Numbers 26:1

The Men of Israel Are Counted a Second Time

1 After the plague the LORD spoke to Moses and the priest Eleazar. Eleazar was the son of Aaron. The LORD said,

Numbers 26:1 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 26:1

And it came to pass after the plague
Related in the preceding chapter; how long after is not certain, perhaps before the war with Midian, exhorted to in the latter part of the foregoing chapter, and of which an account is given, ( Numbers 31:1-54 ) :

that the Lord spake unto Moses;
out of the tabernacle, or out of the cloud:

and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest;
the Lord had been used to speak to Moses and to Aaron; but now Aaron being dead, and Eleazar his son succeeding him in the priesthood, is joined with Moses, and the order here given is directed to them both:

saying:
as follows.

Numbers 26:1 In-Context

1 After the plague the LORD spoke to Moses and the priest Eleazar. Eleazar was the son of Aaron. The LORD said,

2 "Count all of the men of Israel. Make a list of them by their families. Count all of the men who are able to serve in Israel's army. They must be 20 years old or more."

3 At that time the people of Israel were on the flatlands of Moab. They were by the Jordan River across from Jericho. Moses and the priest Eleazar spoke with them. They said,

4 "Count all of the men who are 20 years old or more. Do it just as the LORD commanded Moses." Here are the men of Israel who came out of Egypt.

5 Reuben was Israel's oldest son. Here are the names of his sons. The Hanochite family came from Hanoch. The Palluite family came from Pallu.