Numbers 26:2

2 Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Yisra'el, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers' houses, all who are able to go forth to war in Yisra'el.

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 It happened after the plague, that the LORD spoke to Moshe and to El`azar the son of Aharon the Kohen, saying,

2 Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Yisra'el, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers' houses, all who are able to go forth to war in Yisra'el.

3 Moshe and El`azar the Kohen spoke with them in the plains of Mo'av by the Yarden at Yericho, saying,

4 [Take the sum of the people], from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moshe and the children of Yisra'el, that came forth out of the land of Mitzrayim.

5 Re'uven, the firstborn of Yisra'el; the sons of Re'uven: [of] Hanokh, the family of the Hanokhi; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites;