Numbers 26

The numbering of the Israelites, from twenty year old and upwards, such as were fit for war, verse 1, etc. particularly, of every Tribe, saving the Tribe of Levi, 5. in general of all the numbered, 51. to whom the Land of Canaan was to be distributed according to the proportion of every tribes greatness or smallness, 52. the numbering of the Levites by themselves, 57. yet in all this numbering there was none left of those which had been numbered in the Wilderness of Sinai, after their coming forth out of Egypt, but Joshua and Caleb, 65.

1. Now it came to pass after that plague, [Understand the plague mentioned in the precedent Chapter, whereby twenty four thousand Israelites perished, by reason of their committed whoredome with the Moabitish women, and idolatry with Baal Peor. After this plague there were none (but Joshua and Caleb) left of those above twenty years old, that for their murmurings sake were condemned to die in the Wilderness, before the children of Israel should enter into the possession of the land of promise; see above ch.14.33,34.35. Item, in this chapter v.63 64, 65. And Deut.2.14.] that the LORD spake to Moseh, and to Eleazar, the son of Aaron the Priest; saying;

2. Take up the sum of the whole Congregation of the children of Israel; [This numbering is held to be the Third, after their coming out of Egypt. The first was in the same year of their coming forth, Exod.30.12.&c. the second in the beginning of the second year, Numb.1.2: The third is here spoken of] from twenty year old. [Heb. a son of twenty year, and so in the sequel] and upward: according to the of their fathers: all 9or every one) that goeth to the host, [see above, c.1.on.v.3.] in Israel.

3. Moseh then, and Eleazar the Priest, spake to them, in the plains of Moab, [See above, ch.22.v.1. and below in this chapter, v.63. and ch.33.48.] at the Jordan of Jericho, [where this rivers turneth it self near to Jericho; so above, ch.22. and below here,v.63.] saying:

4. (Let the sum be taken up) from twenty year old and upward; [The parenthesis is inserted to complete the sense out of verse 2. Nevertheless it may be remitted, the words being rendered and read in this manner; From twenty year old and upward, etc. so that this should be the beginning of the muster-roll it self, which Moseh made, and showed unto the people] according as the Lord had commanded Moseh, and the children of Israel, that were come forth out of Egypt. [see above, chap.1.v.2. and compare Exod.30.12.]

5. Rueben was the first-born of Israel: the son of Rueben, were Hanoch; of whom was the family of the Hanochites; [The particle of or from, are inserted here, to hold an answerableness to the Phrase following; so likewise below, v.23. &c. the other word, them, must often be admitted and added to complete the sense, according to the property of the Hebrew Language] of Pallu, the family of the Palluites:

6. Of Hezron, [Heb. Chetsron] the Family of the Hezronites; of Carmi, the Family of the Carmites.

7. These are the Families of the Ruebenites: and their number (ones) were fourty and three thousand, and seven hundred and thirty.

8. And the sons of Pallu were Eliab. [The Plurall for the singular, see Gen.21.on v.7. and 46.on v.7.]

9. And the sons of Eliab, were Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram: these Dathan and Abiram were the called (ones) [Numb.1.on v.16. and chap.16.2.] of the Congregation, that made contention against Moseh and against Aaron, in the Congregation of Korah, [understand that mutinous and rebellious assembly, whereof assembly, whereof Korah was the ring-leader; see above chap.16.1.2, 3.] when they made contention against the LORD.

10. And the earth opened her mouth, [i.e. did split asunder, making a very broad and deep gap] and swallowed them up with Korah, [Understand with Korahs family, which was with them then, above, ch.16.33. for as for Korah himself he was burnt together with the two hundred & fifty men; see the same cha. v. 35.] when the Congregation died: when the fire consumed two hundred and fifties men, and because a token. [Heb. a banner, i.e. a remarkable example of the righteous judgement of God upon those which cause uproar, division and sedition, against the order established by God, in Church and Commonwealth.]

11. But the children of Korah died not. [viz. neither by the fire, which consumed their father and his company; nor by the sinking into the earth, with their fathers family; which happened, because they consented not to their fathers mutiny, and peradventure were the whiles employed in the service of the Tabernacle.]

12. The sons of Simeon, according to their families; of Nemeul, [Otherwise called Jemuel, Genesis 46:10.] the family of the Nemuelites of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites: of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites:

13. Of Zerah, [Called also Zochar, Gen.46. 10.] the family of the Zerahites: of Saul, the family of the Saulites.

14. These are the families of the Simeonites: twenty two thousand and two hundred. [Observer that their number is much diminished here, from what it was above, ch. 1.23. possibly because they were addicted much to Simei, the Son of Sallu, who was a chief ruler of the Simeonites, and consequently, they may have both approved of his lewd fast, mentioned above, chapter 25.14, and were as ready to follow his example.]

