Numbers — Chapter 26
Loading ESV text...
1After the plague had ended, the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron the priest,
2“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.”
3So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest issued the instruction,
4“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:
5Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. These were the descendants of Reuben: The Hanochite clan from Hanoch, the Palluite clan from Pallu,
6the Hezronite clan from Hezron, and the Carmite clan from Carmi.
7These were the clans of Reuben, and their registration numbered 43,730.
8Now the son of Pallu was Eliab,
9and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. It was Dathan and Abiram, chosen by the congregation, who rebelled against Moses and Aaron with the followers of Korah who rebelled against the LORD.
10And 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.
11However, the line of Korah did not die out.
12These were the descendants of Simeon by their clans: The Nemuelite clan from Nemuel, the Jaminite clan from Jamin, the Jachinite clan from Jachin,
13the Zerahite clan from Zerah, and the Shaulite clan from Shaul.
14These were the clans of Simeon, and there were 22,200 men.
15These were the descendants of Gad by their clans: The Zephonite clan from Zephon, the Haggite clan from Haggi, the Shunite clan from Shuni,
16the Oznite clan from Ozni, the Erite clan from Eri,
17the Arodite clan from Arod, and the Arelite clan from Areli.
18These were the clans of Gad, and their registration numbered 40,500.
19The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan.
20These were the descendants of Judah by their clans: The Shelanite clan from Shelah, the Perezite clan from Perez, and the Zerahite clan from Zerah.
21And these were the descendants of Perez: the Hezronite clan from Hezron and the Hamulite clan from Hamul.
22These were the clans of Judah, and their registration numbered 76,500.
23These were the descendants of Issachar by their clans: The Tolaite clan from Tola, the Punite clan from Puvah,
24the Jashubite clan from Jashub, and the Shimronite clan from Shimron.
25These were the clans of Issachar, and their registration numbered 64,300.
26These were the descendants of Zebulun by their clans: The Seredite clan from Sered, the Elonite clan from Elon, and the Jahleelite clan from Jahleel.
27These were the clans of Zebulun, and their registration numbered 60,500.
28The descendants of Joseph included the clans of Manasseh and Ephraim.
29These were the descendants of Manasseh: The Machirite clan from Machir, the father of Gilead, and the Gileadite clan from Gilead.
30These were the descendants of Gilead: the Iezerite clan from Iezer, the Helekite clan from Helek,
31the Asrielite clan from Asriel, the Shechemite clan from Shechem,
32the Shemidaite clan from Shemida, and the Hepherite clan from Hepher.
33Now Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons but only daughters. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
34These were the clans of Manasseh, and their registration numbered 52,700.
35These were the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: The Shuthelahite clan from Shuthelah, the Becherite clan from Becher, and the Tahanite clan from Tahan.
36And the descendants of Shuthelah were the Eranite clan from Eran.
37These were the clans of Ephraim, and their registration numbered 32,500. These clans were the descendants of Joseph.
38These were the descendants of Benjamin by their clans: The Belaite clan from Bela, the Ashbelite clan from Ashbel, the Ahiramite clan from Ahiram,
39the Shuphamite clan from Shupham, and the Huphamite clan from Hupham.
40And the descendants of Bela from Ard and Naaman were the Ardite clan from Ard and the Naamite clan from Naaman.
41These were the clans of Benjamin, and their registration numbered 45,600.
42These were the descendants of Dan by their clans: The Shuhamite clan from Shuham. These were the clans of Dan.
43All of them were Shuhamite clans, and their registration numbered 64,400.
44These were the descendants of Asher by their clans: The Imnite clan from Imnah, the Ishvite clan from Ishvi, and the Beriite clan from Beriah.
45And these were the descendants of Beriah: the Heberite clan from Heber and the Malchielite clan from Malchiel.
46And the name of Asher’s daughter was Serah.
47These were the clans of Asher, and their registration numbered 53,400.
48These were the descendants of Naphtali by their clans: The Jahzeelite clan from Jahzeel, the Gunite clan from Guni,
49the Jezerite clan from Jezer, and the Shillemite clan from Shillem.
50These were the clans of Naphtali, and their registration numbered 45,400.
