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The Second Census of Israel

26 After the plague was over, the Lord told Moses and Aaron the priest’s son Eleazar, “Take a census[a] of the entire community of Israel from the age of 20 years and above, according to each ancestral tribe, counting everyone who is able to go out to war in Israel.”

Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke to them in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan River[b] in Jericho. They counted every male Israeli who had come out of Egypt and who was 20 years old and above, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

From Reuben, Israel’s firstborn, the descendants of Reuben included from Hanoch, the family of the descendants of Hanoch; from Pallu, the family of the descendants of Pallu; from Hezron, the family of the descendants of Hezron; and from Carmi, the family of the descendants of Carmi. These families of the descendants of Reuben numbered 43,730.

Now Pallu’s son was Eliab. The descendants of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram were removed from the community because they joined the rebellion against Moses and Aaron, as did Korah’s company when they rebelled against the Lord. 10 The ground had opened its mouth and swallowed them up, along with Korah. Also, that group died when the fire devoured 250 men as a warning sign, 11 but Korah’s direct descendants didn’t die.

12 The descendants of Simeon, listed according to their families, included: From Nemuel, the family of the descendants of Nemuel; from Jamin, the family of the descendants of Jamin; from Jachin, the family of the descendants of Jachin; 13 from Zerah, the family of the descendants of Zerah; and from Shaul, the family of the descendants of Shaul. 14 These families of the descendants of Simeon numbered 22,200.

15 The descendants of Gad, listed according to their families, included: From Zephon, the family of the descendants of Zephon; from Haggi, the family of the descendants of Haggi; from Shuni, the family of the descendants of Shuni; 16 from Ozni, the family of the descendants of Ozni; from Eri, the family of the descendants of Eri; 17 from Arod, the family of the descendants of Arod; and from Areli, the family of the descendants of Areli. 18 These families of the descendants of Gad numbered 40,500.

19 The descendants of Judah originally included Er and Onan, though Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. 20 The descendants of Judah, listed according to their families, included: From Shelah, the family of the descendants of Shelah; from Perez, the family of the descendants of Perez; and from Zerah, the family of the descendants of Zerah. 21 The descendants of Perez included: From Hezron, the family of the descendants of Hezron; and from Hamul, the family of the descendants of Hamul. 22 These families of Judah numbered 76,500.

23 The tribe of Issachar, listed according to their families, included: From Tola, the family of the descendants of Tola; from Puvah, the family of the descendants of Puvah; 24 from Jashub, the family of the descendants of Jashub; and from Shimron, the family of the descendants of Shimron. 25 These families of Issachar numbered 64,300.

26 The tribe of Zebulun, listed according to their families, included: From Sered, the family of the descendants of Sered; from Elon, the family of the descendants of Elon; and from Jahleel, the family of the descendants of Jahleel. 27 These families of the descendants of Zebulun numbered 60,500.

28 The tribe of Joseph, listed according to their families, included Manasseh and Ephraim. 29 The descendants of Manasseh included: From Machir, the family of the descendants of Machir. (Machir was the father of Gilead.) From Gilead, the family of the Gileadites 30 included: From Iezer, the family of the descendants of Iezer; from Helek, the family of the descendants of Helek; 31 from Asriel, the family of the descendants of Asriel; from Shechem, the family of the descendants of Shechem; 32 from Shemida, the family of the descendants of Shemida; and from Hepher, the family of the descendants of Hepher. 33 Hepher’s son Zelophehad had no sons, but the names of Zelophehad’s daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 34 These families of Manasseh numbered 52,700.

35 The descendants of Ephraim, listed according to their families, included: From Shuthelah, the family of the descendants of Shuthelah; from Becher, the family of the descendants of Becher; and from Tahan, the family of the descendants of Tahan. 36 The descendants of Shuthelah included from Eran, the family of the descendants of Eran. 37 These families of Ephraim numbered 32,500. These were the descendants of Joseph, listed according to their families.

38 The tribe of Benjamin, listed according to their families, included: From Bela, the family of the descendants of Bela; from Ashbel, the family of the descendants of Ashbel; from Ahiram, the family of the descendants of Ahiram; 39 from Shephupham, the family of the descendants of Shephupham; and from Hupham, the family of the descendants of Hupham. 40 The descendants of Bela were Ard and Naaman: From Ard, the family of the descendants of Ard; and from Naaman, the family of the descendants of Naaman. 41 These descendants of Benjamin’s families numbered 45,600.

42 The tribe of Dan, listed according to their families, included the families of the descendants of Shuham. 43 All the families of the Shuhamites numbered 64,400.

44 The tribe of Asher, listed according to their families, included: From Imnah, the family of the descendants of Imnah; from Ishvi, the family of the descendants of Ishvi; and from Beriah, the family of the descendants of Beriah. 45 The descendants of Beriah included: From Heber, the family of the descendants of Heber; and from Malchiel, the family of the descendants of Malchiel. 46 (The name of Asher’s daughter was Serah.) 47 These descendants of Asher numbered 53,400.

