Numbers 26 Commentary: A New Generation Counted
And it came to pass after the plague, that the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,
Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers’ house, all that are able to go to war in Israel.
And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,
Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as the Lord commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt.
Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, of whom cometh the family of the Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the Palluites:
Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.
These are the families of the Reubenites: and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty.
And the sons of Pallu; Eliab.
And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the Lord:
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.
Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.
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:
Of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites: of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty and two thousand and two hundred.
The children 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:
Of Ozni, the family of the Oznites: of Eri, the family of the Erites:
Of Arod, the family of the Arodites: of Areli, the family of the Arelites.
These are the families of the children of Gad according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred.
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites: of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites.
And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred.
Of the sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites:
Of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites: of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.
These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred.
Of the sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Sardites: of Elon, the family of the Elonites: of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.
These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred.
The sons of Joseph after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim.
Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites: and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites.
These are the sons of Gilead: of Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites: of Helek, the family of the Helekites:
And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites:
And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
These are the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.
These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites: of Becher, the family of the Bachrites: of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those that were numbered of them, thirty and two thousand and five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families.
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:
Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites: of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.
And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites: and of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.
These are the sons of Benjamin after their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and six hundred.
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.
All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those that were numbered of them, were threescore and four thousand and four hundred.
Of the children of Asher after their families: of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites: of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites: of Beriah, the family of the Beriites.
Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites: of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
And the name of the daughter of Asher was Sarah.
These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those that were numbered of them; who were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
Of the sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites: of Guni, the family of the Gunites:
Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites: of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
These are the families of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.
These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.
To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him.
Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.
According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few.
And these are they that were numbered 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.
These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram.
And the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.
And unto Aaron was born Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the Lord.
And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.
These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.
But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.
For the Lord had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
Numbers 26 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's journey. After nearly forty years of wandering in the wilderness, a new generation stood ready to inherit the Promised Land. This chapter details a second census, mandated by God, to count the men of war and prepare for the division of the land. This census serves not only a practical purpose but also highlights God’s faithfulness in preserving His people despite their past disobedience.
The Purpose of the Census (Numbers 26:1-4)
With the wilderness wanderings drawing to a close, and the majority of the exodus generation having passed away as prophesied, God instructed Moses and Eleazar the priest to conduct a new census. This census focused on all the men in Israel twenty years old or more, those fit for military service (Numbers 26:1-2). The impending conquest of Canaan demanded a clear assessment of Israel's fighting strength. The census took place on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, opposite Jericho (Numbers 26:3). Jericho, the first fortified city they would face, symbolized the challenges and victories that lay ahead (see Joshua 6:1-27).
Tribal Details and Notable Exceptions (Numbers 26:5-56)
The majority of Numbers 26 is dedicated to a meticulous record of the census, listing the tribes and families of Israel and their respective numbers. Within this detailed account, we find intriguing and instructive side notes.
One such note concerns Dathan and Abiram, Reubenites who participated in Korah’s rebellion against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 26:9; see Numbers 16:1-50). Their fate – being swallowed alive by the earth – serves as a stark warning against rebellion against God-ordained leadership (Numbers 26:10). In contrast, the descendants of Korah were spared. The text explicitly states, "Nevertheless, the sons of Korah did not die" (Numbers 26:11). This shows that God’s grace extends even within families marked by rebellion, offering hope and a future to those who choose a different path. Those sons who did not participate in the rebellion would receive their inheritance in the promised land.
The census revealed a total of 601,730 fighting men (Numbers 26:51). This number is remarkably close to the initial count of 603,550 taken nearly four decades earlier (Numbers 1:46). Despite the hardships, judgments, and loss of life experienced during the wilderness years, God had prospered His people, ensuring they were ready to enter Canaan with considerable strength.
Following the census, God instructed that the land be divided among the tribes by lot, according to their size (Numbers 26:55-56). This method ensured fairness and reflected God's sovereign allocation of resources. The actual division of the land would occur later, but this directive set the stage for the fulfillment of God's promise to give Israel their inheritance.
The Levites: A Separate Count (Numbers 26:57-62)
The tribe of Levi, set apart for service in the tabernacle, received no land inheritance. Therefore, they were counted separately. The census of the Levites focused on the three primary clans: the Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites (Numbers 26:57).
Within this section, Moses includes a significant personal note. He traces his lineage through Kohath to Amram, his father. Amram married Jochebed, a Levite woman born in Egypt, and together they had Aaron, Moses, and Miriam (Numbers 26:58-59). This inclusion highlights Moses's own Levite heritage and underscores the importance of family and lineage within the covenant community. The total number of Levite males one month old or more was 23,000 (Numbers 26:60-62), indicating a substantial population dedicated to serving the Lord.
Faithfulness Remembered (Numbers 26:63-65)
The chapter concludes with a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and judgment. Of all those Israelites counted in the first census in the Sinai wilderness, none remained in this new census except for Caleb and Joshua (Numbers 26:63-65). The LORD had declared that the rest of that generation would die in the wilderness because of their unbelief and rebellion (Numbers 14:20-38).
Caleb and Joshua stood as testaments to the power of faith and obedience. They had witnessed God's miracles in Egypt and His provision in the wilderness, and they had remained faithful to Him despite the widespread doubt and complaining of their peers. As a result, they alone were granted the privilege of entering the Promised Land, a reward for their unwavering trust in God.
Numbers 26 is more than just a list of names and numbers. It is a story of God's faithfulness, judgment, and grace. It reminds us that God keeps His promises, but also holds us accountable for our choices. The new generation stood on the brink of their inheritance, ready to claim the land God had promised to their ancestors. Their story encourages us to live with faith and obedience, trusting in God's provision and claiming the inheritance He has prepared for us.
