Numbers Chapter 26

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October 4, 2025

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📊 God Counts His People Again

After a terrible sickness had swept through the camp and many people had died, Yahweh spoke to Moses and Eleazar the priest (who was Aaron’s son). “It’s time to count all My people again,” God said. “Count every man who is 20 years old and older—these are the ones who can be soldiers to protect Israel.” So Moses and Eleazar gathered everyone together in the plains of Moab, right across the Jordan River from the city of Jericho. They were so close to the Promised Land they could almost touch it!

🏠 The Great Family Count

Just like when you count all your cousins at a big family reunion, Moses and Eleazar counted all the families of Israel. Each family had grown into a whole clan with thousands of people! Here’s what they found:
  • Reuben’s Family: 43,730 men
  • Simeon’s Family: 22,200 men
  • Gad’s Family: 40,500 men
  • Judah’s Family: 76,500 men
  • Issachar’s Family: 64,300 men
  • Zebulun’s Family: 60,500 men
  • Manasseh’s Family: 52,700 men
  • Ephraim’s Family: 32,500 men
  • Benjamin’s Family: 45,600 men
  • Dan’s Family: 64,400 men
  • Asher’s Family: 53,400 men
  • Naphtali’s Family: 45,400 men

😢 A Sad Story About Disobedience

While they were counting, they remembered some sad stories. There was a man named Korah who got angry at Moses and Aaron and said, “We don’t have to listen to you!” He gathered 250 people to rebel against God’s leaders. But God was very upset about this disobedience. The earth opened up like a giant mouth and swallowed Korah and his followers! Fire came down from heaven too. It was a scary reminder that God is holy and we should obey the leaders He chooses.ᵃ But here’s something amazing—even though Korah disobeyed, his children didn’t join in the rebellion, so God saved them!

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A Special Family Story

There was a man named Zelophehad who had five daughters but no sons. In those days, only sons usually got land when their father died. But these brave daughters—Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah—would later ask Moses if they could inherit their father’s land. God would say yes! This shows that God cares about everyone, including girls and women.ᵇ

🔢 The Big Total

When Moses and Eleazar finished counting, they discovered there were 601,730 men who could be soldiers! That’s more than half a million fighting men. If you added their wives, children, and elderly relatives, there were probably over two million people in God’s family!

🎯 God’s Plan for the Land

Then Yahweh gave Moses special instructions about how to divide up the Promised Land: “Give the bigger families more land and the smaller families less land—make it fair based on how many people are in each family. But use lots to decide which family gets which piece of land.” This was like drawing names from a hat to see who gets what piece of the beautiful land God had promised them!

⛪ The Special Helper Family

The Levites were God’s special helper family. They took care of the Tabernacle (God’s special tent) and helped with worship. They had 23,000 men, but they didn’t get land like the other families because God Himself was their inheritance—they got to serve Him full-time instead!

🌟 Only Two Left

Here’s something really sad but also amazing: Remember when God’s people first left Egypt? Well, almost all of those grown-ups had died in the wilderness because they didn’t trust God to help them take the Promised Land. Out of all those hundreds of thousands of people, only two men were still alive from that first group—Caleb and Joshua. They were the only ones who had trusted God from the beginning, so He let them live to see the Promised Land!

🙏 What This Teaches Us

This story shows us that God keeps track of His people and cares about every single family. Even when people make mistakes or disobey, God is patient and gives new chances. He had a plan to give His people a beautiful home, and nothing could stop that plan—not even their own mistakes!

📝 Kid-Friendly Footnotes

  • Korah’s Rebellion: This teaches us that God chooses leaders for a reason, and we should respect them. When we disobey God or the authorities He puts in place, there are consequences. But God is also merciful to those who don’t join in the rebellion.
  • Zelophehad’s Daughters: These brave girls show us that God values everyone equally. Their story teaches us that God cares about fairness and that women are just as important as men in God’s kingdom.
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Footnotes:

