Numbers 26:1-11

The Second Census

1 After 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.”
3 So 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:
5 The descendants of Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel, were: through Hanok, the Hanokite clan; through Pallu, the Palluite clan;
6 through Hezron, the Hezronite clan; through Karmi, the Karmite clan.
7 These were the clans of Reuben; those numbered were 43,730.
8 The son of Pallu was Eliab,
9 and 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.
10 The 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.
11 The line of Korah, however, did not die out.

Numbers 26:1-11 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 19

  • 1. S Numbers 14:37; Numbers 25:8
  • 2. Exodus 30:11-16; Exodus 38:25-26; Numbers 1:2
  • 3. S Numbers 1:3
  • 4. ver 63; Numbers 33:48; Joshua 13:32
  • 5. Numbers 22:1
  • 6. S Exodus 6:14; S Exodus 13:3
  • 7. Numbers 1:20
  • 8. S Genesis 46:9
  • 9. 1 Chronicles 5:3
  • 10. 1 Chronicles 5:3
  • 11. Genesis 46:9
  • 12. Numbers 16:1
  • 13. Numbers 1:16
  • 14. S Numbers 16:2
  • 15. S Exodus 15:12
  • 16. S Numbers 16:35
  • 17. S Exodus 3:12; S Numbers 16:38; Numbers 16:35,38
  • 18. Exodus 6:24
  • 19. Numbers 16:33; Deuteronomy 5:9; Deuteronomy 24:16; 2 Kings 14:6; 2 Chronicles 25:4; Ezekiel 18:20
Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.