Verse 1

Introduction

Overview

Numbers 26 . 1 , The sum of all Israel is taken in the plains of Moab; Numbers 26 . 52 , The law of dividing among them the inheritance of the land; Numbers 26 . 57 , The families and number of the Levites; Numbers 26 . 63 , None was left of them which were numbered at Sinai , but Caleb and Joshua.

Numbers 25 . 9

Reciprocal . Genesis 17 . 4 . a father Genesis 42 . 13 . Thy servants Genesis 46 . 15 . Leah Numbers 1 . 19 . General Numbers 1 . 21 . General Numbers 26 . 7 . General Numbers 32 . 16 . General Ruth 4 . 11 . Rachel

Verse 2

The plague having swept away the last of that devoted generation , which provoked the Lord to "swear in his wrath that they should not enter" Canaan; he now , after an interval of 38 years , commands another census of the Israelites to be made , to preserve the distinction of families , and to regulate the tribes previous to their entry into the promised land , as well as to ascertain the proportion of land which should be allotted to each tribe. For , though the whole was divided by lot , yet the portions were so disposed , that a numerous tribe did not draw where the lots assigned small inheritances , or the contrary. Numbers 1 . 2 , Numbers 1 . 3 , Exodus 30 . 12 , Exodus 38 . 25 , Exodus 38 . 26

Reciprocal . Exodus 30 . 14 . from twenty Numbers 1 . 19 . General Numbers 32 . 11 . from twenty

Verse 3

Numbers 26 . 63 , Numbers 22 . 1 , Numbers 31 . 12 , Numbers 33 . 48 , Numbers 35 . 1 , Deuteronomy 4 . 46-49 , Deuteronomy 34 . 1 , Deuteronomy 34 . 6 , Deuteronomy 34 . 8

Reciprocal . Numbers 36 . 13 . in the plains of Moab

Verse 4

Numbers 1 . 1 , 1 Chronicles 21 . 1

Verse 5

the eldest . Genesis 29 . 32 , Genesis 49 . 2 , Genesis 49 . 3 , 1 Chronicles 5 . 1 , thy children , Genesis 46 . 8 , Genesis 46 . 9 , Exodus 6 . 14 , 1 Chronicles 5 . 3

Reciprocal . Numbers 1 . 20 . General Numbers 10 . 18 . the camp Numbers 32 . 1 . the children 1 Chronicles 2 . 1 . Reuben

Verse 6

Reciprocal . Exodus 6 . 14 . The sons Numbers 14 . 31 . little ones Ecclesiastes 3 . 3 . a time to heal

Verse 7

Numbers 26 . 1 , Numbers 26 . 21 , Numbers 2 . 11 , Genesis 46 . 9

Reciprocal . Exodus 6 . 14 . these be Numbers 1 . 21 . General 1 Chronicles 5 . 6 . Reubenites

Verse 9

Numbers 1 . 16 , Numbers 16 . 1 , Numbers 16 . 2-35 , Psalm 106 . 17 , Jude 1 . 11

Reciprocal . Exodus 6 . 24 . Korah Numbers 27 . 3 . in the company Deuteronomy 11 . 6 . he did unto 1 Chronicles 9 . 19 . Korah 1 Chronicles 26 . 1 . Korhites

Verse 10

earth opened . Numbers 16 . 2 , Numbers 16 . 31-35 , Numbers 16 . 38 , Numbers 27 . 3 , Exodus 16 . 35 , Psalm 106 . 17 , Psalm 106 . 18

together . The Samaritan text does not intimate that Korah was swallowed up , but that he was burnt , as appears to have been the fact; and the Psalmist also . Psalm 106 . 17 , only mentions Dathan and Abiram as having been swallowed up. "And the earth swallowed them up , what time that company died; and the fire devoured Korah with the 250 men , who became a sign."

they became a sign . Numbers 16 . 38 , 1 Samuel 2 . 34 , Jeremiah 29 . 22 , Ezekiel 14 . 8 , 1 Corinthians 10 . 6-10 , 2 Peter 2 . 6 , Jude 1 . 7

Reciprocal . Exodus 6 . 21 . Korah Numbers 16 . 1 . Korah Numbers 16 . 35 . And there Deuteronomy 11 . 6 . he did unto 2 Samuel 20 . 19 . swallow 1 Chronicles 6 . 37 . Korah Proverbs 1 . 12 . whole

