Numbers 26
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
First-fruits must be offered to God, Deu 26:1, Deu 26:2. The form of confession to be used on the occasion, Deu 26:3-11. The third year's tithe to be given to the Levites and the poor, Deu 26:12, and the form of confession to be used on this occasion, Deu 26:13-15. The Israelites are to take Jehovah for their God, and to keep his testimonies, Deu 26:16, Deu 26:17. And Jehovah is to take them for his people, and make them high above all the nations of the earth, Deu 26:18, Deu 26:19.
Open source ↗ISRAEL NUMBERED. (Num. 26:1-51) after the plague--That terrible visitation had swept away the remnant of the old generation, to whom God sware in His wrath that they should not enter Canaan (Psa 95:11).
Open source ↗And it came to pass after the plague,.... Related in the preceding chapter; how long after is not certain, perhaps before the war with Midian, exhorted to in the latter part of the foregoing chapter, and of which an account is given, Num 31:1, that the Lord spake unto Moses; out of the tabernacle, or out of the cloud: and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest; the Lord had been used to speak to Moses and to Aaron; but now Aaron being dead, and Eleazar his son succeeding him in the priesthood, is joined with Moses, and the order here given is directed to them both: saying: as follows.
Open source ↗Mustering of the Twelve Tribes. - Num 26:1-4. The command of God to Moses and Eleazar is the same as in Num 1, 2, and 3, except that it does not enter so much into details. Num 26:3-4 "And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them" (דּבּר with the accusative, as in Gen 37:4). The pronoun refers to "the children of Israel," or more correctly, to the heads of the nation as the representatives of the congregation, who were to carry out the numbering. On the Arboth-Moab, see at Num 22:1. Only the leading point in their words is mentioned, viz., "from twenty years old and upwards" (sc., shall ye take the number of the children of Israel), since it was very simple to supply the words "take the sum" from Num 26:2. (Note: This is, at all events, easier and simpler than the alterations of the text which have been suggested for the purpose of removing the difficulty. Knobel proposes to alter וידבּר into ויּדבּר, and לאמר into לפקד: "Moses and Eleazar arranged the children of Israel when they mustered them." But הדבּיר does not mean to arrange, but simply to drive in pairs, to subjugate (Psa 18:48, and Psa 47:4), - an expression which, as much be immediately apparent, is altogether inapplicable to the arrangement of the people in families for the purpose of taking a census.), - The words from "the children of Israel" in Num 26:4 onwards form the introduction to the enumeration of the different tribes (Num 26:5.), and the verb יהיוּ (were) must be supplied. "And the children of Israel, who went forth out of Egypt, were Reuben," etc. Num 26:5-11 The families of Reuben tally with Gen 46:9; Exo 6:14, and Ch1 5:3. The plural בּני (sons), in Num 26:8, where only one son is mentioned, is to be explained from the fact, that several sons of this particular son (i.e., grandsons) are ment…
Open source ↗Observe here, 1. That Moses did not number the people but when God commanded him. David in his time did it without a command, and paid dearly for it. God was Israel's king, and he would not have this act of authority done but by his express orders. Moses, perhaps, by this time, had heard of the blessing with which Balaam was constrained, sorely against his will, to bless Israel, and particularly the notice he took of their numbers; and he was sufficiently pleased with that general testimony borne to this instance of their strength and honour by an adversary, though he knew not their numbers exactly, till God now appointed him to take the sum of them. 2. Eleazar was joined in commission with him, as Aaron had been before, by which God honoured Eleazar before the elders of his people, and confirmed his succession. 3. It was presently after the plague that this account was ordered to be taken, to show that though God had in justice contended with them by that sweeping pestilence, yet he had not made a full end, nor would he utterly cast them off. God's Israel shall not be ruined, though it be severely rebuked. 4. They were now to go by the same rule that they had gone by in the former numbering, counting those only that were able to go forth to war, for this was the service now before them.