51These men of Israel numbered 601,730 in all.
52Then the LORD said to Moses,
53“The land is to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance, according to the number of names.
54Increase 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.
55Indeed, the land must be divided by lot; they shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.
56Each inheritance is to be divided by lot among the larger and smaller tribes.”
57Now these were the Levites numbered by their clans: The Gershonite clan from Gershon, the Kohathite clan from Kohath, and the Merarite clan from Merari.
58These 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,
59and 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.
60Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar were born to Aaron,
61but Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.
62The 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.
63These 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.
64Among 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.
65For 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.
1And it came to pass after the plague, that the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,
2Take 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.
3And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,
4Take 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.
5Reuben, 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:
6Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.
7These are the families of the Reubenites: and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty.
8And the sons of Pallu; Eliab.
9And 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:
10And 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.
11Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.
12The 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:
13Of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites: of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
14These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty and two thousand and two hundred.
15The 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:
16Of Ozni, the family of the Oznites: of Eri, the family of the Erites:
17Of Arod, the family of the Arodites: of Areli, the family of the Arelites.
18These are the families of the children of Gad according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred.
19The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
20And 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.
21And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
22These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred.
23Of the sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites:
24Of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites: of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.
25These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred.
26Of 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.
27These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred.
28The sons of Joseph after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim.
29Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites: and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites.
30These are the sons of Gilead: of Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites: of Helek, the family of the Helekites:
31And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites:
32And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
33And 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.
34These are the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.
35These 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.
36And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
37These 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.
38The 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:
39Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites: of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.
40And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites: and of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.
41These are the sons of Benjamin after their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and six hundred.
42These are the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families.
43All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those that were numbered of them, were threescore and four thousand and four hundred.
44Of 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.
45Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites: of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
46And the name of the daughter of Asher was Sarah.
47These 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.
48Of the sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites: of Guni, the family of the Gunites:
49Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites: of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
50These are the families of Naphtali according to their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.
51These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.
52And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
53Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.
54To 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.
55Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.
56According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few.
57And 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.
58These 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.
59And 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.
60And unto Aaron was born Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
61And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.
62And 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.
63These 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.
64But 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.
65For 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.
1And it came to pass after the plague, that Jehovah spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,
2Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers` houses, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel.
3And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,
4[Take the sum of the people], from twenty years old and upward; as Jehovah commanded Moses and the children of Israel, that came forth out of the land of Egypt.
5Reuben, the first-born of Israel; the sons of Reuben: [of] Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites;
6of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.
7These are the families of the Reubenites; and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty.
8And the sons of Pallu: Eliab.
9And the sons of Eliab: Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. These are that Dathan and Abiram, who were called of the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against Jehovah,
10and the earth opened its 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.
11Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah died not.
12The 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;
13of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites; of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
14These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty and two thousand and two hundred.
15The sons 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;
16of Ozni, the family of the Oznites; of Eri, the family of the Erites;
17of Arod, the family of the Arodites; of Areli, the family of the Arelites.
18These are the families of the sons of Gad according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred.
19The sons of Judah: Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
20And the sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites.
21And the sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
22These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred.
23The sons of Issachar after their families: [of] Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the family of the Punites;
24of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.
25These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred.
26The sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Seredites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.
27These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred.
28The sons of Joseph after their families: Manasseh and Ephraim.
29The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir begat Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites.
30These are the sons of Gilead: [of] Iezer, the family of the Iezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites;
31and [of] Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; and [of] Shechem, the family of the Shechemites;
32and [of] Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and [of] Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
33And 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.
34These are the families of Manasseh; and they that were numbered of them were fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.
35These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites; of Becher, the family of the Becherites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
36And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
37These 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.
38The 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;
39of Shephupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.
40And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: [of Ard], the family of the Ardites; of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.
41These are the sons of Benjamin after their families; and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and six hundred.
42These are the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families.
43All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those that were numbered of them, were threescore and four thousand and four hundred.
44The sons of Asher after their families: of Imnah, the family of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the family of the Berites.
45Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
46And the name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.
47These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those that were numbered of them, fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
48The sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites;
49of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
50These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred.
