SCRIPTURE: NUMBERS 26
CENSUS OF A NEW GENERATION (vs. 1-65)
The Lord told Moses and Eleazar, son of Aaron to take a census of the whole Israelite community by families from 20 years old and upward to serve in the army of Israel. So, Moses and Eleazar spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan in Jericho.
THE CENSUS:
- Reuben – Hanochite clan of Hanoch / Palluite clan through Pallu / Hezronite clan through Hezron / Carmite clan ohrough Carmi / Total Number – 43,730
- Simeon – Nemuelite clan through Nemuel / Jaminite clan through Jamin ‘ Zerahite clan through Zerah / Shaulite clan through Shaul / Total Number – 22,200
- Gad – Zephonite clan through Zephon / Haggite clan through Haggi / Shunite clan through Shuni / Ozniate clan through Ozni / Erite clan through Eri / Arodite clan through Arodi / Arelite clan through Areli / Total Number – 40,500
- Judah – Shelanaite clan through Shelah / Perezite clan through Perez / Zerahite clan through Zerah Hezronite clan through Hezron / Hamulite clan through Hamul / Total Number – 76,500
- Issachar – Tolatie clan through Tola / Puite clan through Puah / Jashubite clan through Jashub / Shimronite clan through Shimron / Total Number – 64,300
- Zebulun – Seredite clan through Sered / Elonite clan through Elon / Jahleelite clan through Jahleel / Total Number – 60,500
- Joseph through Manasseh – Makirite clan through Makir / Gileadite clan through Gilead / Iezerite clan through Iezer / Helekite clan through Helek / Asrielite clan through Asriel / Shechemite clan through Shechem / Shemidaite clan through Shemida / Hepherite clan through Hepher / Total Number – 52,700
- Joseph through Ephraim / Shuthelahite clan through Shuthelah / Bakerite clan through Beker / Tahanite clan through Tahan / Eranite clan throughEran / Total Number – 32,500
- Benjamin – Belaite clan through Bela / Ashbelite clan through Ashbel / Ahiramite clan through Ahiram / Shuphamite clan through Shupham / Huphamite clan through Hupham / Ardite clan through Ard / Naamite clan through Naaman / Total Humber – 45,600
- Dan – shuhamite clan through Shuham / Total Number – 64,400
- Asher – Imnite clan through Imnah / Ishvite clan through Ishvi / Berite clan through Beriah / Heberite clan through Heber / Malkielite clan through Malkiel / Total Number – 53,400.
- Naphtali -Jahzeelite clan through Jahzeel / Gunite clan through Guni / Jezerite clan through Jezer / Shillemite clan through Shillem / Total Number – 45,400
The total number of the men of Israel was 601,730.
HOW ARE THE LANDS TO BE ALLOTTED?
- The land is to be allotted to them as an inheritance based on the number of names listed.
- Each one is to receive its inheritance according to the number being listed. Larger group had a larger inheritance while a smaller group had a smaller inheritance.
- The land is to be distributed by lot according tot he names for its ancestral tribe.
THE LEVITE CLANS:
- Gershonite clan through Gershon / Kohathite clan through Kohath / Merarite clan through Merar
- Libnite clan
- Hebronite clan
- Mahlite clan
- Mushite clan
- Korahite clan
Kohath was the forefather of Amram. Amram’s wife was Jochebed, a descendant of Levi, who was born to the Levites in Egypt. Amram was the father of Aaron, Moses and Miriam. Aaron was the father of Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. But Nadab and Abihu died when they made an offering before the Lord with unauthorized fire. Total number of the male Levites was 23,000.
THOUGHTS:
Special names were given special attention in this chapter:
- Dathan and Abiram – they rebelled against the Lord
- Nadab and Abihu – they defiled the Lord
- Joshua and Caleb – they believed the Lord.