THE SECOND CENSUS
Key verse: 1,2
NIV
The Second Census
26 After the plague(A) the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, 2 “Take a census(B) of the whole Israelite community by families—all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army(C) of Israel.” 3 So on the plains of Moab(D) by the Jordan across from Jericho,(E) Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them and said, 4 “Take a census of the men twenty years old or more, as the Lord commanded Moses.”
These were the Israelites who came out of Egypt:(F)
5 The descendants of Reuben,(G) the firstborn son of Israel, were:
through Hanok,(H) the Hanokite clan;
through Pallu,(I) the Palluite clan;
6 through Hezron,(J) the Hezronite clan;
through Karmi,(K) the Karmite clan.
7 These were the clans of Reuben; those numbered were 43,730.
8 The son of Pallu was Eliab, 9 and the sons of Eliab(L) were Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. The same Dathan and Abiram were the community(M) officials who rebelled against Moses and Aaron and were among Korah’s followers when they rebelled against the Lord.(N) 10 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them(O) along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire devoured the 250 men.(P) And they served as a warning sign.(Q) 11 The line of Korah,(R) however, did not die out.(S)
Cross references
- Numbers 26:1 : S Nu 14:37; 25:8
- Numbers 26:2 : Ex 30:11-16
- Numbers 26:2 : S Nu 1:3
- Numbers 26:3 : ver 63; Nu 33:48; Jos 13:32
- Numbers 26:3 : Nu 22:1
- Numbers 26:4 : S Ex 6:14; S 13:3
- Numbers 26:5 : Nu 1:20
- Numbers 26:5 : S Ge 46:9
- Numbers 26:5 : 1Ch 5:3
- Numbers 26:6 : 1Ch 5:3
- Numbers 26:6 : Ge 46:9
- Numbers 26:9 : Nu 16:1
- Numbers 26:9 : Nu 1:16
- Numbers 26:9 : S Nu 16:2
- Numbers 26:10 : S Ex 15:12
- Numbers 26:10 : S Nu 16:35
- Numbers 26:10 : S Ex 3:12; S Nu 16:38
- Numbers 26:11 : Ex 6:24
- Numbers 26:11 : Nu 16:33; Dt 5:9; 24:16; 2Ki 14:6; 2Ch 25:4; Eze 18:20
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Census of the New Generation
26 (A)After the plague, the Lord said to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron, the priest, 2 (B)“Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers' houses, all in Israel who are able to go to war.” 3 And Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them (C)in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, 4 “Take a census of the people,[a] from twenty years old and upward,” as the Lord (D)commanded Moses. The people of Israel who came out of the land of Egypt were:
5 (E)Reuben, the firstborn of Israel; the sons of Reuben: of Hanoch, the clan of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the clan of the Palluites; 6 of Hezron, the clan of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the clan of the Carmites. 7 These are the clans of the Reubenites, and those listed were (F)43,730. 8 And the sons of Pallu: Eliab. 9 The sons of Eliab: Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. These are the Dathan and Abiram, (G)chosen from the congregation, who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the Lord 10 and (H)the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, and (I)they became a warning. 11 But (J)the sons of Korah did not die.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- Numbers 26:4 Take a census of the people is implied (compare verse 2)
Cross references
- Numbers 26:1 : ch. 25:9
- Numbers 26:2 : ch. 1:2, 3; Ex. 30:12; 38:25, 26
- Numbers 26:3 : ver. 63; See ch. 22:1
- Numbers 26:4 : ch. 1:1
- Numbers 26:5 : Gen. 46:8, 9; Ex. 6:14; 1 Chr. 5:1-3
- Numbers 26:7 : [ch. 1:21]
- Numbers 26:9 : ch. 1:16; 16:2
- Numbers 26:10 : See ch. 16:31-35
- Numbers 26:10 : ch. 16:38; [1 Cor. 10:6; 2 Pet. 2:6]
- Numbers 26:11 : Ex. 6:24; 1 Chr. 6:22; [ch. 16:32]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. Take a census of fighting men (1-51)
Forty years had passed since the Israelites left Egypt. They were now on the plains of Moab, just across the river from Jericho. They had defeated the Amorite kings east of the Jordan, but had been defeated by the women of Moab. God had purified them with a plague. Now the time had come to enter and conquer the promised land. The census was to count the men who could fight, and to remind them of the failures that had come from rebellion, disobedience and unbelief. The cowards of forty years before were all dead (64-65). The irreverent sons of Aaron and the rebels who joined Korah were dead (8-1
; 61). No one should repeat the mistakes of the past.
2. To divide the inheritance (52-65)
This census was also a basis for dividing the land after the conquest. It planted in their hearts a sure hope of victory. God who promised them the land would give it to them when they boldly claimed it. They would begin the battle confident of victory.
Prayer: Lord, thank you for your discipline which trains us to fight the good fight of faith.
One Word: Ready to fight and win