15. The sons of God, according to their families; of Zephon, [Heb. Tsephon, called elsewhere Ziphion, Gen.46.16. compare these names here further with the said chapter. Item, with 1 Chronicles 1:2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, etc.] the family of the Zephonites: of Haggai, the family of the Haggites: of Suni, the family of the Sunites:

16. Of Ozni, [Who seemeth likewise to be called Ezbon, Gen.46.16.] the family of the Oznites: of Heri, the family of the Herites:

17. Of Arod, [Gen.46.16. called Arodi] The family of the Arodites: of Areli, the family of the Arelites.

18. These are the families of the sons of Gad, according to their numbred ones, fourty thousand, and five hundred.

19. The sons of Judah were, Er and Onan: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan, [viz. by a just judgement of God, upon their gross and enomous sins. See Gen.38.on v.7.]

20. Thus the sons of Judge were, according to their families; of Sela, the family of the Selanites: of Perez, [Heb. Perets] the family of the Perezites: of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites.

21. And the sons of Perez were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.

22. These are the families of Juda, according to their numbered ones, seventy and six thousand and five hundred.

23. The sons of Issaschar, according to their families, were; (of) [see above, on verse 5.] Tola the families of the Tolaites; of Puva of the family of the Puvites.

24. Of Jasub [Called Job, Gen.45.13.] the families of the Jasubites: of Simeon, the family of the Simeonites.

25. These are the families of Issaachar, according to their numbred (one) sixtie and foure thousand, and were; of Sered, the family of the Seredites: of Elon, the Family of the Elonites: of Jahleel, the Family of the Jahleelites.

26. The sons of Zebulon, according to their families, were: of Sered, the family of the Seredites, of Elon, the family of the Elonites, of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleetites.

27. These are the families of the Zebulonites, according to their numbered (one): sixty thousand and five hundred.

28. The sons of Joseph according to their Families, were Manasseh, and Ephraim.

29. The sons of Manasseh were; of Machir, the family of the Machirites: Machir now begat Gilead: of Gilead was the family of the Gileadites.

30. These are the sons of Gilead; (of) [This particle is inserted here and in the two following verse out of the foregoing and ensuing manner of speaking in this Chapter. See above, on v.5.] Jezer, [otherwise called Abiezer, Jos.17. 1. and elsewhere] the Family of the Jezrites: of Helek, the Family of the Helekites.

31. And of Asriel, the Family of the Asrielites: and of Sechem the Family of the Sechemites.

32. And (of) Semida, the family of the Semidaites: and (of) Hepher, the Family of the Hepherites.

33. Yet Zelaphead [Heb.Tselophehad] the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters; and the names of the daughters of Zelaphead, were, Machla, and Noa, Hogla, Milca and Tizra.

34. These are the Families of Manasseh: and their numbered (one) were fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.

35. These are the sons of Ephraim, according to their Families; of Sutelah, the family of the Sutelahites: of Becher, the Family of the Becherites: of Tahan, the Family of the Tahanites.

36. And these are the sons of Sutelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.

37. These are the Families of the sons of Ephraim, according to their numbered (ones) thirty and two thousand and five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph, according to their Families.

38. The sons of Benjamin, according to their Families; of Bela, the Family of the Belaites: of Asbel the Family of the Asbelites: of Ahiram, the Family of the Ahiramites. [Ahiram seemeth to be likewise called Ehi, Gen.46.21. and Achrach, 1 Chron.8.1.]

39. Of Sephupham, the Family of the Sephuphamites: of Hupham, the Family of the Huphamites.

40. And the sons of Bela,were Ard, and Naaman: (of Ard) the Family of the Ardites: of Naaman, the Family of the Naamites.

41. These are the sons of Benjamin, according to their Families, and their numbered (ones) were fourty five thousand and six hundred.

42. These are the sons of Dan, according o their Families; of Sucham, [Gen.46.23. called Chushim] the Family of the Suhamites; These are the families of Dan, according to their families.

43. All the Families of the Suhamites, according to their numbered (ones) were sixty four thousand and four hundred.

44. The sons of Aser, according to their families, were of Imna, the Family of the Imnaits: of Isvi, the Family of the Isvites: of Beria, the Family of the Berites.