Verse 11

It seems to be intimated in Numbers 16 . 27 , Numbers 16 . 31-33 , that the sons and the little ones of Korah , Dathan , and Abiram , were swallowed up; but the text here expressly affirms , that the children of Korah "died not;" and their descendants were famous even in David's time. On a close inspection , however , of Numbers 26 . 27 , we shall find , that the sons and the little ones of Dathan and Abiram alone are mentioned. Numbers 16 . 5 , Exodus 6 . 24 , 1 Chronicles 6 . 22 1 Chronicles 6 . 22-28 , Psalm 42 . 1 , Psalm 44 . 1 , Psalm 45 . 1 , Psalm 46 . 1 , Psalm 47 . 1 , *titles Psalm 48 . 1 , Psalm 49 . 1 , Psalm 50 . 1 , *titles

Reciprocal . Exodus 6 . 21 . Korah Numbers 16 . 32 . all the Numbers 17 . 12 . Behold 1 Chronicles 6 . 37 . Korah

Verse 12

Nemuel . Genesis 46 . 10 , Exodus 6 . 15 , Jemuel

Jachin . 1 Kings 7 . 21 , 1 Chronicles 4 . 24 , Jarib

Reciprocal . Numbers 1 . 22 . General

Verse 13

Zerah . Genesis 46 . 10 , Zohar

Reciprocal . Exodus 6 . 15 . sons 1 Chronicles 2 . 4 . Zerah

Verse 14

The immense decrease of this tribe , no less than 37 ,100 , renders it highly probable , that , influenced by the bad example of Zimri , the Simeonites had been peculiarly criminal in the late wickedness , and that multitudes of them had died of the plague. It is remarkable , that Moses , in Deut. 33 , bestows no blessing upon this tribe. Numbers 1 . 22 , Numbers 1 . 23 , Numbers 2 . 12 , Numbers 2 . 13

Reciprocal . Numbers 25 . 14 . the Simeonites 1 Chronicles 4 . 27 . like to Revelation 7 . 7 . Simeon

Verse 15

Zephon . Numbers 2 . 14 , Genesis 46 . 16 , Ziphion , Haggai

Shuni . Ezbon , Eri , Arodi , Areli

Reciprocal . Numbers 1 . 24 . General Numbers 32 . 1 . the children

Reciprocal . 1 Chronicles 4 . 27 . like to

Verse 23

the sons . Numbers 2 . 5 , Genesis 30 . 17 , Genesis 30 . 18 , Genesis 46 . 13 , 1 Chronicles 7 . 1

Pua . or , Phuvah

Reciprocal . Numbers 10 . 22 . the camp

Verse 24

Jashub . or , Job , Genesis 46 . 13

Reciprocal . 1 Chronicles 7 . 1 . General

Verse 25

threescore . Numbers 1 . 28 , Numbers 1 . 29 , Numbers 2 . 5 , Numbers 2 . 6

Reciprocal . Ezekiel 20 . 13 . I said

Verse 26

Genesis 30 . 19 , Genesis 30 . 20 , Genesis 46 . 14

Reciprocal . Numbers 1 . 30 . General Numbers 2 . 8 . General

Verse 27

Numbers 1 . 30 , Numbers 1 . 31 , Numbers 2 . 7 , Numbers 2 . 8

Reciprocal . Genesis 46 . 14 . Zebulun Numbers 26 . 11 . General

Verse 28

Genesis 41 . 51 , Genesis 41 . 52 , Genesis 46 . 20 , Genesis 48 . 5 , Genesis 48 . 13-20

Reciprocal . Genesis 48 . 16 . a multitude

Verse 29

Machir . Numbers 32 . 39 , Numbers 32 . 40 , Numbers 36 . 1 , Genesis 48 . 14 , Deuteronomy 3 . 15 , Joshua 17 . 1 , Judges 5 . 14 , 1 Chronicles 7 . 14-19

Reciprocal . Joshua 17 . 2 . the rest 1 Chronicles 2 . 21 . Machir

Verse 30

Jeezer . called Abiezer , Joshua 17 . 2 , Judges 6 . 11 , Judges 6 . 24 , Judges 6 . 34 , Judges 8 . 2

