The Fourth Book of Moses, called Numbers
Numbers 26
Chapter XXVI · Vol. I, pp. 457–460
1 The sum of all Israel is taken in the plains of Moab. 52 The law of dividing among them the inheritance of the land. 57 The families and number of the Levites. 63 None were left of them who were numbered at Sinai, but Caleb and Joshua.
1 AND it came to pass a after the plague, that the LORD spake unto Moses, and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,
a ch. 25.9. This was the third time they were numbered, ch. 1.11. Ex. 38.25, 26.
2 Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, b from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers' house, all that are able to go to war in Israel.
b ch. i. ii. Ex. 38.25, 26; 30.12.
3 And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the c plains of Moab, by Jordan near Jericho, saying,
c ch. 22.1; 33.48.
4 Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD d commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt.1
d ch. 1.1; ver. 2.
1 This new census had two objects:—(1) To prepare for the distribution of the inheritance of Canaan. (2) To illustrate the promises and judgments of God—his promises to the tribes whose population increased, even in the wilderness, with all its privations and hardships—his judgments upon those tribes whose numbers were diminished.—C.
5 Reuben,e the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, of whom cometh the family of the Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the Palluites:
e Ge. 46.8, 9; 29.32; 49.3, 4. Ex. 6.14. 1 Ch. 5.1-10; 2.1.
6 Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.
f ch. 1.20, 21; 2.10, 11.
7 Thesef are the families of the Reubenites: and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty.2
2 Decrease, 2770.—C.
8 And the sons of Pallu; Eliab.
9 And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram which were g famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD:
g ch. 16.2-40. Jude 11. Ps. 106.17.
10 And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah,3 when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a h sign.4
3 This seems to contradict the account in ch. 16.35-40; Ps. 106.17, from both of which it appears that Korah was burned with the Levites, and Dathan and Abiram, with their company, swallowed by the earth. Boothroyd's translation removes the seeming contradiction, 'And the earth opened her mouth and swallowed them up; and when this company died, a fire devoured Korah and the 250 men.'—C.
h 1 Co. 10.11. Jude 7. 2 Pe. 2.6.
4 A lesson, not by words, but by events, a warning like Lot's wife, of the evil consequences of sin, Ge. 19.26. Lu. 17.32.—C.
11 Notwithstanding i the children of Korah died not.
i Ex. 6.24. Ps. xlii. xliv. xlv. &c. title, 1 Ch. 6.22-37.
12 Thek sons of Simeon after their families: of l Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites: of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites: of m Jachin, the family of the Jachinites:
13 Of n Zerah, the family of the Zarhites: of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
n Zohar, Ge. 46.10.
14 These are the families of the Simeonites,5 twentyo and two thousand and two hundred.
o ch. 1.22, 23; 2.12, 13.
5 The largest decrease of any of the tribes, viz. 37,100, comp. chap. i. The special cause is unknown, but a conjecture, not improbable.—I.
15 The p children of Gad, after their families: of q Zephon, the family of the Zephonites: of Haggi, the family of the Haggites: of Shuni, the family of the Shunites:
17 Of s Arod, the family of the Arodites: of Areli, the family of the Arelites.
s Or, Arodi, Ge. 46.16.
18 Theset are the families of the children of Gad, according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred.6
t ch. 1.24, 25; 2.14, 15.
6 Decrease, 5150.—C.
20 And the sons of Judah, after their families, were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites: of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites.
x ch. 1.26, 27; 2.3, 4. Ge. 49.8-10.
21 And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
22 Thesex are the families of Judah, according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred.7
7 Increase, 1900.—C.
23 Ofy the sons of Issachar, after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites: of z Pua, the family of the Punites:
y Ge. 46.13; 30.18; 49.14, 15. 1 Ch. 7.1-5.
z Or, Phuvah, Ge. 46.13.
24 Of a Jashub, the family of the Jashubites: of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.
a Or, Job, Ge. 46.13.
25 Theseb are the families of Issachar, according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred.8
b ch. 1.28, 29; 2.5, 6.
8 Increase, 9900.—C.
26 Ofc the sons of Zebulun, after their families: of Sered, the family of the Sardites: of Elon, the family of the Elonites: of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.