Open source ↗26:1-65 After nearly forty years, Israel again registered their men of military age (cp. chs 1–4) as they camped on the plains of Moab . . . across from Jericho. The overall population had changed only slightly, with 603,550 in the first registration and 601,730 in the second. This nearly complete replacement of population (26:63-65) showed that the Lord was faithful to Israel in spite of their repeated acts of rebellion. 26:1-4 As in the first registration, Moses and Eleazar (who had replaced Aaron) instructed the tribal leaders in the tabulation process.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
אַחַר (ʼachar, H310) — properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various… מַגֵּפָה (maggêphâh, H4046) — a pestilence; by analogy, defeat יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אֶלְעָזָר (ʼElʻâzâr, H499) — Elazar, the name of seven Israelites בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a…
Open source ↗נָשָׂא (nâsâʼ, H5375) — to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative רֹאשׁ (rôʼsh, H7218) — the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of… עֵדָה (ʻêdâh, H5712) — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity עֶשְׂרִים (ʻesrîym, H6242) — twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) מַעַל (maʻal, H4605) — properly, the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from… אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… צָבָא (tsâbâʼ, H6635) — a mass of persons (or figuratively, things), especially reg. organized forwar (an army);…
Open source ↗מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אֶלְעָזָר (ʼElʻâzâr, H499) — Elazar, the name of seven Israelites כֹּהֵן (kôhên, H3548) — literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a… דָבַר (dâbar, H1696) — perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a… עֲרָבָה (ʻărâbâh, H6160) — a desert; especially (with the article prefix) the (generally) sterile valley of the… מוֹאָב (Môwʼâb, H4124) — Moab, an incestuous son of Lot; also his territory and descendants יַרְדֵּן (Yardên, H3383) — Jarden, the principal river of Palestine יְרִיחוֹ (Yᵉrîychôw, H3405) — Jericho or Jerecho, a place in Palestine אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude)
Open source ↗עֶשְׂרִים (ʻesrîym, H6242) — twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth שָׁנֶה (shâneh, H8141) — a year (as a revolution of time) בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… מַעַל (maʻal, H4605) — properly, the upper part, used only adverbially with prefix upward, above, overhead, from… יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God צָוָה (tsâvâh, H6680) — (intensively) to constitute, enjoin מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity יָצָא (yâtsâʼ, H3318) — to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and… אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) מִצְרַיִם (Mitsrayim, H4714) — Mitsrajim, i.e. Upper and Lower Egypt
Open source ↗רְאוּבֵן (Rᵉʼûwbên, H7205) — Reuben, a son of Jacob בְּכוֹר (bᵉkôwr, H1060) — firstborn; hence, chief יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrâʼêl, H3478) — Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… חֲנוֹךְ (Chănôwk, H2585) — Chanok, an antediluvian patriach מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpâchâh, H4940) — a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of… חֲנֹכִי (Chănôkîy, H2599) — a Chanokite (collectively) or descendants of Chanok פַּלּוּא (Pallûwʼ, H6396) — Pallu, an Israelite פַּלֻּאִי (Palluʼîy, H6384) — a Palluite (collectively) or descendants of Pallu
Open source ↗חֶצְרוֹן (Chetsrôwn, H2696) — Chetsron, the name of a place in Palestine; also of two Israelites מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpâchâh, H4940) — a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of… חֶצְרוֹנִי (Chetsrôwnîy, H2697) — a Chetsronite or (collectively) descendants of Chetsron כַּרְמִי (Karmîy, H3756) — Karmi, the name of three Israelites כַּרְמִי (Karmîy, H3757) — a Karmite or descendant of Karmi