48 The tribe of Naphtali, listed according to their families, included: From Jahzeel, the family of the descendants of Jahzeel; from Guni, the family of the descendants of Guni; 49 from Jezer, the family of the descendants of Jezer; and from Shillem, the family of the descendants of Shillem. 50 These families of Naphtali numbered 45,400.

51 The total[c] of those numbered among the Israelis was 601,730.

Instructions on Dividing the Land

52 Then the Lord told Moses, 53 “The land is to be divided for an inheritance according to the total number of these names. 54 The more there are in number,[d] you are to increase their inheritance, and the less there are in number, you are to decrease their inheritance. You are to provide an inheritance to each based on the size of their family, 55 but the land is to be divided by lot, inheriting according to the names of their ancestor’s tribe. 56 Depending on the lot, the portion of their inheritance is to be divided between those with more members[e] and those with fewer members.”[f]

Levitical Genealogies

57 Those who were numbered from the descendants of Levi, listed according to their families, included: From Gershon, the family of the descendants of Gershon; from Kohath, the family of the descendants of Kohath; and from Merari, the family of the descendants of Merari. 58 These were the families of Levi: The family of the descendants of Libni, the family of the descendants of Hebron, the family of the descendants of Mahli, the family of the descendants of Musha, and the family of the descendants of Korah.

Now Kohath had a son named Amram. 59 Amram’s wife was Levi’s daughter Jochebed, who was born to Levi in Egypt. She gave birth to Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam.

60 To Aaron were born Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 61 But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire in the Lord’s presence. 62 All of those individuals numbered 23,000. No male from the age of a month and above was numbered among the Israelis because no inheritance was to be assigned to them among the Israelis.

63 So this has been a list of those who were registered[g] by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they numbered the Israelis in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. 64 But none of these men among these numbered by Moses and by Aaron the priest (that is, when they numbered the Israelis in the wilderness of Sinai) survived to enter the land, 65 because the Lord had said about them, “They’ll certainly die in the wilderness. No man will survive from them except Jephunneh’s son Caleb and Nun’s son Joshua.”

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 26:2 Lit. Lift the head
  2. Numbers 26:3 The Heb. lacks River
  3. Numbers 26:51 The Heb. lacks total
  4. Numbers 26:54 The Heb. lacks number
  5. Numbers 26:56 The Heb. lacks members
  6. Numbers 26:56 The Heb. lacks members
  7. Numbers 26:63 Or numbered

The Second Census

26 After the plague(A) the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, “Take a census(B) of the whole Israelite community by families—all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army(C) of Israel.” So on the plains of Moab(D) by the Jordan across from Jericho,(E) Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them and said, “Take a census of the men twenty years old or more, as the Lord commanded Moses.”

These were the Israelites who came out of Egypt:(F)

The descendants of Reuben,(G) the firstborn son of Israel, were:

through Hanok,(H) the Hanokite clan;

through Pallu,(I) the Palluite clan;

through Hezron,(J) the Hezronite clan;

through Karmi,(K) the Karmite clan.

These were the clans of Reuben; those numbered were 43,730.

The son of Pallu was Eliab, and the sons of Eliab(L) were Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. The same Dathan and Abiram were the community(M) officials who rebelled against Moses and Aaron and were among Korah’s followers when they rebelled against the Lord.(N) 10 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them(O) along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire devoured the 250 men.(P) And they served as a warning sign.(Q) 11 The line of Korah,(R) however, did not die out.(S)

12 The descendants of Simeon by their clans were:

through Nemuel,(T) the Nemuelite clan;

through Jamin,(U) the Jaminite clan;

through Jakin, the Jakinite clan;

13 through Zerah,(V) the Zerahite clan;

through Shaul, the Shaulite clan.

14 These were the clans of Simeon;(W) those numbered were 22,200.(X)

15 The descendants of Gad by their clans were:

through Zephon,(Y) the Zephonite clan;

through Haggi, the Haggite clan;

through Shuni, the Shunite clan;

16 through Ozni, the Oznite clan;

through Eri, the Erite clan;

17 through Arodi,[a] the Arodite clan;

through Areli, the Arelite clan.

18 These were the clans of Gad;(Z) those numbered were 40,500.

19 Er(AA) and Onan(AB) were sons of Judah, but they died(AC) in Canaan.

20 The descendants of Judah by their clans were:

through Shelah,(AD) the Shelanite clan;

through Perez,(AE) the Perezite clan;

through Zerah, the Zerahite clan.(AF)

21 The descendants of Perez(AG) were:

through Hezron,(AH) the Hezronite clan;

through Hamul, the Hamulite clan.

22 These were the clans of Judah;(AI) those numbered were 76,500.

23 The descendants of Issachar by their clans were:

through Tola,(AJ) the Tolaite clan;

through Puah, the Puite[b] clan;

24 through Jashub,(AK) the Jashubite clan;

through Shimron, the Shimronite clan.