  • 1
    And it came to pass after the plague, that the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,
  • 2
    Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers’ house, all that are able to go to war in Israel.
  • 3
    And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan [near] Jericho, saying,
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    [Take the sum of the people], from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt.
  • 5
    Reuben, 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:
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    Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.
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    These [are] the families of the Reubenites: and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty.
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    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] famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD:
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    And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.
  • 11
    Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.
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    The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites: of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites: of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites:
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    Of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites: of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
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    These [are] the families of the Simeonites, twenty and two thousand and two hundred.
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    The children of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites: of Haggi, the family of the Haggites: of Shuni, the family of the Shunites:
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    Of Ozni, the family of the Oznites: of Eri, the family of the Erites:
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    Of Arod, the family of the Arodites: of Areli, the family of the Arelites.
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    These [are] the families of the children of Gad according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred.
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    The sons of Judah [were] Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
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    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.
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    And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
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    These [are] the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred.
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    [Of] the sons of Issachar after their families: [of] Tola, the family of the Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites:
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    Of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites: of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.
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    These [are] the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred.
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    [Of] 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.
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    These [are] the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred.
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    The sons of Joseph after their families [were] Manasseh and Ephraim.
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    Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites: and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead [come] the family of the Gileadites.
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    These [are] the sons of Gilead: [of] Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites: of Helek, the family of the Helekites:
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    And [of] Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and [of] Shechem, the family of the Shechemites:
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    And [of] Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and [of] Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
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    And 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.
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    These [are] the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.
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    These [are] the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites: of Becher, the family of the Bachrites: of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
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    And these [are] the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
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    These [are] the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those that were numbered of them, thirty and two thousand and five hundred. These [are] the sons of Joseph after their families.
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    The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites: of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites: of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites:
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    Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites: of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.
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    And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: [of Ard], the family of the Ardites: [and] of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.
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    These [are] the sons of Benjamin after their families: and they that were numbered of them [were] forty and five thousand and six hundred.
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    These [are] the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These [are] the families of Dan after their families.
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    All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those that were numbered of them, [were] threescore and four thousand and four hundred.
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    [Of] 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.
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    Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites: of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
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    And the name of the daughter of Asher [was] Sarah.
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    These [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.
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    [Of] the sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites: of Guni, the family of the Gunites:
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    Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites: of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
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    These [are] the families of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were numbered of them [were] forty and five thousand and four hundred.
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    These [were] the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.
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    And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
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    Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.
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    To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him.
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    Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.
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    According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few.
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    And 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.
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    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.
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    And the name of Amram’s wife [was] 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.
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    And unto Aaron was born Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
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    And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.
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    And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.
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    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.
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    But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.
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    For the LORD had said of them, 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.
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    After the plague had ended, the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron the priest,
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    “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.”
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    So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest issued the instruction,
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    “Take a census of the men twenty years of age or older, as the LORD has commanded Moses.” And these were the Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt:
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    Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. These were the descendants of Reuben: The Hanochite clan from Hanoch, the Palluite clan from Pallu,
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    the Hezronite clan from Hezron, and the Carmite clan from Carmi.
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    These were the clans of Reuben, and their registration numbered 43,730.
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    Now the son of Pallu was Eliab,
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    and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. It was Dathan and Abiram, chosen by the congregation, who fought against Moses and Aaron with the followers of Korah who rebelled against the LORD.
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    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.
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    However, the line of Korah did not die out.
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    These were the descendants of Simeon by their clans: The Nemuelite clan from Nemuel, the Jaminite clan from Jamin, the Jachinite clan from Jachin,
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    the Zerahite clan from Zerah, and the Shaulite clan from Shaul.
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    These were the clans of Simeon, and there were 22,200 men.
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    These were the descendants of Gad by their clans: The Zephonite clan from Zephon, the Haggite clan from Haggi, the Shunite clan from Shuni,
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    the Oznite clan from Ozni, the Erite clan from Eri,
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    the Arodite clan from Arod, and the Arelite clan from Areli.
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    These were the clans of Gad, and their registration numbered 40,500.
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    The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan.
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    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.
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    And these were the descendants of Perez: the Hezronite clan from Hezron and the Hamulite clan from Hamul.
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    These were the clans of Judah, and their registration numbered 76,500.
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    These were the descendants of Issachar by their clans: The Tolaite clan from Tola, the Punite clan from Puvah,
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    the Jashubite clan from Jashub, and the Shimronite clan from Shimron.
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    These were the clans of Issachar, and their registration numbered 64,300.
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    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.
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    These were the clans of Zebulun, and their registration numbered 60,500.
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    The descendants of Joseph included the clans of Manasseh and Ephraim.
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    These were the descendants of Manasseh: The Machirite clan from Machir, the father of Gilead, and the Gileadite clan from Gilead.
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    These were the descendants of Gilead: the Iezerite clan from Iezer, the Helekite clan from Helek,
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    the Asrielite clan from Asriel, the Shechemite clan from Shechem,
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    the Shemidaite clan from Shemida, and the Hepherite clan from Hepher.
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    Now Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons but only daughters. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
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    These were the clans of Manasseh, and their registration numbered 52,700.
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    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.
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    And the descendants of Shuthelah were the Eranite clan from Eran.
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    These were the clans of Ephraim, and their registration numbered 32,500. These clans were the descendants of Joseph.
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    These were the descendants of Benjamin by their clans: The Belaite clan from Bela, the Ashbelite clan from Ashbel, the Ahiramite clan from Ahiram,
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    the Shuphamite clan from Shupham, and the Huphamite clan from Hupham.
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    And the descendants of Bela from Ard and Naaman were the Ardite clan from Ard and the Naamite clan from Naaman.
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    These were the clans of Benjamin, and their registration numbered 45,600.
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    These were the descendants of Dan by their clans: The Shuhamite clan from Shuham. These were the clans of Dan.
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    All of them were Shuhamite clans, and their registration numbered 64,400.
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    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.
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    And these were the descendants of Beriah: the Heberite clan from Heber and the Malchielite clan from Malchiel.
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    And the name of Asher’s daughter was Serah.
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    These were the clans of Asher, and their registration numbered 53,400.
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    These were the descendants of Naphtali by their clans: The Jahzeelite clan from Jahzeel, the Gunite clan from Guni,
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    the Jezerite clan from Jezer, and the Shillemite clan from Shillem.
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    These were the clans of Naphtali, and their registration numbered 45,400.
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    These men of Israel numbered 601,730 in all.
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    Then the LORD said to Moses,
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    “The land is to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance, according to the number of names.
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    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.
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    Indeed, the land must be divided by lot; they shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.
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    Each inheritance is to be divided by lot among the larger and smaller tribes.”
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    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.
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    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,
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    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.
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    Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar were born to Aaron,
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    but Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.
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    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.
  • 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.
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    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.
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    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 Chapter 26 Commentary