51These are they that were numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.
52And Jehovah spake unto Moses, saying,
53Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.
54To the more thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to the fewer thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one according to those that were numbered of him shall his inheritance be given.
55Notwithstanding, the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.
56According to the lot shall their inheritance be divided between the more and the fewer.
57And 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.
58These are the families of Levi: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korahites. And Kohath begat Amram.
59And the name of Amram`s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.
60And unto Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
61And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before Jehovah.
62And they that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, every male 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.
63These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.
64But among these there was not a man of them that were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.
65For Jehovah 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.
1After the plague the Lord said to Moses and to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest,
2“Take a census of the whole community of Israelites, from twenty years old and upward, by their clans, everyone who can serve in the army of Israel.”
3So Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the rift valley plains of Moab, along the Jordan River across from Jericho. They said,
4“Number the people from twenty years old and upward, just as the Lord commanded Moses and the Israelites who went out from the land of Egypt.”
5Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. The Reubenites: from Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; from Pallu, the family of the Palluites;
6from Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; from Carmi, the family of the Carmites.
7These were the families of the Reubenites; and those numbered of them were 43,730.
8Pallu’s descendant was Eliab.
9Eliab’s descendants were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. It was Dathan and Abiram who as leaders of the community rebelled against Moses and Aaron with the followers of Korah when they rebelled against the Lord.
10The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and Korah at the time that company died, when the fire consumed 250 men. So they became a warning.
11But the descendants of Korah did not die.
12The Simeonites by their families: from Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites; from Jamin, the family of the Jaminites; from Jakin, the family of the Jakinites;
13from Zerah, the family of the Zerahites; and from Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
14These were the families of the Simeonites, 22,200.
15The Gadites by their families: from Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; from Haggi, the family of the Haggites; from Shuni, the family of the Shunites;
16from Ozni, the family of the Oznites; from Eri, the family of the Erites;
17from Arod, the family of the Arodites; and from Areli, the family of the Arelites.
18These were the families of the Gadites according to those numbered of them, 40,500.
19The descendants of Judah were Er and Onan, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
20And the Judahites by their families were: from Shelah, the family of the Shelahites; from Perez, the family of the Perezites; and from Zerah, the family of the Zerahites.
21And the Perezites were: from Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; from Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
22These were the families of Judah according to those numbered of them, 76,500.
23The Issacharites by their families: from Tola, the family of the Tolaites; from Puah, the family of the Puites;
24from Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; and from Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.
25These were the families of Issachar, according to those numbered of them, 64,300.
26The Zebulunites by their families: from Sered, the family of the Sardites; from Elon, the family of the Elonites; from Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.
27These were the families of the Zebulunites, according to those numbered of them, 60,500.
28The descendants of Joseph by their families: Manasseh and Ephraim.
29The Manassehites: from Machir, the family of the Machirites (now Machir became the father of Gilead); from Gilead, the family of the Gileadites.
30These were the Gileadites: from Iezer, the family of the Iezerites; from Helek, the family of the Helekites;
31from Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; from Shechem, the family of the Shechemites;
32from Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; from Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
33Now Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons, but only daughters; and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
34These were the families of Manasseh; those numbered of them were 52,700.
35These are the Ephraimites by their families: from Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites; from Beker, the family of the Bekerites; from Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
36Now these were the Shuthelahites: from Eran, the family of the Eranites.
37These were the families of the Ephraimites, according to those numbered of them, 32,500. These were the descendants of Joseph by their families.
38The Benjaminites by their families: from Bela, the family of the Belaites; from Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; from Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites;
39from Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites; from Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.
40The descendants of Bela were Ard and Naaman. From Ard, the family of the Ardites; from Naaman, the family of the Naamanites.
41These are the Benjaminites, according to their families, and according to those numbered of them, 45,600.
42These are the Danites by their families: from Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These were the families of Dan, according to their families.
43All the families of the Shuhamites according to those numbered of them were 64,400.
44The Asherites by their families: from Imnah, the family of the Imnahites; from Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; from Beriah, the family of the Beriahites.
45From the Beriahites: from Heber, the family of the Heberites; from Malkiel, the family of the Malkielites.
46Now the name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.
