Numbers 26

Census of a New Generation

1 Then it came about after the ¹plague, that the LORD spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,

2 "²Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers' households, whoever is able to go out to war in Israel."

3 So Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them ³in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,

4 "Take a census of the people from twenty years old and upward, as the LORD has commanded Moses." Now the sons of Israel who came out of the land of Egypt were:

5 Reuben, Israel's firstborn, the sons of Reuben: of Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites;

6 of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.

7 These are the families of the Reubenites, and those who were numbered of them were 43,730 * * * * *.

8 The son of Pallu: Eliab.

9 The sons of Eliab: Nemuel and Dathan and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram who were ⁴called by the congregation, who contended against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the LORD,

10 and ⁵the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up along with Korah, when that company died, ⁶when the fire devoured 250 * men, so that they became a warning.

11 ⁷The sons of Korah, however, did not die.

12 The sons of Simeon according to their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites;

13 of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites; of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.

14 These are the families of the Simeonites, 22,200 * * *.

15 The sons of Gad according to their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the family of the Haggites; of Shuni, the family of the Shunites;

16 of Ozni, the family of the Oznites; of Eri, the family of the Erites;

17 of Arod, the family of the Arodites; of Areli, the family of the Arelites.

18 These are the families of the sons of Gad according to those who were numbered of them, 40,500 * * *.

19 The ⁸sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

20 The ⁹sons of Judah according to their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites.

21 The sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.

22 These are the families of Judah according to those who were numbered of them, 76,500 * * * *.

23 The ¹⁰sons of Issachar according to their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the family of the Punites;

24 of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.

25 These are the families of Issachar according to those who were numbered of them, 64,300 * * * *.

26 The ¹¹sons of Zebulun according to their families: of Sered, the family of the Seredites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.

27 These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those who were numbered of them, 60,500 * * *.

28 The ¹²sons of Joseph according to their families: Manasseh and Ephraim.

29 The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and ¹³Machir became the father of Gilead: of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites.

30 These are the sons of Gilead: of Iezer, the family of the ¹⁴Iezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites;

31 and of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites;

32 and of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.

33 Now Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but only daughters; and ¹⁵the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah and Tirzah.

34 These are the families of Manasseh; and those who were numbered of them were 52,700 * * * *.

35 These are the sons of Ephraim according to their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites; of Becher, the family of the Becherites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.

36 These are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.

37 These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those who were numbered of them, 32,500 * * * *. These are the sons of Joseph according to their families.

38 The sons of Benjamin according to their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites;

39 of Shephupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.

40 The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites; of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.

41 These are the sons of Benjamin according to their families; and those who were numbered of them were 45,600 * * *.

42 These are the sons of Dan according to their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan according to their families.

43 All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those who were numbered of them, were 64,400 * * * *.

44 The ¹⁶sons of Asher according to their families: of Imnah, the family of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the family of the Beriites.

45 Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.

46 The name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.

47 These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those who were numbered of them, 53,400 * * * *.

48 The ¹⁷sons of Naphtali according to their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites;

49 of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of ¹⁸Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.

50 These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those who were numbered of them were 45,400 * * * *.

51 These are those who were numbered of the sons of Israel, 601,730 * * * * * *.

52 Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying,

53 "Among these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.

54 "¹⁹To the larger group you shall increase their inheritance, and to the smaller group you shall diminish their inheritance; each shall be given their inheritance according to those who were numbered of them.

55 "But the land shall be ²⁰divided by lot. They shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.

56 "According * to the selection by lot, their inheritance shall be divided between the larger and the smaller groups."

57 ²¹These are those who were numbered of the Levites according to their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites.

58 These are the families of Levi: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korahites. ²²Kohath became the father of Amram.

59 The name of Amram's wife ²³was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and she bore to Amram: Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam.

60 ²⁴To Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

61 ²⁵But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the LORD.

62 Those who were numbered of them were ²⁶ 23,000 * *, every male from a month old and upward, for ²⁷ they were not numbered among the sons of Israel ²⁸ since no inheritance was given to them among the sons of Israel.

63 These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the sons of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.

64 ²⁹But among these there was not a man of those who were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest, who numbered the sons of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.

65 For the LORD had said of them, "³⁰They shall surely die in the wilderness." And not a man was left of them, ³¹except * Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.

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Numbers 26 Commentary

Chapter 26

Numbering of Israel in the plains of Moab. (1-51) The division of the land. (52-56) Number of the Levites. (57-62) None remaining of the first numbering. (63-65)

Verses 1-51 Moses did not number the people but when God commanded him. We have here the families registered, as well as the tribes. The total was nearly the same as when numbered at mount Sinai. Notice is here taken of the children of Korah; they died not, as the children of Dathan and Abiram; they seem not to have joined even their own father in rebellion. If we partake not of the sins of sinners, we shall not partake of their plagues.

Verses 52-56 In distributing these tribes, the general rule of equity is prescribed; that to many should be given more, and to fewer less. Though it seems left to the prudence of their prince, the matter at last must be settled by the providence of God, with which all must be satisfied.

Verses 57-62 Levi was God's tribe; therefore it was not numbered with the rest, but alone. It came not under the sentence, that none of them should enter Canaan excepting Caleb and Joshua.

