Numbers 26NIV
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Numbers26

New International Version

1After the plague the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest,

2“Take a census of the whole Israelite community by families—all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army of Israel.”

3So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them and said,

4“Take a census of the men twenty years old or more, as the Lord commanded Moses.” These were the Israelites who came out of Egypt:

5The descendants of Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel, were: through Hanok, the Hanokite clan; through Pallu, the Palluite clan;

6through Hezron, the Hezronite clan; through Karmi, the Karmite clan.

7These were the clans of Reuben; those numbered were 43,730.

8The son of Pallu was Eliab,

9and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. The same Dathan and Abiram were the community officials who rebelled against Moses and Aaron and were among Korah’s followers when they rebelled against the Lord.

10The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire devoured the 250 men. And they served as a warning sign.

11The line of Korah, however, did not die out.

12The descendants of Simeon by their clans were: through Nemuel, the Nemuelite clan; through Jamin, the Jaminite clan; through Jakin, the Jakinite clan;

13through Zerah, the Zerahite clan; through Shaul, the Shaulite clan.

14These were the clans of Simeon; those numbered were 22,200.

15The descendants of Gad by their clans were: through Zephon, the Zephonite clan; through Haggi, the Haggite clan; through Shuni, the Shunite clan;

16through Ozni, the Oznite clan; through Eri, the Erite clan;

17through Arodi, the Arodite clan; through Areli, the Arelite clan.

18These were the clans of Gad; those numbered were 40,500.

19Er and Onan were sons of Judah, but they died in Canaan.

20The descendants of Judah by their clans were: through Shelah, the Shelanite clan; through Perez, the Perezite clan; through Zerah, the Zerahite clan.

21The descendants of Perez were: through Hezron, the Hezronite clan; through Hamul, the Hamulite clan.

22These were the clans of Judah; those numbered were 76,500.

23The descendants of Issachar by their clans were: through Tola, the Tolaite clan; through Puah, the Puite clan;

24through Jashub, the Jashubite clan; through Shimron, the Shimronite clan.

25These were the clans of Issachar; those numbered were 64,300.

26The descendants of Zebulun by their clans were: through Sered, the Seredite clan; through Elon, the Elonite clan; through Jahleel, the Jahleelite clan.

27These were the clans of Zebulun; those numbered were 60,500.

28The descendants of Joseph by their clans through Manasseh and Ephraim were:

29The descendants of Manasseh: through Makir, the Makirite clan (Makir was the father of Gilead); through Gilead, the Gileadite clan.

30These were the descendants of Gilead: through Iezer, the Iezerite clan; through Helek, the Helekite clan;

31through Asriel, the Asrielite clan; through Shechem, the Shechemite clan;

32through Shemida, the Shemidaite clan; through Hepher, the Hepherite clan.

33(Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons; he had only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah.)

34These were the clans of Manasseh; those numbered were 52,700.

35These were the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: through Shuthelah, the Shuthelahite clan; through Beker, the Bekerite clan; through Tahan, the Tahanite clan.

36These were the descendants of Shuthelah: through Eran, the Eranite clan.

37These were the clans of Ephraim; those numbered were 32,500. These were the descendants of Joseph by their clans.

38The descendants of Benjamin by their clans were: through Bela, the Belaite clan; through Ashbel, the Ashbelite clan; through Ahiram, the Ahiramite clan;

39through Shupham, the Shuphamite clan; through Hupham, the Huphamite clan.

40The descendants of Bela through Ard and Naaman were: through Ard, the Ardite clan; through Naaman, the Naamite clan.

41These were the clans of Benjamin; those numbered were 45,600.

42These were the descendants of Dan by their clans: through Shuham, the Shuhamite clan. These were the clans of Dan:

43All of them were Shuhamite clans; and those numbered were 64,400.

44The descendants of Asher by their clans were: through Imnah, the Imnite clan; through Ishvi, the Ishvite clan; through Beriah, the Beriite clan;

45and through the descendants of Beriah: through Heber, the Heberite clan; through Malkiel, the Malkielite clan.

46(Asher had a daughter named Serah.)

47These were the clans of Asher; those numbered were 53,400.

48The descendants of Naphtali by their clans were: through Jahzeel, the Jahzeelite clan; through Guni, the Gunite clan;

49through Jezer, the Jezerite clan; through Shillem, the Shillemite clan.

50These were the clans of Naphtali; those numbered were 45,400.

51The total number of the men of Israel was 601,730.

52The Lord said to Moses,

53“The land is to be allotted to them as an inheritance based on the number of names.

54To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those listed.

55Be sure that the land is distributed by lot. What each group inherits will be according to the names for its ancestral tribe.

56Each inheritance is to be distributed by lot among the larger and smaller groups.”

57These were the Levites who were counted by their clans: through Gershon, the Gershonite clan; through Kohath, the Kohathite clan; through Merari, the Merarite clan.

