Numbers 26:1-53
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.
firstborn <01060> [the eldest.]
[thy children.]
earth opened <06605 0776> [earth opened.]
Korah <07141> [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, (Ps 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."
warning <05251> [they became a sign.]
It seems to be intimated in ch. 16:27, 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 ver. 27, we shall find, that the sons and the little ones of Dathan and Abiram alone are mentioned.
Nemuel <05241> [Nemuel.]
[Jemuel. Jachin.]
[Jarib.]
Zerah <02226> [Zerah.]
[Zohar.]
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 De ch. 33, bestows no blessing upon this tribe.
Zephon <06827> [Zephon.]
[Ziphion, Haggai, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, Areli.]
[or, Ezbon.]
[Arodi.]
Er ... Onan ... Er ... Onan <0209 06147> [Er and Onan.]
Shelah <07956> [Shelah.]
Perez <06557> [Pharez.]
[Perez.]
[Phares. Zerah.]
[Zarah.]
Issacharites <01121> [the sons.]
Puah <06312> [Pua. or, Phuvah.]
Jashub <03437> [Jashub. or, Job.]
64,300 <08346> [threescore.]
Machir ........ Machir <04353> [Machir.]
Iezer <0372> [Jeezer. called Abiezer.]
Zelophehad .................. Zelophehad <06765> [Zelophehad.]
Beker <01071> [Becher.]
[Bered. Tahath. Eladah. Tahath.]
Benjaminites <01144 01121> [sons of Benjamin.]
Ahiram <0297> [Ahiram.]
[Ehi.]
[Aharah.]
Shupham <08197> [Shupham.]
[Muppim, and Huppim.]
Ard ... Naaman .......... Naaman <05283 0714> [Ard and Naaman.]
[Addar.]
[Shuam.]
[Hushim.]
Asherites <0836 01121> [the children of Asher.]
[Jimnah. Ishuah. Isui.]
[Imnah. Isuah. Ishuai.]
Serah <08294> [Sarah.]
[Serah.]
Naphtalites <05321 01121> [the sons of Naphtali.]
Shillem <08006> [Shillem.]
[Shallum.]
The following comparative statement will show how much some of the tribes had increased, and others had diminished, since the enumeration in ch. 1: Now. Before. 1. Reuben 43,730 46,500 2. Simeon 22,200 59,300 3. Gad 40,500 45,650 4. Judah 76,500 74,600 5. Issachar 64,300 54,400 6. Zebulun 60,500 57,400 7. Manasseh 52,700 32,200 8. Ephraim 32,500 40,500 9. Benjamin 45,600 35,400 10. Dan 64,400 62,700 11. Asher 53,400 41,500 12. Naphtali 45,400 53,400 _______ _______ Total 601,730 603,550 _______ _______ Thus we find there was the following increase and decrease in the several tribes: 1. Reuben 2,770 decrease 2. Simeon 37,100 decrease 3. Gad 5,150 decrease 4. Judah 1,900 increase 5. Issachar 9,900 increase 6. Zebulun 3,100 increase 7. Manasseh 20,500 increase 8. Ephraim 8,000 decrease 9. Benjamin 10,200 increase 10. Dan 1,700 increase 11. Asher 11,900 increase 12. Naphtali 8,000 decrease _______________ Decrease in all . . . . . . 61,020 Increase in all . . . . . . 59,200 ______ Decrease on the whole . . . 1,820 It should be observed, that among these there was not one of the former census, except Joshua and Caleb. (See ver. 64, 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.
