God commands Moses and Aaron to number the people that were fit for war, Num_1:1-3. Twelve captains chose, of every tribe one; their names; the number of each tribe, Num_1:4-16, The Levites exempt; to take care of the tabernacle; the other tribes camping round it, Num_1:47-54.
They now had been in the wilderness a full year, or near it, as may be gathered by comparing this place with Exo_19:1 40:17, and other places.