Numbers 26 – The Second Census: When God Counts His People Again

What’s Numbers 26 about?

After forty years of wilderness wandering, God orders Moses to take a second census of Israel’s fighting men before entering the Promised Land. This isn’t just bureaucratic bookkeeping—it’s God marking a generational transition and preparing His people for conquest and inheritance.

The Full Context

Numbers 26 takes place at the end of Israel’s forty-year wilderness journey, right after a devastating plague that killed 24,000 people following the Baal-Peor incident (Numbers 25). Moses and the priest Eleazar (Aaron’s son, who had recently succeeded his father) receive God’s command to count the people once more. This second census comes nearly four decades after the first one in Numbers 1, and the timing is no coincidence—it marks the death of the wilderness generation and the rise of their children who would actually enter Canaan.

The census serves multiple purposes beyond military planning. It establishes tribal inheritance portions for the land distribution, confirms God’s faithfulness in preserving His people despite their failures, and provides a sobering reminder that disobedience has consequences. The chapter concludes with specific instructions about how the land should be divided and includes the second census of the Levites, who had their own distinct role in Israel’s society. This isn’t just population statistics—it’s covenant theology in action, showing how God keeps His promises across generations.

What the Ancient Words Tell Us

The Hebrew word for “census” here is paqad, which is far richer than our English suggests. It means “to visit, attend to, muster, or appoint.” When God paqad His people, He’s not just counting heads—He’s taking inventory of His covenant community, attending to them with purpose. It’s the same word used when God “visited” Sarah to give her Isaac (Genesis 21:1). This census is God’s visitation, His careful attention to every family and tribe.

The phrase “from twenty years old and upward, all who are able to go to war” appears repeatedly throughout the chapter. The Hebrew yatsa tsaba (able to go to war) literally means “able to go forth in service” or “muster for duty.” It’s military language, but it’s also covenant language—these men are being counted not just as soldiers, but as those capable of serving in God’s mission to claim the inheritance He promised.