58These also were Levite clans: the Libnite clan, the Hebronite clan, the Mahlite clan, the Mushite clan, the Korahite clan. (Kohath was the forefather of Amram;

59the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, a descendant of Levi, who was born to the Levites in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses and their sister Miriam.

60Aaron was the father of Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.

61But Nadab and Abihu died when they made an offering before the Lord with unauthorized fire.)

62All the male Levites a month old or more numbered 23,000. They were not counted along with the other Israelites because they received no inheritance among them.

63These are the ones counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.

64Not one of them was among those counted by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai.

65For the Lord had told those Israelites they would surely die in the wilderness, and not one of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Numbers 26.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: 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).

vv1-51

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. (Nu 26:52-56)

vv52-56

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.

vv57-62

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.

Cross References

Numbers 26
v10Numbers 16:31-35thematic

Details the literal opening of the earth and the fire consuming the 250 men.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v33Numbers 27:1thematic

Direct sequel where the daughters of Zelophehad petition Moses for their inheritance.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v64Numbers 14:29fulfillment

Direct fulfillment of God's threat that the Sinai generation would fall in the wilderness.

Supported by Matthew Henry, Matthew Poole

v1Numbers 25:9thematic

Refers to the immediate historical trigger of the new census, 'the plague' which swept away many.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v10Psalms 106:17thematic

Poetic historical remembrance of the earth opening to swallow Dathan and Abiram.

Supported by JFB

v11Numbers 16:32thematic

Clarifies that while Korah's house was swallowed, his actual children did not die.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v33Joshua 17:3thematic

Fulfillment of Zelophehad's daughters receiving their inheritance in the division of Canaan.

Supported by JFB

v54Numbers 33:54thematic

Restates the divine mandate to distribute the land proportionally to the size of each tribe.

v55Proverbs 16:33thematic

Confirms that the division of land by lot was ultimately directed and determined by the Lord.

Supported by JFB

v65Numbers 14:30fulfillment

Explicit fulfillment of the divine oath that only Caleb and Joshua would enter the land.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v2Numbers 1:2contrast

Points to the first census at Sinai 38 years prior, showing population shifts.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v3Numbers 33:48thematic

Confirms the exact geographical location of this census in the plains of Moab.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v9Numbers 27:3thematic

References the rebellion of Korah's company in the context of inheritance rights.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v28Genesis 46:20thematic

Traces the lineage of Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, back to Genesis.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v28Genesis 48:16thematic

Jacob's blessing on Joseph's sons, predicting their great numerical growth.

Supported by JFB

Parallels the genealogy of Manasseh, Machir, and Gilead in the Chronicles registry.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v38Genesis 46:21thematic

Allows comparison of Benjamin's descendants listed here with the original list in Egypt.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v51Numbers 1:46contrast

Compares the final total of the second census with the initial census at Mount Sinai.

Supported by JFB, Matthew Poole

v57Exodus 6:16-19thematic

Provides the structural baseline for the Levitical families numbered here in the plains of Moab.

Supported by JFB

v59Exodus 6:20thematic

Corroborates the parentage of Aaron, Moses, and Miriam from Amram and Jochebed.

v61Leviticus 10:1thematic

The original account of Nadab and Abihu offering unauthorized fire before the Lord.

v61Leviticus 10:2thematic

The divine judgment of fire that consumed Nadab and Abihu for their transgression.

v62Numbers 3:39thematic

Provides the earlier Levite census count, showing an increase of one thousand males.

Supported by JFB

New Testament warning highlighting how the rebellious generation was overthrown in the wilderness.

v65Hebrews 3:17thematic

Asks with whom God was angry for forty years, identifying those whose bodies fell.

v65Numbers 14:38fulfillment

Confirms that Joshua and Caleb survived the plague and the wilderness journey.

v10Numbers 16:35thematic

Verifies that the fire devoured the 250 men who offered incense.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v11Psalms 42:1thematic

The sons of Korah survived to write and lead classic temple worship liturgy.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v19Genesis 38:1-10thematic

Explains the historical background of why Judah's sons Er and Onan died in Canaan.

Supported by JFB

v211 Chronicles 2:5thematic

Confirms the sons of Pharez as Hezron and Hamul in Judah's genealogy.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v23Genesis 46:13thematic

Traces Issachar's families back to the names of his sons who entered Egypt.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v26Genesis 46:14thematic

Traces Zebulun's families back to Sered, Elon, and Jahleel in Genesis.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v29Joshua 17:1thematic

Confirms Machir as the firstborn of Manasseh and father of Gilead in partition.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v41Genesis 46:21thematic

Traces the development of the Benjamite families from the original sons of Benjamin listed in Genesis.

v42Genesis 46:23thematic

Identifies Dan's sole ancestral line, called Hushim in Genesis and Shuham here.

v44Genesis 46:17thematic

Aligns with the earlier list of Asher's sons and his daughter Serah.