27 Thesed are the families of the Zebulunites, according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred.9
d ch. 1.30, 31; 2.7, 8.
9 Increase, 3100.—C.
29 Off the sons of Manasseh:1 of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites.2
1 Comparing the statement in ver. 34 of the number of this tribe with that in ch. 1.35, we find that it had increased by upwards of twenty thousand; a striking fulfilment of Jacob's prophecy respecting the children of Joseph, Ge. 49.22.—I.
2 These do not seem to have been a distinct family from the Machirites. Machir had no son but Gilead, and either they were at first called Machirites and afterwards Gileadites, or the two appellations were used indifferently.—I.
30 These are the sons of Gilead: of g Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites: of Helek, the family of the Helekites:
g Or, Abiezer, Jos. 17.2. Ju. 6.11, 24, 34; 8.2.
31 And of Asriel,3 the family of the Asrielites: and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites:
3 This and all the rest that follow are mentioned as the sons of Gilead, for each of whose children there was a lot in the land of Canaan, Jos. 17.2.—I.
32 And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
33 And h Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters: and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
h ch. 27.1; 36.11.
34 Thesei are the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.4
A.M. 2552. B.C. 1452.
i ch. 1.34,35; 2.20,21.
4 Increase, 20,500. This is the greatest increase of all the tribes, and a beautiful exemplification and fulfilment of the promises to Joseph.—Note, The Lord giveth, or the Lord taketh away: whatever he doth, let the believer say, Blessed be the name of the Lord.—C.
35 Thesek are the sons of Ephraim, after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites: of l Becher, the family of the Bachrites: of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
l Or, Bered, 1 Ch. 7.20.
36 And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
37 Thesem are the families of the sons of Ephraim, according to those that were numbered of them, thirty and two thousand and five hundred.5 These are the sons of Joseph after their families.
m ch. 2.32,33; 2.18,19.
5 Decrease, 8000.—C.
38 Then sons of Benjamin, after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites: of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites: of o Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites:
39 Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites: of p Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.
p Muppim, Huppim, Ge. 46.21.
40 And the sons of Bela were q Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites: and of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.
q Or, Addar, 1 Ch. 8.3.
41 Theser are the sons of Benjamin, after their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and six hundred.6
r ch. 1.36,37; 2.22,23.
6 Increase, 10,200.—C.
42 Theses are the sons of Dan, after their families: of Shuham,7 the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan, after their families.
s Ge. 46.23; 30.6; 49.16,17. 1 Ch. 7.12.
7 Or, Hushim.
43 Allt the families of the Shuhamites, according to those that were numbered of them, were threescore and four thousand and four hundred.8
t ch. 1.38,39; 2.25,26.
8 Increase, 1700. C.—This was a vast number to spring from one man, considering that Benjamin, who had ten sons, wanted nearly 20,000 of this number. We may here give, at one view, the results of a comparison between the census at Mount Sinai and the present. The total number was nearly the same. They were now 1820 fewer than they were then; but seven of the tribes had increased in number. Judah had increased 1900. Issachar, 9900. Zebulun, 3100. Manasseh, 20,500. Benjamin, 10,200. Dan, 1700. Asher, 11,900. The other five, however, had decreased. Reuben had decreased 2770. Simeon, 37,100. Gad, 5150. Ephraim, 8000; and Naphtali, 8000. From this comparison, Henry remarks, 1. That all the three tribes that were encamped under the standard of Judah, who was the ancestor of Christ, were increased, for his church shall be edified and multiplied. 2. That none of the tribes had increased so much as that of Manasseh, which in the former account was the smallest of all the tribes, only 32,200; while here it is one of the most considerable; and his brother Ephraim, which then was numerous, is here one of the least. Jacob had crossed hands upon their heads, and had preferred Ephraim before Manasseh, which perhaps the Ephraimites had prided themselves too much in, and had trampled upon their brethren the Manassites; but when the Lord saw that Manasseh was despised, he thus multiplied him exceedingly, for it is his glory to help the weakest, and raise up them that are cast down.—I.
