Numbers 26

The Second Census of Israel

1 After the plague had ended, the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron the priest, ¹

2 “Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by the houses of their fathers—all those twenty years of age or older who can serve in the army of Israel.”

3 So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest issued the instruction,

4 “Take a census of the men twenty years of age or older, ^[a] as the LORD has commanded Moses.” And these were the Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt:

The Tribe of Reuben

5 Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. These were the descendants of Reuben: The Hanochite clan from Hanoch, the Palluite clan from Pallu,

6 the Hezronite clan from Hezron, and the Carmite clan from Carmi.

7 These were the clans of Reuben, and their registration numbered 43,730.

8 Now the son of Pallu was Eliab,

9 and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. It was Dathan and Abiram, chosen by the congregation, who rebelled against Moses and Aaron with the followers of Korah who rebelled against the LORD.

10 And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire consumed 250 men. They serve as a warning sign.

11 However, the line of Korah did not die out.

The Tribe of Simeon

12 These were the descendants of Simeon by their clans: The Nemuelite clan from Nemuel, ^[b] the Jaminite clan from Jamin, the Jachinite clan from Jachin,

13 the Zerahite clan from Zerah, ^[c] and the Shaulite clan from Shaul.

14 These were the clans of Simeon, and there were 22,200 men.

The Tribe of Gad

15 These were the descendants of Gad by their clans: The Zephonite clan from Zephon, the Haggite clan from Haggi, the Shunite clan from Shuni,

16 the Oznite clan from Ozni, the Erite clan from Eri,

17 the Arodite clan from Arod, ^[d] and the Arelite clan from Areli.

18 These were the clans of Gad, and their registration numbered 40,500.

The Tribe of Judah

19 The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan.

20 These were the descendants of Judah by their clans: The Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, and the Zerahite clan from Zerah.

21 And these were the descendants of Perez: the Hezronite clan from Hezron and the Hamulite clan from Hamul.

22 These were the clans of Judah, and their registration numbered 76,500.

The Tribe of Issachar

23 These were the descendants of Issachar by their clans: The Tolaite clan from Tola, the Punite clan from Puvah, ^[e]

24 the Jashubite clan from Jashub, ^[f] and the Shimronite clan from Shimron.

25 These were the clans of Issachar, and their registration numbered 64,300.

The Tribe of Zebulun

26 These were the descendants of Zebulun by their clans: The Seredite clan from Sered, the Elonite clan from Elon, and the Jahleelite clan from Jahleel.

27 These were the clans of Zebulun, and their registration numbered 60,500.

The Tribe of Manasseh

28 The descendants of Joseph included the clans of Manasseh and Ephraim.

29 These were the descendants of Manasseh: The Machirite clan from Machir, the father of Gilead, and the Gileadite clan from Gilead.

30 These were the descendants of Gilead: the Iezerite clan from Iezer, ^[g] the Helekite clan from Helek,

31 the Asrielite clan from Asriel, the Shechemite clan from Shechem,

32 the Shemidaite clan from Shemida, and the Hepherite clan from Hepher.

33 Now Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons but only daughters. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

34 These were the clans of Manasseh, and their registration numbered 52,700.

The Tribe of Ephraim

35 These were the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: The Shuthelahite clan from Shuthelah, the Becherite clan from Becher, and the Tahanite clan from Tahan.

36 And the descendants of Shuthelah were the Eranite clan from Eran.

37 These were the clans of Ephraim, and their registration numbered 32,500. These clans were the descendants of Joseph.

The Tribe of Benjamin

38 These were the descendants of Benjamin by their clans: The Belaite clan from Bela, the Ashbelite clan from Ashbel, the Ahiramite clan from Ahiram,

39 the Shuphamite clan from Shupham, ^[h] and the Huphamite clan from Hupham.

40 And the descendants of Bela from Ard and Naaman were the Ardite clan from Ard ^[i] and the Naamite clan from Naaman.

41 These were the clans of Benjamin, and their registration numbered 45,600.

The Tribe of Dan

42 These were the descendants of Dan by their clans: The Shuhamite clan from Shuham. These were the clans of Dan.

43 All of them were Shuhamite clans, and their registration numbered 64,400.

The Tribe of Asher

44 These were the descendants of Asher by their clans: The Imnite clan from Imnah, the Ishvite clan from Ishvi, and the Beriite clan from Beriah.

