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26 After that the blood of (the) guilty men was shed out, the Lord said to Moses and to Eleazar, the priest, [the] son of Aaron,

Reckon ye all the number of the sons of Israel, from twenty years and above (from twenty years of age and older), by their houses, and their kindreds, (yea,) all (the) men that be able to go forth to battles.

And so Moses and Eleazar, the priest, spake in the field places of Moab, over Jordan, against Jericho, (And so Moses and Eleazar, the priest, spoke on the plains of Moab, across the Jordan River, opposite Jericho,)

to them that were of twenty years and above (to those who were twenty years of age and older), as the Lord commanded; of which this is the number.

Reuben, the first begotten of Israel (Reuben, Israel’s first-born); the son of him was Hanoch, of whom came the family of Hanochites; and Pallu, of whom came the family of Palluites;

and Hezron, of whom came the family of Hezronites; and Carmi, of whom came the family of Carmites.

These were the families of the generation of Reuben, of which families (all) the number was found (to be) three and forty thousand (and) seven hundred and thirty.

The son of Pallu was Eliab;

the sons of him were Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. These were Dathan and Abiram, [the] princes of the people, that rose against Moses and Aaron, in the rebelty of Korah, when they rebelled against the Lord (These were that Dathan and Abiram, the leaders of the people, who rose up against Moses and Aaron, in the rebellion of Korah, when they rebelled against the Lord);

10 and the earth opened his mouth, and devoured Korah, and full many men died, when the fire burnt two hundred men and fifty; and a great miracle was done, (and the earth opened its mouth, and devoured Korah, and a great many died, when the fire burned up two hundred and fifty men; and a great miracle was done,)

11 that when Korah perished, his sons perished not. (that when Korah died, his sons did not die.)

12 The sons of Simeon by their kindreds; Nemuel, of him was the family of Nemuelites; Jamin, of him the family of Jaminites; Jachin, of him the family of Jachinites;

13 Zerah, of him the family of Zarhites; Shaul, of him the family of Shaulites.

14 These were the families of Simeon, of which all the number was two and twenty thousand and two hundred.

15 The sons of Gad by their kindreds; Zephon, of him the family of Zephonites; Haggi, of him the family of Haggites; Shuni, of him the family of Shunites;

16 Ozni, of him the family of Oznites; Eri, of him the family of Erites;

17 Arod, of him the family of Arodites; Areli, of him the family of Arelites.

18 These were the families of Gad, of which all the number was forty thousand and five hundred.

19 The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, which both were dead in the land of Canaan. (The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, and both of them died in the land of Canaan.)

20 And the sons of Judah were these by their kindreds; Shelah, of whom came the family of Shelanites; Pharez, of him the family of Pharzites (Perez, of him the family of Perezites); Zerah, of him the family of Zarhites.

21 Soothly the sons of Pharez were Hezron (And the sons of Perez were Hezron), of him the family of Hezronites; and Hamul, of him the family of Hamulites.

22 These were the families of Judah, of which all the number was seventy thousand and five hundred.

23 The sons of Issachar by their kindreds; Tola, of him the family of Tolaites; Pua, of him the family of Punites;

24 Jashub, of him the family of Jashubites; Shimron, of him the family of Shimronites.

25 These were the kindreds of Issachar (These were the families of Issachar), of which (all) the number was four and sixty thousand and three hundred.

26 The sons of Zebulun by their kindreds; Sered, of him the family of Sardites; Elon, of him the family of Elonites; Jahleel, of him the family of Jahleelites.

27 These were the kindreds of Zebulun (These were the families of Zebulun), of which (all) the number was sixty thousand and five hundred.

28 The sons of Joseph by their kindreds were Manasseh and Ephraim.

29 Of Manasseh was born Machir, of him the family of Machirites. Machir begat Gilead, of him, the family of Gileadites.

30 Gilead had these sons; Jeezer, of him the family of Jeezerites; and Helek, of him the family of Helekites;

31 and Asriel, of him the family of Asrielites; and Shechem, of him the family of Shechemites;

32 and Shemida, of him the family of Shemidaites; and Hepher, of him the family of Hepherites.

33 Soothly Hepher was the father of Zelophehad, that had not sons, but only daughters; of which these were the names; Mahlah, and Noah, and Hoglah, and Milcah, and Tirzah.