Verses 63-65 The execution of the sentence passed on the murmurers, chap. 14:29 , is observable. There was not one man numbered now, who was numbered then, but Caleb and Joshua. Here appeared the righteousness of God, and his faithfulness to his threatenings. Especially observe the truth of God, in performing his promise to Caleb and Joshua. Death makes awful havoc of the human species, and causes surprising changes in families and nations; yet all is appointed in perfect wisdom, justice, and truth, by the Lord himself. This should stir us up to think upon the hateful nature of sin, the cause of all these devastations. We should renew our repentance, seek forgiveness, value the salvation of Christ, remember how frail we are, prepare for the summons of death, and fill up our days in serving our generation according to the will of God.

Taken from Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Concise)

Cross References 44

1. Numbers 25:9
2. Exodus 30:11-16; Exodus 38:25, 26; Numbers 1:2
3. Numbers 22:1; Numbers 33:48; Numbers 35:1
4. Numbers 1:21
5. Numbers 1:16; Numbers 16:2
6. Numbers 16:32
7. Numbers 16:35, 38
8. Numbers 16:27, 33; Deuteronomy 24:16
9. Numbers 1:23
10. Numbers 1:25
11. Genesis 38:2; Genesis 46:12
12. Genesis 49:8; 1 Chronicles 2:3; Revelation 7:5
13. Numbers 1:27
14. Genesis 46:13; 1 Chronicles 7:1
15. Numbers 1:29
16. Genesis 46:14
17. Numbers 1:31
18. Genesis 46:20; Deuteronomy 33:16
19. Joshua 17:1; 1 Chronicles 7:14
20. Judg 6:11, 24, 34
21. Numbers 27:1
22. Numbers 1:35
23. Numbers 1:33
24. Numbers 1:37
25. Numbers 1:39
26. Genesis 46:17; 1 Chronicles 7:30
27. Numbers 1:41
28. Genesis 46:24; 1 Chronicles 7:13
29. 1 Chronicles 7:13
30. Numbers 1:43
31. Exodus 12:37; Exodus 38:26; Numbers 1:46; Numbers 11:21
32. Numbers 33:54
33. Numbers 33:54; Numbers 34:13
34. Genesis 46:11; Exodus 6:16; 1 Chronicles 6:1, 16
35. Exodus 6:20
36. Exodus 2:1, 2; Exodus 6:20
37. Numbers 3:2
38. Leviticus 10:1, 2; Numbers 3:4
39. Numbers 3:39
40. Numbers 1:47
41. Numbers 18:23, 24
42. Numbers 14:29-35; Deuteronomy 2:14-16; Hebrews 3:17
43. Numbers 14:26-35; Psalms 90:3-10; 1 Corinthians 10:5
44. Deuteronomy 1:36; Joshua 14:6-10

Footnotes 24

[a]. Ch 25:19 in Heb
[b]. Ch 26:1 in Heb
[c]. Lit "sum"
[d]. Lit "sign"
[e]. In Gen 46:10 and Ex 6:15, "Jemuel"
[f]. In 1 Chr 4:24, "Jarib"
[g]. In Gen 46:10, "Zohar"
[h]. In Gen 46:16, "Ziphion"
[i]. In Gen 46:16, "Ezbon"
[j]. In Gen 46:16, "Arodi"
[k]. In Gen 46:13, "Puvvah;" in 1 Chr 7:1, "Puah"
[l]. In Gen 46:13, "Iob"
[m]. Lit "begot"
[n]. In Josh 17:2, "Abiezer"
[o]. In 1 Chr 7:20, "Bered"
[p]. In Gen 46:21, "Ehi;" in 1 Chr 8:1, "Aharah"
[q]. In Gen 46:21, "Muppim;" in 1 Chr 7:12, "Shuppim"
[r]. In Gen 46:21, "Muppim" and "Huppim"
[s]. In 1 Chr 8:3, "Addar"
[t]. In Gen 46:23, "Hushim"
[u]. Lit "To"
[v]. Lit "inherit according to"
[w]. Lit "begot"
[x]. Or "to"

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO NUMBERS 26

In this chapter an order is given to number the people of Israel a second time, Nu 26:1-4 and the account begins with Reuben, the firstborn, and the families that sprung from him, and the number of them, Nu 26:5-7 and Dathan and Abiram being of this tribe, the affair of them and Korah is afresh related, Nu 26:8-11, then the tribe of Simeon, its families and number, Nu 26:12-14, next the tribe of Gad, and their families and number, Nu 26:15-18, after that the tribe of Judah, its families and number, Nu 26:19-22 then follows the tribe of Issachar, its families and number, Nu 26:23-25, next to that the tribe of Zebulun, its families and number, Nu 26:26,27 then the sons of Joseph, and first Manasseh, his families and number, Nu 26:28-34 and then the tribe of Ephraim, its families and number, Nu 26:35-37, after that the tribe of Benjamin, its families and number, Nu 26:38-41 next the tribe of Dan, its families and number, Nu 26:42,43 and which is followed by the tribe of Asher, its families and number, Nu 26:44-47, and the muster is closed with the tribe of Naphtali, its families and number, Nu 26:48-50, and the sum total of all the numbers is given, Nu 26:51 and then follows another order to divide the land of Canaan by lot, when conquered, to the several tribes, according to their names and number, Nu 26:52-56 and an account is given of the number of the Levites and their families, their number being taken not with the other tribes, but by themselves, and which is summed up, Nu 26:57-62 and the chapter is concluded with observing, that it appeared upon this numbering of the people, that there were but two persons living of those that were first numbered among the children of Israel, Nu 26:63-65.