Numbers Chapter 26 — The Second Census of Israel
A second census is taken of the Israelites on the plains of Moab to prepare for the division of the Promised Land among the tribes.
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Notable Verses
Numbers 26:53
“To these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.”
This verse establishes the primary purpose of the census: to provide a fair and organized way to distribute the Promised Land.
Numbers 26:64
“But among these there was not a man of them who were counted by Moses and Aaron the priest, who counted the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.”
It highlights the complete transition from the generation that left Egypt to the new generation ready to enter Canaan.
Chapter Summary
Following a plague, God instructs Moses and Eleazar to conduct a second census of Israel's men aged twenty and older. The count takes place on the plains of Moab, near the Jordan River across from Jericho. The text lists the various families within each tribe, including specific historical footnotes such as the rebellion of Dathan and Abiram and the mention of Zelophehad’s daughters. The total count of those able to go to war is 601,730. God then provides instructions for dividing the land by lot, where larger tribes receive more land and smaller tribes receive less. The Levites are counted separately, totaling 23,000 males. The chapter concludes by noting that none of the men from the first census at Sinai remained, except for Caleb and Joshua, fulfilling God’s word that the previous generation would die in the wilderness.
Frequently Asked Questions
The census was conducted to count the new generation of men able to go to war and to provide a legal basis for dividing the Promised Land. It occurred after the plague and just before Israel prepared to cross the Jordan.
The land was to be divided by lot, with larger tribes receiving a larger portion of land and smaller tribes receiving a smaller portion. This ensured a fair distribution based on the census numbers of each family group.
Only Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained from the first census taken at Sinai. Every other man of that generation had died in the wilderness as a result of their earlier rebellion.
Study Note
The total count in this second census is 601,730, which is remarkably close to the first census total of 603,550 despite forty years of wilderness travel.
Related Chapters
Numbers Chapter 1
This chapter contains the first census of Israel taken forty years earlier at Mount Sinai.
Numbers Chapter 27
Directly follows the census with specific laws regarding inheritance for families without male heirs.
Joshua Chapter 14
Describes the actual distribution of the land in Canaan based on these census instructions.
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