45. Of the sons of Beria were; of Heber, [Heb. Cheber with the letter Chet] the Family of the Hebrites; of Malchiel, the Family of the Malchielites.

46. And the name of the daughter of Aser was Serah.

47. These are the Families of the sons of Aser, according to their numbered (ones,) fifty and three thousand, and four hundred.

48. The sons of Naphtali, according to their Families; of Jahzeel [Heb. Jachtzeel, or Jachtsiel. 1 Chronicles 7:13.] the Families of the Jahzeelites: of Guni, the family of the Gunites.

49. Of Jezer, the Family of the Jezerites: of Sillem, [1 Chron. 7.13. Schallun] the families of the Scillemites.

50. These are the families of Naphatali, according to their families, and their numbered (ones) were fourty five thousand and four hundred.

51. These are the numbered (ones) of the sons of Israel, six hundred thousand, one thousand seven hundred and thirty. [Mark here the unsayling truth, and mighty power of God; in the promised multiplication of Abrahams seed: for there having died, within the space of thirty eight yeeres, more then Six Millions & three thousand Israelites in the wildernesse, yet God brought it about, that the sane number remained, which was formerly rehersed Numbers, 1.46, onely a thousand and od hundreds excepted.]

52. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying:

53. Unto these [viz. families of the Tribes] the land shall be distributed for an inhabitance, according to the number of the names. [i.e. proportionably according as the families be great or small, consisting of many or few men, whose names were all enrolled, compare the next verse.]

54. To them that are many, thou shalt make their inheritance more, and to them that are few, shalt thou make their inheritance less: unto every one his inheritance shall be given, according to his numbered (ones). [All this was performed accordingly, on this side Jordan, by Moses, among the tribes of Rueben, and Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh. Bel.ch.32.v.35. and beyond Jordan among the rest of the Tribes, and the other half of Manasseh, by Joshua, Jos.14.&c.]

55. Nevertheless, the land shall be divided by lot: [the land was first divided by lot into twelve tribes, and the Tribes afterwards into their families, and that according to the Judgement of their respective ruling Heads, and the high priest] they shall inherit, according to the names of the tribes of their fathers. [i.e. the families of each Tribe shall step into their possessions, according to the manner prescribed in the former verse.]

56. The inheritance of every one [Understand in regard of the division to be made among the Tribes] shall be divided according to the lot, [Heb. according to the mouth of the lot, for the lot is the LORD, declaring his pleasure] between the many and the few.

57. These now are the numbered ones of Levi, according to their families; of Gerson the family of the Gersonites; of Kehath, the family of the Kehathites, of Merari the family of the Merarites.

58. These are the families of Levi; the family of the Libnites [Descending from Gerson] the Family of the Hebronites, [issuing from Kahath. ab. Ch.3.19.] the Family of the Mahlites, the Family of the Musites; [these two had their descent from Merari; ab. Ch.3.20.] the Family of the Korhites; [of the posterity of Kahath ab. Chap: 16.1.] and Kehath begat Amram.

59. And the name of Amrams wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi (his wife) [Heb. when she i.e. Levi his wife, not Jochebed (the person born) but her mother, Aunt to Amram who was the grandson of Levi,] brought forth in Egypt, and this (woman) bare Amram, Aaron, Moseh and Miriam their sister.

60. And unto Aaron were born, Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.

61. Nadab now and Abihu died; when they brought strange fire before the face of the LORD.

62. And their numbred (ones) were twenty and three thousand, all that were male from a moneth old, [Hebr. the sons of a moneth.] and upward: for these were not told among [Heb. in the midst, and so in the sequel of this verse] the children of Israel, there being no inheritance given them, among the children of Israel:

63. These are the numbered ones of Moseh etc Eleazar the priest who numbered [See ab.chap.1.v.112,&c.] the children of Israel, in the plains of Moab, by Jordan of Jericho;

64. And among these there was none of the numbred (ones) of Moseh, and Aaron the Priest, when they numbred the children of Israel in the wildernesse of Sinai. [See of this numbering. Ex.30.12, 13, 14.]

65. For the LORD had said of them, that they should surely die in the wildernesse, [Hebr. dying dye. i.e. assuredly depart this life, either by some plague, or their naturall death, and that by reason of their rebellion and stiff-neckednesse, see ab. chapter 14. 28, 29, 30. and bel. chap.27.3.] and there was none remained, but Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun. [these two remained faithfull to God themselves, and exhorted the people to the like; ab.chap 14.6. &c.]