47These are the families of the Asherites, according to those numbered of them, 53,400.
48The Naphtalites by their families: from Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; from Guni, the family of the Gunites;
49from Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; from Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
50These were the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those numbered of them were 45,400.
51These were those numbered of the Israelites, 601,730.
52Then the Lord spoke to Moses:
53“To these the land must be divided as an inheritance according to the number of the names.
54To a larger group you will give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group you will give a smaller inheritance. To each one its inheritance must be given according to the number of people in it.
55The land must be divided by lot; and they will inherit in accordance with the names of their ancestral tribes.
56Their inheritance must be apportioned by lot among the larger and smaller groups.”
57And these are the Levites who were numbered according to their families: from Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; from Merari, the family of the Merarites.
58These 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 Korahites. Kohath became the father of Amram.
59Now the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. And to Amram she bore Aaron, Moses, and Miriam their sister.
60And to Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
61But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before the Lord.
62Those of the Levites who were numbered were 23,000, all males from a month old and upward, for they were not numbered among the Israelites; no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.
63These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the Israelites in the rift valley plains of Moab along the Jordan River opposite Jericho.
64But there was not a man among these who had been among those numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they numbered the Israelites in the desert of Sinai.
65For the Lord had said of them, “They will surely die in the wilderness.” And there was not left a single man of them, except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.
1After the plague, Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,
2“Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers’ houses, all who are able to go out to war in Israel.”
3Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,
4“Take a census, from twenty years old and upward; as Yahweh commanded Moses and the children of Israel.” These are those that came out of the land of Egypt.
5Reuben, the firstborn of Israel; the sons of Reuben: of Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites;
6of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.
7These are the families of the Reubenites; and those who were counted of them were forty-three thousand seven hundred thirty.
8The sons of Pallu: Eliab.
9The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. These are that Dathan and Abiram, who were called by the congregation, who rebelled against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they rebelled against Yahweh,
10and the earth opened its mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died; at the time the fire devoured two hundred fifty men, and they became a sign.
11Notwithstanding, the sons of Korah didn’t die.
12The 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;
13of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites; of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
14These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty-two thousand two hundred.
15The sons 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;
16of Ozni, the family of the Oznites; of Eri, the family of the Erites;
17of Arod, the family of the Arodites; of Areli, the family of the Arelites.
18These are the families of the sons of Gad according to those who were counted of them, forty thousand and five hundred.
19The sons of Judah: Er and Onan. Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
20The sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites.
21The sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
22These are the families of Judah according to those who were counted of them, seventy-six thousand five hundred.
23The sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the family of the Punites;
24of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.
25These are the families of Issachar according to those who were counted of them, sixty-four thousand three hundred.
26The sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Seredites; of Elon, the family of the Elonites; of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.
27These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those who were counted of them, sixty thousand five hundred.
28The sons of Joseph after their families: Manasseh and Ephraim.
29The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir became the father of Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites.
30These are the sons of Gilead: of Iezer, the family of the Iezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites;
31and Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; and Shechem, the family of the Shechemites;
32and Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; and Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
33Zelophehad 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.
34These are the families of Manasseh. Those who were counted of them were fifty-two thousand seven hundred.
35These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites; of Becher, the family of the Becherites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
36These are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
37These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those who were counted of them, thirty-two thousand five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families.
38The 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;
39of Shephupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.
40The sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: the family of the Ardites; of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.
41These are the sons of Benjamin after their families; and those who were counted of them were forty-five thousand six hundred.
42These are the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families.
43All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those who were counted of them, were sixty-four thousand four hundred.
44The sons of Asher after their families: of Imnah, the family of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the family of the Berites.
45Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
46The name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.
47These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those who were counted of them, fifty-three thousand and four hundred.
48The sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites;
49of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
50These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those who were counted of them were forty-five thousand four hundred.
51These are those who were counted of the children of Israel, six hundred one thousand seven hundred thirty.
52Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
53“To these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.
54To the more you shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer you shall give the less inheritance. To everyone according to those who were counted of him shall his inheritance be given.
55Notwithstanding, the land shall be divided by lot. According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.
56According to the lot shall their inheritance be divided between the more and the fewer.”
57These are those who were counted 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.