Grammar Geeks

The Hebrew construction “lemishpechotam” (by their families) appears in every tribal listing. This word comes from mishpachah, meaning an extended family clan. God doesn’t just count individuals—He counts families, preserving the relational structure that would carry His promises forward into the land.

What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?

For the Israelites standing on the plains of Moab, this census would have carried profound emotional weight. Most of the adults listening to these numbers had lost their parents in the wilderness—the very generation that had been counted in the first census was now gone, buried in unmarked graves across the Sinai Peninsula. When Moses announced the totals, they weren’t just hearing military statistics; they were hearing the roll call of survivors.

The original audience would have immediately recognized the theological significance. The first census in Numbers 1 counted 603,550 fighting men, while this second census records 601,730—a decrease of only 1,820 despite forty years of death, rebellion, and divine judgment. God had preserved His people. Despite the golden calf, despite Korah’s rebellion, despite the spies’ faithless report, despite Baal-Peor—Israel still numbered over 600,000 warriors.

They would also have understood the inheritance implications immediately. In ancient Near Eastern culture, land distribution followed strict protocols, and these census numbers would determine each tribe’s territorial allocation. Larger tribes would receive larger portions, smaller tribes smaller portions. The census wasn’t just about the present—it was about their children’s future.

Wrestling with the Text

Here’s something that might puzzle modern readers: why does God seem so concerned with military numbers when He’s already promised to fight for Israel? Why count warriors when the God of the universe is your general? The tension becomes even more interesting when you realize that God had repeatedly told Israel that victory would come through His power, not their military might.

The answer lies in understanding how God typically works through human agency. Yes, God would give them the victory, but He expected Israel to show up prepared for battle. The census reveals God’s pattern of working through ordinary means while accomplishing extraordinary purposes. He doesn’t need 600,000 soldiers, but He chooses to work through 600,000 soldiers. The counting affirms human responsibility within divine sovereignty.

Did You Know?

Archaeological evidence from ancient Mesopotamia shows that censuses were typically taken for three purposes: taxation, military conscription, and land allocation. All three purposes are present in Numbers 26, but with a distinctly theological twist—this is covenant preparation, not merely administrative efficiency.

There’s also the curious detail about Zelophehad’s daughters mentioned in verse 33. In a census focused on fighting men, why interrupt to mention these women by name? The text doesn’t explain here, but it’s setting up the crucial inheritance question that follows in Numbers 27. Even in a military census, God is already thinking about justice and provision for the vulnerable.

How This Changes Everything

This census transforms how we understand God’s faithfulness and human responsibility. Look at the numbers: after four decades of failure, rebellion, and judgment, Israel’s fighting force had barely decreased. Every plague, every punishment, every consequence of sin—and yet God preserved His covenant people. That’s not just demographic data; that’s a theology of grace.

But notice what else changes—the leadership. Moses and Eleazar conduct this census, not Moses and Aaron. Aaron died earlier because of his sin at Meribah (Numbers 20:24). The old guard is passing away, and new leadership is emerging. God’s faithfulness doesn’t depend on particular people; it transcends generations.

The census also reveals God’s perfect timing. This count happens precisely when Israel needs it—after the wilderness wandering is complete, but before the conquest begins. It’s not too early (they aren’t ready yet) or too late (they need the organization for battle). God’s administrative wisdom matches His redemptive love.

Wait, That’s Strange…

The tribe of Levi isn’t included in the military census, yet they receive their own separate count in verses 57-62. Why count them separately? Because their “service” (tsaba) is spiritual, not military. They fight different battles—against spiritual darkness rather than Canaanite armies.

Key Takeaway

God’s faithfulness transcends our failures. Even when an entire generation dies in the wilderness because of disobedience, God preserves His promises for the next generation. The census reminds us that God counts His people—not to condemn, but to prepare them for the inheritance He’s promised.

Further Reading

Internal Links:

  • Numbers 1:1 – The first census for comparison
  • Numbers 27:1 – Zelophehad’s daughters’ inheritance case
  • Numbers 25:1 – The Baal-Peor incident that preceded this census

External Scholarly Resources:

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