A new census is taken of all the male Israelites age 20 and older. This number indicates the number of Israelites who are able to go to war and does not include the Levites, who are in charge of the tent of meeting and do not go to war. This census numbers the generation that is to enter the promised land, and parallels the first census of Numbers 1 that totaled the number that escaped Egypt. The preceding generation was sentenced to die in the wilderness because of their iniquity. Even Moses is to die (Aaron has died already). The last of the Egyptian generation died in Numbers 25, with the exception of Moses, Joshua, and Caleb. Only Joshua and Caleb will see the promised land, a reward for their steadfast faith in the Lord.
A Census of the New Generation: Numbers 26
I'll put this here to save you the trouble: the census records 601,730 men age 20 and older. Compare this to 603,550 of the Egyptian generation. The numbers have not declined so much since the start of the exodus.
Inheritance of land will be determined by the size of the tribe.
Here is how this chart works: The top level is the (deceased) tribal forebear, along with the number of descendants within that tribe. Beneath are his sons. Beneath those are their sons. It might seem a bit strange that the daughter of Zelophehad are all mentioned. This is done for a good reason - as we will discover in tomorrow's reading.
- Reuben (43,730)
- Simeon (22,200)
- Nemuel
- Jamin
- Jachin
- Zerah
- Shaul
- Gad (40,500)
- Zephon
- Haggi
- Shuni
- Ozni
- Eri
- Arod
- Areli
- Judah (76,500)
- Er [deceased - way back in Genesis]
- Onan [deceased - in the same story]
- Shelah
- Perez
- Hezron
- Hamul
- Zerah
- Issachar (64,300)
- Tola
- Puvah
- Jashub
- Shimron
- Zebulun (60,500)
- Sered
- Elon
- Jahleel
- Manasseh (Son of Joseph, whose tribe is divided to maintain 12 tribes with the removal of the Levites) (52,700)
- Machir
- Gilead
- Iezar
- Helek
- Asriel
- Shechem
- Shemida
- Hepher
- Zelophehad (has no sons)
- Mahlah (daughter)
- Noah (daughter)
- Hoglah (daughter)
- Milcah (daughter)
- Tizrah (daughter)
- Ephraim (Son of Joseph, whose tribe is divided to maintain 12 tribes with the removal of the Levites) (32,500)
- Shuthelah
- Eran
- Becher
- Tahan
- Benjamin (45,600)
- Bela
- Ard
- Naaman
- Ashbel
- Ahiram
- Shephupham
- Hupham
- Dan (64,400)
- Shuham
- Asher (53,400)
- Imnah
- Ishvi
- Beriah
- Heber
- Malchiel
- Serah (daughter)
- Naphtali (45,400)
- Jahzeel
- Guni
- Jezer
- Shillem
A census is then taken of the Levites, counting every male age one month and older. The total comes to 23,000.
In fact, two genealogies are given. The first genealogy consists of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. This genealogy then descends into the line of Aaron: Kohath is the father of Amram, whose wife is Jochebed daughter of Levi. Amram and Jochebed's children are Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. Aaron's children are Nadab, Abihu (both deceased) Eleazar, and Ithamar.
The second genealogy consists of the Libnites, Hebronites, Mahlites, Mushites, and Korahites.
So What
Again, the Israelites that complained in the wilderness have all died out, with the exception of Caleb, Joshua, and Moses. And Moses will die before the Israelites enter the promised land. The chapter ends:
In fact, two genealogies are given. The first genealogy consists of Gershon, Kohath, and Merari. This genealogy then descends into the line of Aaron: Kohath is the father of Amram, whose wife is Jochebed daughter of Levi. Amram and Jochebed's children are Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. Aaron's children are Nadab, Abihu (both deceased) Eleazar, and Ithamar.
The second genealogy consists of the Libnites, Hebronites, Mahlites, Mushites, and Korahites.
So What
Again, the Israelites that complained in the wilderness have all died out, with the exception of Caleb, Joshua, and Moses. And Moses will die before the Israelites enter the promised land. The chapter ends:
These were those enrolled by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who enrolled the Israelites in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho. Among these there was not one of those enrolled by Moses and Aaron the priest, who had enrolled the Israelites in the wilderness of Sinai. For the Lord had said of them, ‘They shall die in the wilderness.’ Not one of them was left, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
(Num. 26.63-65)
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