45 And these were the descendants of Beriah: the Heberite clan from Heber and the Malchielite clan from Malchiel.

46 And the name of Asher’s daughter was Serah.

47 These were the clans of Asher, and their registration numbered 53,400.

The Tribe of Naphtali

48 These were the descendants of Naphtali by their clans: The Jahzeelite clan from Jahzeel, the Gunite clan from Guni,

49 the Jezerite clan from Jezer, and the Shillemite clan from Shillem.

50 These were the clans of Naphtali, and their registration numbered 45,400.

51 These men of Israel numbered 601,730 in all.

Inheritance by Lot

52 Then the LORD said to Moses,

53 “The land is to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance, according to the number of names.

54 Increase the inheritance for a large tribe and decrease it for a small one; each tribe is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those registered.

55 Indeed, the land must be divided by lot; they shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.

56 Each inheritance is to be divided by lot among the larger and smaller tribes.”

The Levites Numbered

57 Now these were the Levites numbered by their clans: The Gershonite clan from Gershon, the Kohathite clan from Kohath, and the Merarite clan from Merari.

58 These were the families of the Levites: The Libnite clan, the Hebronite clan, the Mahlite clan, the Mushite clan, and the Korahite clan. Now Kohath was the father of Amram,

59 and Amram’s wife was named Jochebed. She was also a daughter of Levi, born to Levi in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam.

60 Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar were born to Aaron,

61 but Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized ^[j] fire before the LORD.

62 The registration of the Levites totaled 23,000, every male a month old or more; they were not numbered among the other Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.

Only Caleb and Joshua Remain

63 These were the ones numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho.

64 Among all these, however, there was not one who had been numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai.

65 For the LORD had told them that they would surely die in the wilderness. Not one was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

Numbers 26 Commentary

Chapter 26

Numbering of Israel in the plains of Moab. (1-51) The division of the land. (52-56) Number of the Levites. (57-62) None remaining of the first numbering. (63-65)

Verses 1-51 Moses did not number the people but when God commanded him. We have here the families registered, as well as the tribes. The total was nearly the same as when numbered at mount Sinai. Notice is here taken of the children of Korah; they died not, as the children of Dathan and Abiram; they seem not to have joined even their own father in rebellion. If we partake not of the sins of sinners, we shall not partake of their plagues.

Verses 52-56 In distributing these tribes, the general rule of equity is prescribed; that to many should be given more, and to fewer less. Though it seems left to the prudence of their prince, the matter at last must be settled by the providence of God, with which all must be satisfied.

Verses 57-62 Levi was God's tribe; therefore it was not numbered with the rest, but alone. It came not under the sentence, that none of them should enter Canaan excepting Caleb and Joshua.

Verses 63-65 The execution of the sentence passed on the murmurers, chap. 14:29 , is observable. There was not one man numbered now, who was numbered then, but Caleb and Joshua. Here appeared the righteousness of God, and his faithfulness to his threatenings. Especially observe the truth of God, in performing his promise to Caleb and Joshua. Death makes awful havoc of the human species, and causes surprising changes in families and nations; yet all is appointed in perfect wisdom, justice, and truth, by the Lord himself. This should stir us up to think upon the hateful nature of sin, the cause of all these devastations. We should renew our repentance, seek forgiveness, value the salvation of Christ, remember how frail we are, prepare for the summons of death, and fill up our days in serving our generation according to the will of God.

Cross References

• 1. (Numbers 1:1–4)

Footnotes

• [a]. Take a census of the men is implied but not included in the Hebrew; see verse 2.
• [b]. Nemuel is another name for Jemuel; see Genesis 46:10.
• [c]. Zerah is a variant of Zohar; see Genesis 46:10 and Exodus 6:15.
• [d]. SP and Syriac Arodi; see Genesis 46:16.
• [e]. SP, LXX, Vulgate, and Syriac the Puite clan from Puah; see 1 Chronicles 7:1.
• [f]. Jashub is a variant of Job; see Genesis 46:13.
• [g]. Iezer is a variant of Abiezer; see Joshua 17:2.
• [h]. A few MT manuscripts, SP, Vulgate, and Syriac (see also LXX); most MT manuscripts Shephupham
• [i]. SP and Vulgate (see also LXX); MT does not include from Ard.
• [j]. Or strange

Chapter Summary

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.