Numbers 26:57-62

57 1This was the list of the Levites according to their clans: of Gershon, the clan of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the clan of the Kohathites; of Merari, the clan of the Merarites.
58 These are the clans of Levi: the clan of the Libnites, the clan of the Hebronites, the clan of the Mahlites, the clan of the Mushites, the clan of the Korahites. And Kohath was the father of Amram.
59 The name of Amram's wife was 2Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. And she bore to Amram Aaron and Moses and Miriam their sister.
60 3And to Aaron were born Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
61 4But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.
62 And those listed were 5 23,000, every male from a month old and upward. For 6they were not listed among the people of Israel, because 7there was no inheritance given to them among the people of Israel.

Numbers 26:57-62 Meaning and Commentary

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.

Cross References 7

  • 1. Genesis 46:11; See Exodus 6:16-19; 1 Chr. 6:1, 16-30
  • 2. Ex. 2:1, 2, 4; Exodus 6:20
  • 3. Numbers 3:2; 1 Chronicles 24:1
  • 4. Numbers 3:4; Leviticus 10:1, 2; 1 Chronicles 24:2
  • 5. [Numbers 3:39]
  • 6. Numbers 1:49
  • 7. See Numbers 18:20
The English Standard Version is published with the permission of Good News Publishers.