58These are the families of Levi: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korahites. Kohath became the father of Amram.
59The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. She bore to Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.
60To Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.
61Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire before Yahweh.
62Those who were counted of them were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and upward; for they were not counted among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.
63These are those who were counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who counted the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.
64But among these there was not a man of them who were counted by Moses and Aaron the priest, who counted the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.
65For Yahweh had said of them, “They shall surely die in the wilderness.” There was not a man left of them, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun.
Summary
Following the plague at Peor, God commands a second census of all Israelite men twenty and older able to serve in the army, organized tribe by tribe as in chapter 1 (vv. 1-4, 51). The total comes to 601,730, remarkably close to the number from the first census nearly forty years earlier, even though this is now an entirely new generation, since none of those counted the first time remained alive except Caleb and Joshua (vv. 63-65). The chapter also records the Levite census separately, since they receive no land inheritance, and notes several family lines, including a brief mention of Zelophehad, who had no sons (vv. 57-62, 33). The land is to be divided among the tribes by lot, in proportion to each tribe's size (vv. 52-56).
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Plains of Moab: The second census is taken here, east of Jordan, preparing for the conquest of Canaan. The old generation has perished in the wilderness.
Places on this map
- Moabwest-central JordanThe plateau east of the Dead Sea, cut off from Israel by the rift valley and from Ammon by the Arnon gorge. High enough to farm grain, which is why Naomi's family went there in a famine. Wikipedia
- Jordan RiverIsrael / Jordan borderRuns about 65 miles as the crow flies from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea, dropping from 700 to 1,400 feet below sea level. Narrow enough to wade at most fords, it was still the boundary that divided wilderness from inheritance. Wikipedia
- CanaanIsrael, West Bank, LebanonThe land bridge between Egypt and Mesopotamia, which is why armies crossed it for three thousand years. Within about 60 miles it goes from coastal plain to hill country to rift valley to desert plateau, so control of it was always local and piecemeal. Wikipedia
Towns sit on their excavated or traditional site. Regions, rivers and seas are ringed rather than dotted, because for those a single point is only an anchor. Coastlines from Natural Earth.
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik notes the remarkable stability of Israel's total population despite 38 years of judgment — God preserved the nation even while disciplining it. He highlights Simeon's dramatic decline as evidence of corporate consequences for tribal sin.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown (1871): blueletterbible.org A critical and explanatory commentary on the whole Bible, more concise than Matthew Henry and closer to the Hebrew and Greek, with attention to historical and geographical detail. Public domain.
- Matthew Henry's Exposition (1710): blueletterbible.org A devotional verse-by-verse commentary in the Puritan tradition, still among the most widely read three centuries on. Public domain.
Videos
Articles
- BibleProject: bibleproject.com On the whole book: what the census lists and wilderness years are doing in Scripture.
- GotQuestions.org: gotquestions.org On the whole book: an overview of the book of Numbers -- who wrote it, when, why, and how it fits the rest of Scripture.
Links open on the publisher's own site. Nothing here is reproduced on this page.
Reflection
- A New Generation on the Border (vv.1-4) — The census is taken on the plains of Moab, counting the generation that will actually enter and inherit the land their parents forfeited through unbelief. Are you part of a generation that refuses God's calling, or one that steps forward to receive it?
- Warnings Preserved for the Next Generation (v.10) — The census pauses to recall Korah's rebellion as a lasting caution for those who would come after. What warnings from the past are you actually heeding rather than ignoring?
- Grace Breaks the Cycle of Failure (v.11) — Though Korah died in judgment, his sons did not, and their descendants later became some of the psalmists. Do you believe God can redeem your family line even where past generations failed badly?
- Corporate Consequences of One Tribe's Sin (v.14) — Simeon's numbers drop dramatically, likely reflecting the tribe's deep involvement in the sin at Baal-Peor. Do you recognize how your choices as a leader or influencer ripple out to affect the wider community around you?
- God's Word Fulfilled to the Letter (v.65) — Every member of the generation God said would die in the wilderness has now died, exactly as He declared decades earlier. If God kept His hardest word completely, what confidence does that give you that He will also keep His promises of blessing?