34 These were the families of Manasseh, and (all) the number of them was two and fifty thousand and seven hundred.

35 Soothly the sons of Ephraim by their kindreds were these; Shuthelah, of him the family of Shuthalhites; Becher, of him the family of Bachrites; Tahan, of him the family of Tahanites.

36 Soothly the son of Shuthelah was Eran, of him the family of Eranites.

37 These were the kindreds of the sons of Ephraim (These were the families of Ephraim), of which (all) the number was two and thirty thousand and five hundred. These were the sons of Joseph, by their families.

38 The sons of Benjamin in their kindreds (These were the families of Benjamin); Bela, of him the family of Belaites; Ashbel, of him the family of Ashbelites; Ahiram, of him the family of Ahiramites;

39 Shupham, of him the family of Shuphamites; Hupham, of him the family of Huphamites.

40 The sons of Bela, (were) Ard and Naaman; of Ard, the family of Ardites; of Naaman, the family of Naamites.

41 These were the sons of Benjamin by their kindreds (These were the families of Benjamin), of which (all) the number was five and forty thousand and six hundred.

42 The sons of Dan by their kindreds; Shuham, of him the family of Shuhamites. These were the kindreds of Dan by their families (These were the families of Dan);

43 (and) all (of them) were Shuhamites, of which (all) the number was four and sixty thousand and four hundred.

44 The sons of Asher by their kindreds (These were the families of Asher); Jimna, of him the family of Jimnites; Jesui, of him the family of Jesuites; Beriah, of him the family of Beriites.

45 The sons of Beriah; Heber, of him the family of Heberites; and Malchiel, of him the family of Malchielites.

46 Soothly the name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.

47 These were the kindreds of the sons of Asher (These were the families of Asher), and (all) the number of them was four and fifty thousand and four hundred.

48 The sons of Naphtali by their kindreds; Jahzeel, of him the family of Jahzeelites; Guni, of him the family of Gunites;

49 Jezer, of him the family of Jezerites; (and) Shillem, of him the family of Shillemites.

50 These were the kindreds of the sons of Naphtali by their families (These were the families of Naphtali), of which (all) the number was five and forty thousand and four hundred.

51 This is the sum of the sons of Israel, that were numbered (who were listed, or registered), six hundred thousand and a thousand (and) seven hundred and thirty.

52 And the Lord spake to Moses, and said,

53 The land shall be parted to these, by the number of names into their possessions; (The land shall be divided into possessions for these tribes, according to the number of names listed;)

54 thou shalt give the greater part to [the] more men, and the less(er) part to [the] fewer men; possession shall be given to all by themselves, as they be numbered now; (thou shalt give the larger part to the larger group of people, and the smaller part to the smaller group of people; a possession shall be given to each by themselves, as they now be numbered, that is, in proportion to their number;)

55 so only that (the) lot part the land to lineages and to families.

56 Whatever thing befalleth by lot, either more (men), either fewer men, take that.

57 Also this is the number of the sons of Levi by their families; Gershon, of whom is the family of Gershonites; Kohath, of him the family of Kohathites; Merari, of him the family of Merarites.

58 These were the families of Levi; the family of Libni, the family of Hebron, the family of Mahli, the family of Mushi, the family of Korah. And soothly Kohath begat Amram,

59 which had a wife, Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, which daughter was born to him in Egypt. This Jochebed engendered to her husband Amram, (his two) sons, Aaron and Moses, and Marie, the sister of them. (who had a wife, Jochebed, who was the daughter of Levi, and she was born to him in Egypt. This Jochebed bare for her husband Amram, his two sons, Aaron and Moses, and their sister, Miriam.)

60 Nadab, and Abihu, and Eleazar, and Ithamar were begotten of Aaron;

61 of which Nadab and Abihu were dead, when they had offered alien fire before the Lord. (and Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered unholy fire before the Lord.)

62 And all that were numbered of this lineage were three and twenty thousand of male kind, from a month and above, which were not numbered among the sons of Israel, neither possession was given to them with other men. (And all who were listed, or registered, in this tribe were twenty-three thousand males, from one month of age and older, but they were not listed with the other Israelites, nor was any possession given to them among the other people.)

63 This is the number of the sons of Israel, that be described of Moses and Eleazar, [the] priest, in the field places of Moab, over Jordan, against Jericho; (These were all the Israelites listed by Moses and Eleazar, the priest, on the plains of Moab, across the Jordan River, opposite Jericho;)

64 among which none of them was that were numbered before of Moses and Aaron, in the desert of Sinai; (and there was not one among them who had been registered by Moses and Aaron before, in the Sinai Desert;)

65 for the Lord before-said, that all should die in the wilderness; and none of them dwelled alive, but Caleb, Jephunneh’s son, and Joshua, the son of Nun. (for the Lord had said before, that they would all die in the wilderness; and so none of them remained alive, but Caleb, Jephunneh’s son, and Joshua, the son of Nun.)