Open source ↗מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpâchâh, H4940) — a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of… רְאוּבֵנִי (Rᵉʼûwbênîy, H7206) — a Reubenite or descendant of Reuben פָּקַד (pâqad, H6485) — to visit (with friendly or hostile intent); by analogy, to oversee, muster, charge, care… אַרְבָּעִים (ʼarbâʻîym, H705) — forty שָׁלוֹשׁ (shâlôwsh, H7969) — three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505) — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as… שֶׁבַע (shebaʻ, H7651) — seven (as the sacred full one); also (adverbially) seven times; by implication, a week;… מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction שְׁלוֹשִׁים (shᵉlôwshîym, H7970) — thirty; or (ordinal) thirtieth
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… פַּלּוּא (Pallûwʼ, H6396) — Pallu, an Israelite אֱלִיאָב (ʼĔlîyʼâb, H446) — Eliab, the name of six Israelites
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… אֱלִיאָב (ʼĔlîyʼâb, H446) — Eliab, the name of six Israelites נְמוּאֵל (Nᵉmûwʼêl, H5241) — Nemuel, the name of two Israelites דָּתָן (Dâthân, H1885) — Dathan, an Israelite אֲבִירָם (ʼĂbîyrâm, H48) — Abiram, the name of two Israelites קָרִיא (qârîyʼ, H7148) — called, i.e. select קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… עֵדָה (ʻêdâh, H5712) — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd) נָצָה (nâtsâh, H5327) — properly, to go forth, i.e. (by implication) to be expelled, and (consequently) desolate;… מֹשֶׁה (Môsheh, H4872) — Mosheh, the Israelite lawgiver אַהֲרוֹן (ʼAhărôwn, H175) — Aharon, the brother of Moses קֹרַח (Qôrach, H7141) — Korach, the name of two Edomites and three Israelites יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God
Open source ↗אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) פָּתַח (pâthach, H6605) — to open wide (literally or figuratively); specifically, to loosen, begin, plough, carve פֶּה (peh, H6310) — the mouth (as the means of blowing), whether literal or figurative (particularly speech);… בָּלַע (bâlaʻ, H1104) — to make away with (specifically by swallowing); generally, to destroy קֹרַח (Qôrach, H7141) — Korach, the name of two Edomites and three Israelites עֵדָה (ʻêdâh, H5712) — a stated assemblage (specifically, a concourse, or generally, a family or crowd) מָוֶת (mâveth, H4194) — death (natural or violent); concretely, the dead, their place or state (hades);… אֵשׁ (ʼêsh, H784) — fire (literally or figuratively) אָכַל (ʼâkal, H398) — to eat (literally or figuratively) מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction חֲמִשִּׁים (chămishshîym, H2572) — fifty אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… נֵס (nêç, H5251) — a flag; also a sail; by implication, a flagstaff; generally a signal; figuratively, a…
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… קֹרַח (Qôrach, H7141) — Korach, the name of two Edomites and three Israelites מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
Open source ↗בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… שִׁמְעוֹן (Shimʻôwn, H8095) — Shimon, one of Jacob's sons, also the tribe descended from him מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpâchâh, H4940) — a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of… נְמוּאֵל (Nᵉmûwʼêl, H5241) — Nemuel, the name of two Israelites נְמוּאֵלִי (Nᵉmûwʼêlîy, H5242) — a Nemuelite, or descendant of Nemuel יָמִין (Yâmîyn, H3226) — Jamin, the name of three Israelites יְמִינִי (Yᵉmîynîy, H3228) — a Jeminite (collectively) or descendants of Jamin יָכִין (Yâkîyn, H3199) — Jakin, the name of three Israelites and of a temple pillar יָכִינִי (Yâkîynîy, H3200) — a Jakinite (collectively) or descendants of Jakin
Open source ↗זֶרַח (Zerach, H2226) — Zerach, the name of three Israelites, also of an Idumaean and an Ethiopian prince מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpâchâh, H4940) — a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of… זַרְחִי (Zarchîy, H2227) — a Zarchite or descendant of Zerach שָׁאוּל (Shâʼûwl, H7586) — Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites שָׁאוּלִי (Shâʼûwlîy, H7587) — a Shaulite or descendant of Shaul
Open source ↗מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpâchâh, H4940) — a family, i.e. circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of… שִׁמְעֹנִי (Shimʻônîy, H8099) — a Shimonite (collectively) or descendants of Shimon עֶשְׂרִים (ʻesrîym, H6242) — twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth שְׁנַיִם (shᵉnayim, H8147) — two; also (as ordinal) twofold אֶלֶף (ʼeleph, H505) — hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as… מֵאָה (mêʼâh, H3967) — a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction
Open source ↗Cross-references
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