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Numbers 26

Numbers26

World English Bible · Public Domain

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1 After the plague, Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,

2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers’ houses, all who are able to go out to war in Israel.”

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

4 “Take a census, from twenty years old and upward, as Yahweh commanded Moses and the children of Israel.” These are those who came out of the land of Egypt.

5 Reuben, the firstborn of Israel; 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 counted of them were forty-three thousand seven hundred thirty.

8 The son of Pallu: Eliab.

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

10 and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah when that company died; at the time the fire devoured two hundred fifty men, and they became a sign.

11 Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah didn’t die.

12 The sons of Simeon after 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, twenty-two thousand two hundred.

15 The sons of Gad after 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 counted of them, forty thousand and five hundred.

19 The sons of Judah: Er and Onan. Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.

20 The sons of Judah after 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 counted of them, seventy-six thousand five hundred.

23 The sons of Issachar after 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 counted of them, sixty-four thousand three hundred.

26 The sons of Zebulun after 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 counted of them, sixty thousand five hundred.

28 The sons of Joseph after their families: Manasseh and Ephraim.

29 The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir 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 Iezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites;

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

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

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

34 These are the families of Manasseh. Those who were counted of them were fifty-two thousand seven hundred.

35 These are the sons of Ephraim after 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 counted of them, thirty-two thousand five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families.

38 The sons of Benjamin after 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: the family of the Ardites; and of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.

41 These are the sons of Benjamin after their families; and those who were counted of them were forty-five thousand six hundred.

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

43 All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those who were counted of them, were sixty-four thousand four hundred.

44 The sons of Asher after their families: of Imnah, the family of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the family of the Berites.

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 counted of them, fifty-three thousand four hundred.

48 The sons of Naphtali after 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 Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.

50 These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those who were counted of them were forty-five thousand four hundred.

51 These are those who were counted of the children of Israel, six hundred one thousand seven hundred thirty.

52 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,

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

54 To the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give the less inheritance. To everyone according to those who were counted of him shall his inheritance be given.

55 Notwithstanding, the land shall be divided by lot. According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.

56 According to the lot shall their inheritance be divided between the more and the fewer.”

57 These are those who were counted of the Levites after 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, and the family of the Korahites. Kohath became the father of Amram.

59 The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. She bore to Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.

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

61 Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before Yahweh.

62 Those who were counted of them were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and upward; for they were not counted among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.

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

64 But among these there was not a man of them who were counted by Moses and Aaron the priest, who counted the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.

65 For Yahweh had said of them, “They shall surely die in the wilderness.” There was not a man left of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.

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Numbers 26

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Numbers 26. The full AI study guide (summary, themes, context) has its own page.

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.