A Second Census Required

26 [a] After the plague the Lord said to Moses and to Eleazar son of Aaron the priest,[b] “Take a census of the whole community of Israelites, from twenty years old and upward, by their clans,[c] everyone who can serve in the army of Israel.”[d] So Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the rift valley plains[e] of Moab, along the Jordan River[f] across from Jericho. They said, “Number the people[g] from twenty years old and upward, just as the Lord commanded Moses and the Israelites who went out from the land of Egypt.”

Reuben

Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. The Reubenites: from[h] Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; from Pallu, the family of the Palluites; from Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; from Carmi, the family of the Carmites. These were the families of the Reubenites; and those numbered of them were 43,730. Pallu’s descendant[i] was Eliab. Eliab’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[j] of Korah when they rebelled against the Lord. 10 The 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. 11 But the descendants of Korah did not die.

Simeon

12 The 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; 13 from Zerah,[k] the family of the Zerahites; and from Shaul, the family of the Shaulites. 14 These were the families of the Simeonites, 22,200.

Gad

15 The 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; 16 from Ozni,[l] the family of the Oznites; from Eri,[m] the family of the Erites; 17 from Arod,[n] the family of the Arodites; and from Areli, the family of the Arelites. 18 These were the families of the Gadites according to those numbered of them, 40,500.

Judah

19 The descendants of Judah were Er and Onan, but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. 20 And 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. 21 And the Perezites were: from Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; from Hamul,[o] the family of the Hamulites. 22 These were the families of Judah according to those numbered of them, 76,500.

Issachar

23 The Issacharites by their families: from Tola, the family of the Tolaites; from Puah, the family of the Puites; 24 from Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; and from Shimron, the family of the Shimronites. 25 These were the families of Issachar, according to those numbered of them, 64,300.

Zebulun

26 The 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. 27 These were the families of the Zebulunites, according to those numbered of them, 60,500.

Manasseh

28 The descendants of Joseph by their families: Manasseh and Ephraim. 29 The Manassehites: from Machir, the family of the Machirites (now Machir became the father of Gilead); from Gilead, the family of the Gileadites. 30 These were the Gileadites: from Iezer, the family of the Iezerites; from Helek, the family of the Helekites; 31 from Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; from Shechem, the family of the Shechemites; 32 from Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; from Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. 33 Now 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. 34 These were the families of Manasseh; those numbered of them were 52,700.

Ephraim

35 These 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. 36 Now these were the Shuthelahites: from Eran, the family of the Eranites. 37 These were the families of the Ephraimites, according to those numbered of them, 32,500. These[p] were the descendants of Joseph by their families.

Benjamin

38 The 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; 39 from Shupham,[q] the family of the Shuphamites; from Hupham, the family of the Huphamites. 40 The descendants of Bela were Ard[r] and Naaman. From Ard,[s] the family of the Ardites; from Naaman, the family of the Naamanites. 41 These are the Benjaminites, according to their families, and according to those numbered of them, 45,600.

Dan

42 These are the Danites by their families: from Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These were the families of Dan, according to their families. 43 All the families of the Shuhamites according to those numbered of them were 64,400.

Asher

44 The 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. 45 From the Beriahites: from Heber, the family of the Heberites; from Malkiel, the family of the Malkielites. 46 Now the name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.[t] 47 These are the families of the Asherites, according to those numbered of them, 53,400.

Naphtali

48 The Naphtalites by their families: from Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; from Guni, the family of the Gunites; 49 from Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; from Shillem, the family of the Shillemites. 50 These were the families of Naphtali according to their families; and those numbered of them were 45,400.

Total Number and Division of the Land

51 These were those numbered of the Israelites, 601,730.

52 Then the Lord spoke to Moses: 53 “To these the land must be divided as an inheritance according to the number of the names. 54 To a larger group you will give a larger inheritance,[u] and to a smaller group you will give a smaller inheritance.[v] To each one its inheritance must be given according to the number of people in it.[w] 55 The land must be divided by lot; and they will inherit in accordance with the names of their ancestral tribes. 56 Their inheritance must be apportioned[x] by lot among the larger and smaller groups.”