25 These were the clans of Issachar;(AL) those numbered were 64,300.

26 The descendants of Zebulun(AM) by their clans were:

through Sered, the Seredite clan;

through Elon, the Elonite clan;

through Jahleel, the Jahleelite clan.

27 These were the clans of Zebulun;(AN) those numbered were 60,500.

28 The descendants of Joseph(AO) by their clans through Manasseh and Ephraim(AP) were:

29 The descendants of Manasseh:(AQ)

through Makir,(AR) the Makirite clan (Makir was the father of Gilead(AS));

through Gilead, the Gileadite clan.

30 These were the descendants of Gilead:(AT)

through Iezer,(AU) the Iezerite clan;

through Helek, the Helekite clan;

31 through Asriel, the Asrielite clan;

through Shechem, the Shechemite clan;

32 through Shemida, the Shemidaite clan;

through Hepher, the Hepherite clan.

33 (Zelophehad(AV) son of Hepher had no sons;(AW) he had only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah.)(AX)

34 These were the clans of Manasseh; those numbered were 52,700.(AY)

35 These were the descendants of Ephraim(AZ) by their clans:

through Shuthelah, the Shuthelahite clan;

through Beker, the Bekerite clan;

through Tahan, the Tahanite clan.

36 These were the descendants of Shuthelah:

through Eran, the Eranite clan.

37 These were the clans of Ephraim;(BA) those numbered were 32,500.

These were the descendants of Joseph by their clans.

38 The descendants of Benjamin(BB) by their clans were:

through Bela, the Belaite clan;

through Ashbel, the Ashbelite clan;

through Ahiram, the Ahiramite clan;

39 through Shupham,[c] the Shuphamite clan;

through Hupham, the Huphamite clan.

40 The descendants of Bela through Ard(BC) and Naaman were:

through Ard,[d] the Ardite clan;

through Naaman, the Naamite clan.

41 These were the clans of Benjamin;(BD) those numbered were 45,600.

42 These were the descendants of Dan(BE) by their clans:(BF)

through Shuham,(BG) the Shuhamite clan.

These were the clans of Dan: 43 All of them were Shuhamite clans; and those numbered were 64,400.

44 The descendants of Asher(BH) by their clans were:

through Imnah, the Imnite clan;

through Ishvi, the Ishvite clan;

through Beriah, the Beriite clan;

45 and through the descendants of Beriah:

through Heber, the Heberite clan;

through Malkiel, the Malkielite clan.

46 (Asher had a daughter named Serah.)

47 These were the clans of Asher;(BI) those numbered were 53,400.

48 The descendants of Naphtali(BJ) by their clans were:

through Jahzeel, the Jahzeelite clan;

through Guni, the Gunite clan;

49 through Jezer, the Jezerite clan;

through Shillem, the Shillemite clan.

50 These were the clans of Naphtali;(BK) those numbered were 45,400.(BL)

51 The total number of the men of Israel was 601,730.(BM)

52 The Lord said to Moses, 53 “The land is to be allotted to them as an inheritance based on the number of names.(BN) 54 To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number(BO) of those listed.(BP) 55 Be sure that the land is distributed by lot.(BQ) What each group inherits will be according to the names for its ancestral tribe. 56 Each inheritance is to be distributed by lot among the larger and smaller groups.”

57 These were the Levites(BR) who were counted by their clans:

through Gershon, the Gershonite clan;

through Kohath, the Kohathite clan;

through Merari, the Merarite clan.

58 These also were Levite clans:

the Libnite clan,

the Hebronite clan,

the Mahlite clan,

the Mushite clan,

the Korahite clan.

(Kohath was the forefather of Amram;(BS) 59 the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed,(BT) a descendant of Levi, who was born to the Levites[e] in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses(BU) and their sister(BV) Miriam.(BW) 60 Aaron was the father of Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar.(BX) 61 But Nadab and Abihu(BY) died when they made an offering before the Lord with unauthorized fire.)(BZ)

62 All the male Levites a month old or more numbered 23,000.(CA) They were not counted(CB) along with the other Israelites because they received no inheritance(CC) among them.(CD)

63 These are the ones counted(CE) by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab(CF) by the Jordan across from Jericho.(CG) 64 Not one of them was among those counted(CH) by Moses and Aaron(CI) the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai. 65 For the Lord had told those Israelites they would surely die in the wilderness,(CJ) and not one of them was left except Caleb(CK) son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.(CL)

Footnotes

  1. Numbers 26:17 Samaritan Pentateuch and Syriac (see also Gen. 46:16); Masoretic Text Arod
  2. Numbers 26:23 Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac (see also 1 Chron. 7:1); Masoretic Text through Puvah, the Punite
  3. Numbers 26:39 A few manuscripts of the Masoretic Text, Samaritan Pentateuch, Vulgate and Syriac (see also Septuagint); most manuscripts of the Masoretic Text Shephupham
  4. Numbers 26:40 Samaritan Pentateuch and Vulgate (see also Septuagint); Masoretic Text does not have through Ard.
  5. Numbers 26:59 Or Jochebed, a daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi