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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.

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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.

The People Are Counted

26 After the ·great sickness [plague], the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, “·Count [Take a census of; L Lift the head of] all the ·people of Israel [L community/congregation of the sons/T children of Israel] by ·families [clans], all the men who are twenty years old or older who will serve in the army of Israel [C like a military registration; chapter 1 counts the generation that came out of Egypt; this counts the one that would enter the land].” Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke to the people on the plains of Moab near the Jordan River, across from Jericho. They said, “Count the men [C supplied from v. 2] twenty years old or older, as the Lord commanded Moses.”

Here are the ·Israelites [L sons/T children of Israel] who came out of Egypt:

The ·tribe [L sons; descendants] of Reuben, the first son born to Israel, was counted. From Hanoch came the Hanochite ·family group [clan]; from Pallu came the Palluite ·family group [clan]; from Hezron came the Hezronite ·family group [clan]; from Carmi came the Carmite ·family group [clan]. These were the ·family groups [clans] of Reuben, and the total number of men was 43,730.

The son of Pallu was Eliab, and Eliab’s sons were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram were the ·leaders [conveners of the community/congregation/assembly] who turned against Moses and Aaron and ·followed [L were in the assembly of] Korah when he ·turned [rebelled] against the Lord. 10 The earth opened up and swallowed them and Korah; they died at the same time the fire burned up the 250 men [16:1–40]. This was a warning, 11 but the children of Korah did not die.

12 These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [L sons; descendants] of Simeon: From Nemuel came the Nemuelite ·family group [clan]; from Jamin came the Jaminite ·family group [clan]; from Jakin came the Jakinite ·family group [clan]; 13 from Zerah came the Zerahite ·family group [clan]; from Shaul came the Shaulite ·family group [clan]. 14 These were the ·family groups [clans] of Simeon, and the total number of men was 22,200.

15 These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [L sons; descendants] of Gad: From Zephon came the Zephonite ·family group [clan]; from Haggi came the Haggite ·family group [clan]; from Shuni came the Shunite ·family group [clan]; 16 from Ozni came the Oznite ·family group [clan]; from Eri came the Erite ·family group [clan]; 17 from Arodi came the Arodite ·family group [clan]; from Areli came the Arelite ·family group [clan]. 18 These were the ·family groups [clans] of Gad, and the total number of men was 40,500.

19 Two of Judah’s sons, Er and Onan, died in Canaan [Gen. 38:6–11].

20 These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [L sons; descendants] of Judah: From Shelah came the Shelanite ·family group [clan]; from Perez came the Perezite ·family group [clan]; from Zerah came the Zerahite ·family group [clan]. 21 These were the ·family groups [clans] from Perez: From Hezron came the Hezronite ·family group [clan]; from Hamul came the Hamulite ·family group [clan]. 22 These were the ·family groups [clans] of Judah, and the total number of men was 76,500.

23 These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [L sons; descendants] of Issachar: From Tola came the Tolaite ·family group [clan]; from Puah came the Puite ·family group [clan]; 24 from Jashub came the Jashubite ·family group [clan]; from Shimron came the Shimronite ·family group [clan]. 25 These were the ·family groups [clan] of Issachar, and the total number of men was 64,300.

26 These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [L sons; descendants] of Zebulun: From Sered came the Seredite ·family group [clan]; from Elon came the Elonite ·family group [clan]; from Jahleel came the Jahleelite ·family group [clan]. 27 These were the ·family groups [clans] of Zebulun, and the total number of men was 60,500.

28 These were the ·family groups [clans] of Joseph through Manasseh and Ephraim.

29 These were the ·family groups [clans] of [L the sons/descendants of] Manasseh: From Makir came the Makirite ·family group [clan] (Makir was the father of Gilead); from Gilead came the Gileadite ·family group [clan]. 30 These were the ·family groups [clans] that came from Gilead: From Iezer came the Iezerite ·family group [clan]; from Helek came the Helekite ·family group [clan]; 31 from Asriel came the Asrielite ·family group [clan]; from Shechem came the Shechemite ·family group [clan]; 32 from Shemida came the Shemidaite ·family group [clan]; from Hepher came the Hepherite ·family group [clan]. 33 (Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons; he had only daughters, and their names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah [27:1–11; 36:1–13; Josh. 17:3–6].) 34 These were the ·family groups [clans] of Manasseh, and the total number of men was 52,700.

35 These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [L sons; descendants] of Ephraim: From Shuthelah came the Shuthelahite ·family group [clan]; from Beker came the Bekerite ·family group [clan]; from Tahan came the Tahanite ·family group [clan]. 36 This was the ·family group [clan] from Shuthelah: From Eran came the Eranite ·family group [clan]. 37 These were the ·family groups [clans] of [L the sons/descendants of] Ephraim, and the total number of men was 32,500. These are the ·family groups [clans] that came from Joseph.

38 These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [L sons; descendants] of Benjamin: From Bela came the Belaite ·family group [clan]; from Ashbel came the Ashbelite ·family group [clan]; from Ahiram came the Ahiramite ·family group [clan]; 39 from Shupham came the Shuphamite ·family group [clan]; from Hupham came the Huphamite ·family group [clan]. 40 These were the ·family groups [clans] from Bela through Ard and Naaman: From Ard came the Ardite ·family group [clan]; from Naaman came the Naamite ·family group [clan]. 41 These were the ·family groups [clans] of Benjamin, and the total number of men was 45,600.

42 This was the ·family group [clan] in the ·tribe [L sons; descendants] of Dan: From Shuham came the Shuhamite ·family group [clan]. That was the ·family group [clan] of Dan, 43 and the total number of men in the Shuhamite ·family group [clan] of Dan was 64,400.

44 These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [L sons; descendants] of Asher: From Imnah came the Imnite ·family group [clan]; from Ishvi came the Ishvite ·family group [clan]; from Beriah came the Beriite ·family group [clan]. 45 These were the ·family groups [clans] that came from Beriah: From Heber came the Heberite ·family group [clan]; from Malkiel came the Malkielite ·family group [clan]. 46 (Asher also had a daughter named Serah.) 47 These were the ·family groups [clans] of Asher, and the total number of men was 53,400.

48 These were the ·family groups [clans] in the ·tribe [L sons; descendants] of Naphtali: From Jahzeel came the Jahzeelite ·family group [clan]; from Guni came the Gunite ·family group [clan]; 49 from Jezer came the Jezerite ·family group [clan]; from Shillem came the Shillemite ·family group [clan]. 50 These were the ·family groups [clans] of Naphtali, and the total number of men was 45,400.

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