Numbers 26:2

2 Reckon ye all the number of the sons of Israel, from twenty years and above (from twenty years of age and older), by their houses, and their kindreds, (yea,) all (the) men that be able to go forth to battles.

Numbers 26:2 Meaning and Commentary

Numbers 26:2

Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel,
&c.] Excepting the Levites, who were to be numbered by themselves, and at a different age; this sum was to be taken, that it might appear that all of the old generation that came out of Egypt, of the age at which this sum was taken, were now dead, excepting two, as the Lord had threatened; and partly that as they were now about to enter the land of Canaan, it might be divided to them according to their number; as well as to show the faithfulness of God to his word and promise, that he would multiply and make them fruitful, notwithstanding all their provoking sins and transgressions:

from twenty years old and upwards, throughout their father's house;
all of that age in every tribe, house, and family:

all that are able to go to war in Israel;
for which they must prepare, being about to enter the land of Canaan, and dispossess and drive out the inhabitants of it.

Numbers 26:2 In-Context

1 After that the blood of (the) guilty men was shed out, the Lord said to Moses and to Eleazar, the priest, [the] son of Aaron,
2 Reckon ye all the number of the sons of Israel, from twenty years and above (from twenty years of age and older), by their houses, and their kindreds, (yea,) all (the) men that be able to go forth to battles.
3 And so Moses and Eleazar, the priest, spake in the field places of Moab, over Jordan, against Jericho, (And so Moses and Eleazar, the priest, spoke on the plains of Moab, across the Jordan River, opposite Jericho,)
4 to them that were of twenty years and above (to those who were twenty years of age and older), as the Lord commanded; of which this is the number.
5 Reuben, the first begotten of Israel (Reuben, Israel's first-born); the son of him was Hanoch, of whom came the family of Hanochites; and Pallu, of whom came the family of Palluites;
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.