Reciprocal . 1 Chronicles 7 . 18 . General

Verse 31

Reciprocal . Joshua 17 . 2 . children of Asriel

Verse 32

Reciprocal . Joshua 17 . 2 . children of Hepher

Verse 33

Zelophehad . Numbers 27 . 1 , Numbers 36 . 10-12

Reciprocal . Joshua 17 . 3 . General 1 Chronicles 7 . 15 . and Zelophehad

Verse 34

Numbers 1 . 34 , Numbers 1 . 35 , Numbers 2 . 20 , Numbers 2 . 21

Reciprocal . Genesis 48 . 16 . grow into Deuteronomy 33 . 17 . the ten thousands Joshua 17 . 14 . one lot

Verse 35

Becher . 1 Chronicles 7 . 20 , 1 Chronicles 7 . 21 , Bered , Tahath , Eladah , Tahath

Reciprocal . Numbers 1 . 32 . General

Verse 36

Reciprocal . 1 Chronicles 7 . 20 . General

Verse 37

Numbers 1 . 32 , Numbers 1 . 33 , Numbers 2 . 18 , Numbers 2 . 19

Reciprocal . Genesis 48 . 16 . grow into Deuteronomy 33 . 17 . the ten thousands Judges 12 . 6 . forty

Verse 38

sons of Benjamin . 1 Chronicles 7 . 6-12

Ahiram . Genesis 46 . 2 , Ehi , 1 Chronicles 8 . 1 , Aharah

Reciprocal . Genesis 46 . 19 . Joseph Genesis 46 . 21 . Ehi 1 Chronicles 7 . 12 . Aher

Verse 39

Shupham . Genesis 46 . 21 , Muppim , and Huppim

Reciprocal . 1 Chronicles 7 . 12 . Huppim 1 Chronicles 8 . 5 . Shephuphan

Verse 40

Ard and Naaman . 1 Chronicles 8 . 3 , Addar

Verse 41

Numbers 1 . 36 , Numbers 1 . 37 , Numbers 2 . 22 , Numbers 2 . 23 , Genesis 46 . 21

Reciprocal . Judges 20 . 15 . twenty

Verse 42

Shuham . Genesis 46 . 23 , Hushim

Reciprocal . Numbers 10 . 25 . the camp

Verse 43

Numbers 1 . 38 , Numbers 1 . 39 , Numbers 2 . 25 , Numbers 2 . 26

Reciprocal . Genesis 46 . 23 . Hushim

Verse 44

the children of Asher . Genesis 46 . 17 , Jimnah , Ishuah , Isui , 1 Chronicles 7 . 30 , Imnah , Isuah , Ishuai

Verse 46

Sarah . Genesis 46 . 17 , Serah

Verse 47

Numbers 1 . 40 , Numbers 1 . 41 , Numbers 2 . 27 , Numbers 2 . 28

Verse 48

the sons of Naphtali . Genesis 46 . 24 , 1 Chronicles 7 . 13

Reciprocal . Numbers 2 . 29 . the tribe

Verse 49

Shillem . 1 Chronicles 7 . 13 , Shallum

Verse 50

Numbers 1 . 42 , Numbers 1 . 43 , Numbers 2 . 29 , Numbers 2 . 30

Verse 51

The following comparative statement will show how much some of the tribes had increased , and others had diminished , since the enumeration in chapter 1. Thus we find there was the following increase and decrease in the several tribes .

Tribe Now Before Change + / .

Judah 76 ,500 74 ,600 1 ,900 increase

Dan 64 ,400 62 ,700 1 ,700 increase

Simeon 22 ,200 59 ,300 37 ,100 decrease

Zebulun 60 ,500 57 ,400 3 ,100 increase

Issachar 64 ,300 54 ,400 9 ,900 increase

Naphtali 45 ,400 53 ,400 8 ,000 decrease

Reuben 43 ,730 46 ,500 2 ,770 decrease

Gad 40 ,500 45 ,650 5 ,150 decrease

Asher 53 ,400 41 ,500 11 ,900 increase

Ephraim 32 ,500 40 ,500 8 ,000 decrease

Benjamin 45 ,600 35 ,400 10 ,200 increase

Manasseh 52 ,700 32 ,200 20 ,500 increase

Totals . 601 ,730 603 ,550

Decreases 61 ,020

Increases 59 ,200

Change -1 ,820

It should be observed , that among these there was not one of the former census , except Joshua and Caleb. . See note on Numbers 26 . 64 , and see note on Numbers 26 . 65. Thus , though there was such an amazing increase in seven tribes , yet so great was the decrease in the other five tribes , that the balance against the present census is 1 ,820 , as appears above. Notwithstanding the amazing increase in some , and decrease in other tribes , the same sort of proportion is kept in their several divisions; so as to keep the division in the front the largest , and that in the rear the next. Numbers 1 . 46 , Numbers 2 . 32 , Nehemiah 9 . 23 , Job 12 . 9 , Job 12 . 10 , Job 12 . 14 , Job 12 . 20-23 , Psalm 77 . 20