And it came to pass after the plague, that the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,
Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers’ house, all that are able to go to war in Israel.
And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,
Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as the Lord commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt.
Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, of whom cometh the family of the Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the Palluites:
Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.
These are the families of the Reubenites: and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty.
And the sons of Pallu; Eliab.
And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the Lord:
And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.
Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.
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:
Of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites: of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty and two thousand and two hundred.
The children 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:
Of Ozni, the family of the Oznites: of Eri, the family of the Erites:
Of Arod, the family of the Arodites: of Areli, the family of the Arelites.
These are the families of the children of Gad according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred.
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites: of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites.
And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred.
Of the sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites:
Of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites: of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.
These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred.
Of the sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Sardites: of Elon, the family of the Elonites: of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.
These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred.
The sons of Joseph after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim.
Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites: and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites.
These are the sons of Gilead: of Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites: of Helek, the family of the Helekites:
And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites:
And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
These are the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.
These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites: of Becher, the family of the Bachrites: of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those that were numbered of them, thirty and two thousand and five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families.
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:
Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites: of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.
And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites: and of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.
These are the sons of Benjamin after their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and six hundred.
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.
All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those that were numbered of them, were threescore and four thousand and four hundred.
Of the children of Asher after their families: of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites: of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites: of Beriah, the family of the Beriites.
Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites: of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
And the name of the daughter of Asher was Sarah.
These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those that were numbered of them; who were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
Of the sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites: of Guni, the family of the Gunites:
Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites: of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
These are the families of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.
These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying,
Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.
To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him.
Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.
According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few.
And these are they that were numbered 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.
These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram.
And the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.
And unto Aaron was born Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the Lord.
And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.
These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.
But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.
For the Lord had said of them, They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
Numbers 26 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's journey. After nearly forty years of wandering in the wilderness, a new generation stood ready to inherit the Promised Land. This chapter details a second census, mandated by God, to count the men of war and prepare for the division of the land. This census serves not only a practical purpose but also highlights God’s faithfulness in preserving His people despite their past disobedience.
The Purpose of the Census (Numbers 26:1-4)
With the wilderness wanderings drawing to a close, and the majority of the exodus generation having passed away as prophesied, God instructed Moses and Eleazar the priest to conduct a new census. This census focused on all the men in Israel twenty years old or more, those fit for military service (Numbers 26:1-2). The impending conquest of Canaan demanded a clear assessment of Israel's fighting strength. The census took place on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, opposite Jericho (Numbers 26:3). Jericho, the first fortified city they would face, symbolized the challenges and victories that lay ahead (see Joshua 6:1-27).
Tribal Details and Notable Exceptions (Numbers 26:5-56)
The majority of Numbers 26 is dedicated to a meticulous record of the census, listing the tribes and families of Israel and their respective numbers. Within this detailed account, we find intriguing and instructive side notes.
One such note concerns Dathan and Abiram, Reubenites who participated in Korah’s rebellion against Moses and Aaron (Numbers 26:9; see Numbers 16:1-50). Their fate – being swallowed alive by the earth – serves as a stark warning against rebellion against God-ordained leadership (Numbers 26:10). In contrast, the descendants of Korah were spared. The text explicitly states, "Nevertheless, the sons of Korah did not die" (Numbers 26:11). This shows that God’s grace extends even within families marked by rebellion, offering hope and a future to those who choose a different path. Those sons who did not participate in the rebellion would receive their inheritance in the promised land.
The census revealed a total of 601,730 fighting men (Numbers 26:51). This number is remarkably close to the initial count of 603,550 taken nearly four decades earlier (Numbers 1:46). Despite the hardships, judgments, and loss of life experienced during the wilderness years, God had prospered His people, ensuring they were ready to enter Canaan with considerable strength.
Following the census, God instructed that the land be divided among the tribes by lot, according to their size (Numbers 26:55-56). This method ensured fairness and reflected God's sovereign allocation of resources. The actual division of the land would occur later, but this directive set the stage for the fulfillment of God's promise to give Israel their inheritance.
The Levites: A Separate Count (Numbers 26:57-62)
The tribe of Levi, set apart for service in the tabernacle, received no land inheritance. Therefore, they were counted separately. The census of the Levites focused on the three primary clans: the Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites (Numbers 26:57).
Within this section, Moses includes a significant personal note. He traces his lineage through Kohath to Amram, his father. Amram married Jochebed, a Levite woman born in Egypt, and together they had Aaron, Moses, and Miriam (Numbers 26:58-59). This inclusion highlights Moses's own Levite heritage and underscores the importance of family and lineage within the covenant community. The total number of Levite males one month old or more was 23,000 (Numbers 26:60-62), indicating a substantial population dedicated to serving the Lord.
Faithfulness Remembered (Numbers 26:63-65)
The chapter concludes with a powerful reminder of God's faithfulness and judgment. Of all those Israelites counted in the first census in the Sinai wilderness, none remained in this new census except for Caleb and Joshua (Numbers 26:63-65). The LORD had declared that the rest of that generation would die in the wilderness because of their unbelief and rebellion (Numbers 14:20-38).
Caleb and Joshua stood as testaments to the power of faith and obedience. They had witnessed God's miracles in Egypt and His provision in the wilderness, and they had remained faithful to Him despite the widespread doubt and complaining of their peers. As a result, they alone were granted the privilege of entering the Promised Land, a reward for their unwavering trust in God.
Numbers 26 is more than just a list of names and numbers. It is a story of God's faithfulness, judgment, and grace. It reminds us that God keeps His promises, but also holds us accountable for our choices. The new generation stood on the brink of their inheritance, ready to claim the land God had promised to their ancestors. Their story encourages us to live with faith and obedience, trusting in God's provision and claiming the inheritance He has prepared for us.