book of numbers

I'm looking for any in-depth defense of the accuracy of the numbers recounted in the book of Numbers at face value? I understand that some have taken "eleph" to be referring to clans, which would reduce the estimated 2 million Israelites (from the face value) to around 5,000, though this...

Note: I have learned that there will be little interest in the obscure questions I sometimes ask but here goes anyway. I hope someone will be able to help me out. ============= Numbers 4:1-4; verse 3 states, "from thirty years old up to fifty years old, all who can come on duty, to do the work...