Numbers 3:40 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Number all the firstborn males of the Israelites from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names. 3:41 And take the Levites for me—I am the LORD—instead of all the firstborn males among the Israelites, and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn of the livestock of the Israelites.” 3:42 So Moses numbered all the firstborn males among the Israelites, as the LORD had commanded him. 3:43 And all the firstborn males, by the number of the names from a month old and upward, totaled 22,273.

If this was the number of firstborn males among a population of 603,550 males (Num 1:46; Ex 38:26), then each firstborn had an average of 26 brothers.  Such a birthrate is not evidenced in the Bible or elsewhere in ancient history.

(a) Some think the number is hyperbolic, with the actual number inflated by a factor of ten.  But it is difficult to see why in a census, of all things, no attempt would be made to record the actual number.

(b) Others think that the number of 22,273 represents only those born during the 18 months between the exodus and the census.  But this is mere conjecture.

James Bejon argues that this figure is plausible, bearing in mind:

(a) ‘The exodus narrative is predicated on extraordinary population growth.’  Ex 1:9.

(b) ‘Prior to the exodus, the male-to-female ratio in Israel would have been abnormally low.’  This depends on the extent to which Pharaoh’s edict (80 years before the exodus) to drown the Israelites’ newborn boys was carried out, and for how long.  Each man could have married multiple wives, but only one of their sons would have been firstborn.

(c) ‘Many of the Israelites’ firstborn sons could have been slain on the night of the Passover.’  Bearing in mind the Israelites’ poor record of faithfulness to the Lord.