57 And 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. 58 These 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. 59 Now the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, daughter of Levi, who was born[y] to Levi in Egypt. And to Amram she bore Aaron, Moses, and Miriam their sister. 60 And to Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 61 But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered strange fire[z] before the Lord. 62 Those of the Levites[aa] 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.

63 These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the Israelites in the rift valley plains[ab] of Moab along the Jordan River opposite Jericho. 64 But there was not a man among these who had been[ac] among those numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they numbered the Israelites in the desert of Sinai. 65 For 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.

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 26:1 sn The breakdown of ch. 26 for outlining purposes will be essentially according to the tribes of Israel. The format and structure is similar to the first census, and so less comment is necessary here.
  2. Numbers 26:1 tc The MT has also “saying.”
  3. Numbers 26:2 tn Heb “house of their fathers.”
  4. Numbers 26:2 tn Heb “everyone who goes out in the army in Israel.”
  5. Numbers 26:3 tn The term עַרְבוֹת (ʿarevot) refers to the sloping plain of the rift valley basin to the north of the Dead Sea and east of the Jordan. See the note at Num 21:1.
  6. Numbers 26:3 tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity (also in v. 62).
  7. Numbers 26:4 tn “Number the people” is added here to the text for a smooth reading.
  8. Numbers 26:5 tc The Hebrew text has no preposition here, but one has been supplied in the translation for clarity. Cf. vv. 23, 30, 31, 32.
  9. Numbers 26:8 tc The MT has “and the sons of Pallu.”
  10. Numbers 26:9 tn Or “company” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV); Heb “congregation.”
  11. Numbers 26:13 tc This is “Zohar” in Exod 6:15 and Gen 46:10.
  12. Numbers 26:16 tc The MT of Gen 46:16 reads this as “Ezbon.”
  13. Numbers 26:16 tc The Greek version and Smr have “Ad[d]i,” probably by confusion of letters.
  14. Numbers 26:17 tc Gen 46:16 and the LXX here read “Arodi.”
  15. Numbers 26:21 tc Smr and the Greek version have “Hamuel.”
  16. Numbers 26:37 sn This is a significant reduction from the first count of 40,500.
  17. Numbers 26:39 tc With the exception of a few manuscripts the MT has Shephupham. The spelling in the translation above is supported by Smr and the ancient versions.
  18. Numbers 26:40 tc The LXX has Adar. Cf. 1 Chr 8:3.
  19. Numbers 26:40 tc “From Ard” is not in the Hebrew text.
  20. Numbers 26:46 tn Also mentioned in 1 Chr 7:30.
  21. Numbers 26:54 tn Heb “to many you will multiply his inheritance.”
  22. Numbers 26:54 tn Heb “to a few you will lessen his inheritance.”
  23. Numbers 26:54 tn Heb “according to those that were numbered of him,” meaning, in accordance with the number of people in his clan.
  24. Numbers 26:56 tn Heb “divided.”
  25. Numbers 26:59 tn Heb “who she bore him to Levi.” The verb has no expressed subject. Either one could be supplied, such as “her mother,” or it could be treated as a passive.
  26. Numbers 26:61 tn The expression אֵשׁ זָרָה (ʾesh zarah, “strange fire”) seems imprecise and has been interpreted numerous ways (see the helpful summary in J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC 4], 132-33). The infraction may have involved any of the following or a combination thereof: (1) using coals from some place other than the burnt offering altar (i.e., “unauthorized coals” according to J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:598; cf. Lev 16:12 and cf. “unauthorized person” [אִישׁ זָר, ʾish zar] in Num 16:40 [17:5 HT], NASB “layman”), (2) using the wrong kind of incense (cf. the Exod 30:9 regulation against “strange incense” [קְטֹרֶת זָרָה, qetoret zarah] on the incense altar and the possible connection to Exod 30:34-38), (3) performing an incense offering at an unprescribed time (B. A. Levine, Leviticus [JPSTC], 59), or (4) entering the Holy of Holies at an inappropriate time (Lev 16:1-2).sn This event is narrated in Lev 10:1-7.
  27. Numbers 26:62 tn Heb “them”; the referent has been specified in the translation for clarity.
  28. Numbers 26:63 sn This is the area of the rift valley basin to the north of the Dead Sea and east of the Jordan. See the note at Num 21:1.
  29. Numbers 26:64 tn “who had been” is added to clarify the text.