Reciprocal . Deuteronomy 10 . 22 . as the stars Judges 20 . 17 . four hundred

Verse 52

Reciprocal . Joshua 11 . 23 . according to their

Verse 53

Genesis 12 . 2 , Genesis 12 . 7 , Joshua 11 . 23 , Joshua 14 . 1 , Psalm 49 . 14 , Psalm 105 . 44 , Ezekiel 47 . 22 , Daniel 7 . 27 , Matthew 5 . 5 , Revelation 5 . 10 , Revelation 21 . 27

Reciprocal . Numbers 33 . 54 . ye shall divide Joshua 13 . 7 . General 1 Chronicles 16 . 18 . inheritance Acts 13 . 19 . he divided

Verse 54

many . Numbers 32 . 3 , Numbers 32 . 5 , Numbers 33 . 54 , Joshua 17 . 14

give the more . Heb. multiply his

give the less . Heb. diminish his.

Reciprocal . Numbers 35 . 8 . from them Joshua 18 . 6 . that I may cast Joshua 18 . 28 . according

Verse 55

by lot . Numbers 26 . 56 , Numbers 33 . 54 , Numbers 34 . 13 , Joshua 11 . 23 , Joshua 14 . 2 , Joshua 17 . 14 , Joshua 18 . 6 , Joshua 18 . 10 , Joshua 18 . 11 , Joshua 19 . 1 , Joshua 19 . 10 , Joshua 19 . 17 , Joshua 19 . 24 , Joshua 19 . 32 , Joshua 19 . 40 , Proverbs 16 . 33 , Proverbs 18 . 18 , Acts 1 . 26 , Colossians 1 . 12 , Revelation 7 . 4-8

Reciprocal . Leviticus 16 . 8 . cast lots Numbers 36 . 2 . The Lord commanded Joshua 15 . 1 . This then was the lot Judges 21 . 17 . an inheritance

Verse 56

This division by lot seems to have respect only to the quarter , or situation , which each tribe was to possess , and not to the quantity or extent of land , which was to be proportioned to the numbers of each tribe , according to the register now formed. Thus , for instance , it was determined by lot which of the twelve tribes was to inherit in the south , which in the north , etc. . then , in that quarter where the lot fell , a larger or smaller portion of land was assigned them , according to the goodness of the soil , and in proportion as they were more or less numerous. Thus the decreasing of any tribe in the wilderness , proved the decrease of their future political importance and affluence in all succeeding ages. This equal division of property was , under God , the great bulwark and strength of the Hebrew commonwealth. According to the most exact calculations , Canaan contained 14 ,976 ,000 acres; which , divided among 600 ,000 men , will allow of more than 21 acres and a half to each , with a remainder of 1 ,976 ,000 acres for the princes of tribes , Levitical cities , etc. , so that there was an ample provision to enable each person , with all the advantages of that fertile country and fine climate , to live , if not in affluent , yet in very comfortable circumstances. Canaan lies between lat. 31 degrees and 33 degrees 30 minutes n , and long. 35 degrees and 37 degrees e; its length , from the city of Dan to Beersheba , is about 200 miles; and its breadth , from the shores of the Mediterranean to the eastern borders , about 90. The Canaanites , the descendants of Canaan , son of Ham , and the original inhabitants of the land , were divided into seven principal nations . the Amorites , Hittites , Jebusites , Girgashites , Canaanites , Perizzites , and Hivites , and formed themselves into almost as many kingdoms as they had cities. After their defeat by the Israelites , such as escaped the sword became tributary; but in process of time , having seduced them to their idolatries , they recovered many of the strongest places in the country; and even formed themselves into a mighty kingdom in Galilee. They were , however , again defeated by Barak , but were not finally subdued till the reign of David and Solomon; the latter of whom employed 153 ,600 in the most servile parts of the work of building the temple , palace , etc. Romans 11 . 7 , 1 Corinthians 12 . 4

Reciprocal . Numbers 26 . 55 . by lot Numbers 36 . 2 . The Lord commanded Joshua 14 . 2 . lot Joshua 15 . 1 . This then was the lot 1 Chronicles 24 . 31 . lots