plus their livestock, I would think probably an are of about 100 square miles.

 

[dcontroversal]

Well, 12 miles squared would be 144 square miles, would it not? I would imagine that the camp would have been more spread out. there would have been no reason for camping all crammed together. Remember, they also carried with them carts as well as all the booty from Egypt. They had to have room to more around easily within the camp. I really doubt that it would require 144 squire miles to accommodate such a camp. If we are looking at a population of three million people plus their livestock, I would think probably an are of about 100 square miles.

Oh I agree....was just using the above for informational purposes to show that in a much larger area, such as 144 square miles, that there would have been ample room for the children of Israel.....

 

[dcontroversal]

"And they encamped by Jordan between Aesimoth, as far as Belsa to the west of Moab."
Nu 33:49

Its practically impossible that they would be about 3 million people.

The population of Egypt was about 2 millions. Whole the Egypt had 600 chariots and Israel feared them. Its not realistic to think that Israel was 3 million of people.

Israelites leaving Egypt were about 6,000 people. Thats why we cannot find any archeological evidence of any serious population decimation of Egypt or of any massive migration in the desert.

http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/articles_exodus.html

NO...it is not impossible and more than likely probable.....there were 600,000 men over 20 who could fight not to mention all the kids under 20, the elderly and the women....3,000,000 is well within the realm of possible.....

Show us the census that shows Egypt only had 2 million....some people on here live to argue moot points......!

 

[oldhermit]

Chapter two tells us how the camp was to be arranged.

“Now the Lord spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying. ‘The sons of Israel shall camp, each by his own standard, with the banners of their fathers’ households; they shall camp around the tent of meeting at a distance.’” 1-2. “At a distance” can, I think, be generalized at about three-quarters of a mile. This seems to be more clearly defined in Joshua 3:4, “However, there shall be between you and it a distance of about 2,000 cubits by measure (Which is about 1000 yards). Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you shall go, for you have not passed this way before.”

A. East of the tabernacle, and beyond the camps of Moses, Aaron, and Aaron’s sons were Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun. The site immediately east of the tabernacle, was reserved for Moses and the high priest and his family. “Now those who were to camp before the tabernacle eastward, before the tent of meeting toward the sunrise, are Moses and Aaron and his sons, performing the duties of the sanctuary for the obligation of the sons of Israel.” 2:37
B. South of the tabernacle, and beyond the camps of the Levites, were Ruben, Simeon, and Gad.
C. West of the tabernacle, and beyond the camps of the Levites, were Ephraim, Manasseh, and Benjamin.
D. North of the tabernacle, and beyond the camps of the Levites, were Dan, Asher, and Naphtali

 

[trofimus]

NO...it is not impossible and more than likely probable.....there were 600,000 men over 20 who could fight not to mention all the kids under 20, the elderly and the women....3,000,000 is well within the realm of possible.....

Show us the census that shows Egypt only had 2 million....some people on here live to argue moot points......!

Have you read the article?

http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/articles_exodus.html

 

[oldhermit]

NO...it is not impossible and more than likely probable.....there were 600,000 men over 20 who could fight not to mention all the kids under 20, the elderly and the women....3,000,000 is well within the realm of possible.....

Show us the census that shows Egypt only had 2 million....some people on here live to argue moot points......!

There is also the factor of the "very great multitude" whose number is not specified that came out of Egypt with the Israelites.

 

[dcontroversal]

Have you read the article?

http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/articles_exodus.html

I could care less....the bible is clear and if there were 600,000 men of war over 20 it stands to reason that there were 2 to 3 million people who left in the Exodus.....end of story.....either the bible is valid and true or we should all set it next to the toilet in case we run out of paper!!

 

[dcontroversal]

There is also the factor of the "very great multitude" whose number is not specified that came out of Egypt with the Israelites.

I agree.....I will go with the bible over an article.....

 

[Dino246]

The math is easier in metric... one metre is 3.28 feet. One square meter per person, one million people per square kilometer (0.62 Km to the mile), three million people in three square kilometres, or about 1.3 square miles. Obviously, that's packed fairly tightly, but within the range of plausible.

 

[oldhermit]

NO...it is not impossible and more than likely probable.....there were 600,000 men over 20 who could fight not to mention all the kids under 20, the elderly and the women....3,000,000 is well within the realm of possible.....

Show us the census that shows Egypt only had 2 million....some people on here live to argue moot points......!

Even if Egypt did only have a population of only 2,000,000, Exodus 1:7-9 tells us, 7"But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them. 8Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we."
So, if the Israelites outnumbered the Egyptians, then they were more that 2 million. Plus, there was the unnumbered "very great multitude."

 

[dcontroversal]

Even if Egypt did only have a population of only 2,000,000, Exodus 1:7-9 tells us, 7"But the sons of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly, and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty, so that the land was filled with them. 8Now a new king arose over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. 9He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the sons of Israel are more and mightier than we."
So, if the Israelites outnumbered the Egyptians, then they were more that 2 million. Plus, there was the unnumbered "very great multitude."

I thought of that one as well. but no sense in arguing with a fence post....hah

 

[Chester]

Have you read the article?

http://www.ancient-hebrew.org/articles_exodus.html

LOL! Reading the Bible is more important!