44 Ofu the children of Asher, after their families: of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites: of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites: of Beriah, the family of the Beriites.
u Ge. 46.17; 30.13; 49.20. 1 Ch. 7.30.
45 Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites: of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
46 And the name of the daughter of Asher was Sarah.
47 Thesex are the families of the sons of Asher, according to those that were numbered of them, who were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.9
x ch. 1.40,41; 2.27,28.
9 Increase, 11,900.—C.
48 Ofy the sons of Naphtali, after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites: of Guni, the family of the Gunites:
y Ge. 46.24; 30.7,8; 49.21. 1 Ch. 7.13.
49 Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites: of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
50 Thesez are the families of Naphtali, according to their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.1
A.M. 2552. B.C. 1452.
z ch. 1.42,43; 2.29,30.
1 Decrease, 8000. Total increase, 59,200. Total decrease, 61,020, leaving a comparative decrease of 1820. C.—The relative strength of the tribes was now very different from what it had been at the exodus. Judah still held the first place, and Dan the second; but Simeon, which originally stood third, was now last of all, having dwindled down to less than one-third of its former number. Manasseh, too, was now far more powerful than Ephraim, having risen from the lowest to the sixth place among the tribes.—P.
51 Thesea were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand, and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.
a ch. 1.46; 2.32.
52 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
53 Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance, according to the number of names.2
2 So Canaan was to be divided into 601,730 portions, and each might have 15 acres
54 Tob many thou shalt c give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt d give the less inheritance; to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him.
55 Notwithstanding the land shall be e divided by lot:3 according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.4
e ch. 33.54. Jos. 11.23; 14.2; 17.14; 18.6,10,11; 19.1,9,17,24,32,40.
3 The lot was a divine institution appointed as an appeal to Omniscience in particular cases. It was, in the present case, admirably fitted to prevent jealousies in the division of the land.—C.
56 According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few.
4 It would seem that the lot was to determine the locality in which the tribe was to settle; but the extent of territory given to each would depend on its numbers.—P.
57 Andf these are they that were numbered of the Levites, after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites: of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites: of Merari, the family of the Merarites.
f Ge. 46.11; 29.34; 49.5-7. Ex. 6.16-19. ch. iii. iv. 1 Ch. 6.1,16.
58 These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram.
59 And the name of Amram's wife was g Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.
60 And unto Aaron was born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
61 And h Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the LORD.
h Le. 10.2. ch. 3.4. 1 Ch. 24.2.
62 And those that were i numbered of them were twenty and three thousand,5 all males from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was k no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.
63 These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab, by Jordan near Jericho.
64 But among these there was not a man l of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.6
l ch. i. ii. De. 2.14,15.
6 They were numbered from twenty years and upwards; therefore, adding the forty years now nearly spent in the wilderness, the oldest man in the whole Jewish nation, with the exception of Moses, Caleb, and Joshua, was under sixty years of age; and it is evident, from the dispositions of those who came up from Egypt, that few would exceed forty years. In the midst of the judgments thus executed upon the rebels, we see the wisdom of God in removing a timid, murmuring, and dissatisfied race of pampered though oppressed slaves, Ex. 16.3, and rearing up a generation of hardy and courageous freemen specially made free by their knowledge of the Lord, Jos. 24.31; men accustomed to all the privations and hardships of the desert, and not one unfitted by age for encountering the toils and the dangers upon which they were about to enter.—C.
65 For the LORD had said of them, m They shall surely die in the wilderness. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
m ch. 14.28,38. 1 Co. 10.5,6. Ps. 90.3,5-7; 95.8-11. He. 3.17-19.
Notes
Reflections.—It is safe to number the people, or to do anything else, when God requires it. Sin only is dangerous: it is this that ruins and destroys, yea, brings lasting and public infamy upon such persons as might otherwise have been of great usefulness and fame. What alteration Providence makes in families, tribes, and nations, and what havoc death makes of mankind, in a short time! Exactly, though gradually, are the threatenings of God's word accomplished! but amidst all the changes of this world, his faithfulness abides the same: yea, with care and wisdom he fixes even the outward lot of his people; and the promises of his grace are sure to the faithful; and in the enjoyment of them we ought therefore to be attentive to his gracious disposal.