Numbers 26

1 After the epidemic the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, ¹

2 "Take a census by families of the whole community of Israel, of all men twenty years old or older who are fit for military service."

3 Moses and Eleazar obeyed and called together all the men of that age group. They assembled in the plains of Moab across the Jordan River from Jericho. These were the Israelites who came out of Egypt:

5 The tribe of Reuben (Reuben was the oldest son of Jacob): the clans of Hanoch, Pallu,

6 Hezron, and Carmi.

7 These clans numbered 43,730 men.

8 The descendants of Pallu were Eliab

9 and his sons Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. (These are the Dathan and Abiram who were chosen by the community. They defied Moses and Aaron and joined the followers of Korah when they rebelled against the Lord.

10 The ground opened and swallowed them, and they died with Korah and his followers when fire destroyed 250 men; they became a warning to the people.

11 But the sons of Korah were not killed.)

12 The tribe of Simeon: the clans of Nemuel, Jamin, Jachin,

13 Zerah, and Shaul.

14 These clans numbered 22,200 men.

15 The tribe of Gad: the clans of Zephon, Haggi, Shuni,

16 Ozni, Eri,

17 Arod, and Areli.

18 These clans numbered 40,500 men.

19 The tribe of Judah: the clans of Shelah, Perez, Zerah, Hezron, and Hamul. (Two of Judah's sons, Er and Onan, had died in the land of Canaan.)

22 These clans numbered 76,500 men.

23 The tribe of Issachar: the clans of Tola, Puah,

24 Jashub, and Shimron.

25 These clans numbered 64,300 men.

26 The tribe of Zebulun: the clans of Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.

27 These clans numbered 60,500 men.

28 The tribes of Joseph, who was the father of two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

29 The tribe of Manasseh. Machir son of Manasseh was the father of Gilead, and the following clans traced their ancestry to Gilead:

30 the clans of Iezer, Helek,

31 Asriel, Shechem,

32 Shemida, and Hepher.

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

34 These clans numbered 52,700 men.

35 The tribe of Ephraim: the clans of Shuthelah, Becher, and Tahan.

36 The clan of Eran traced its descent from Shuthelah.

37 These clans numbered 32,500 men. These are the clans descended from Joseph.

38 The tribe of Benjamin: the clans of Bela, Ashbel, Ahiram,

39 Shephupham, and Hupham.

40 The clans of Ard and Naaman traced their descent from Bela.

41 These clans numbered 45,600 men.

42 The tribe of Dan: the clan of Shuham,

43 which numbered 64,400 men.

44 The tribe of Asher: the clans of Imnah, Ishvi, and Beriah.

45 The clans of Heber and Malchiel traced their descent from Beriah.

46 Asher had a daughter named Serah.

47 These clans numbered 53,400 men.

48 The tribe of Naphtali: the clans of Jahzeel, Guni,

49 Jezer, and Shillem.

50 These clans numbered 45,400 men.

51 The total number of the Israelite men was 601,730.

52 The Lord said to Moses, ²

53 "Divide the land among the tribes, according to their size.

54 Divide the land by drawing lots, and give a large share to a large tribe and a small one to a small tribe."

57 The tribe of Levi consisted of the clans of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

58 Their descendants included the subclans of Libni, Hebron, Mahli, Mushi, and Korah. Kohath was the father of Amram,

59 who was married to Levi's daughter Jochebed, who was born in Egypt. She bore Amram two sons, Aaron and Moses, and a daughter, Miriam.

60 Aaron had four sons, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ³

61 Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unholy fire to the Lord. ⁴

62 The male Levites who were one month old or older numbered 23,000. They were listed separately from the rest of the Israelites, because they were not given any property in Israel.

63 All these clans were listed by Moses and Eleazar when they took a census of the Israelites in the plains of Moab across the Jordan River from Jericho.

64 There was not even one man left among those whom Moses and Aaron had listed in the first census in the Sinai Desert.

65 The Lord had said that all of them would die in the wilderness, and except for Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun they all did. ⁵

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. 26.1-51Numbers 1.1-46.
• 2. 26.52-56Numbers 34.13;Joshua 14.1, 2.
• 3. 26.60Numbers 3.2.
• 4. 26.61Leviticus 10.1, 2;Numbers 3.4.
• 5. 26.65Numbers 14.26-35.

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.