Keraia
Numbers 26

Numbers 26:4

The Second Census of Israel · Numbers 26:1–4
Read Numbers 26

Translations

Modern
“Take a census of the men twenty years of age or older, as the LORD has commanded Moses.” And these were the Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt:
Traditional
Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as the Lord commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt.
Literal
“From a son of twenty years and above, as YHWH has commanded Moses.” And the sons of Israel who came out of the land of Egypt:
Latin
…a viginti annis et supra, sicut Dominus imperaverat, quorum iste est numerus.

Original

Hebrew
English
“Take a census of the men twenty years of age or older, as the LORD has commanded Moses.” And these were the Israelites who came out of the land of Egypt:

Notes

Numbers 26:1–4

As in the first census, Moses and Eleazar directed the counting of the people. Eleazar had taken Aaron’s place as high priest.

They gave instructions to the tribal leaders about how to record the numbers of the men.

Numbers 26:1–65

After nearly 40 years, Israel registered their men of military age again. This was while camping on the plains of Moab across from Jericho (compare chapters 1–4). The overall population changed only slightly, with 603,550 in the first registration and 601,730 in the second. This nearly complete replacement of the population showed that the Lord remained faithful to Israel despite their repeated acts of rebellion (26:63–65).

Theme notes and profiles

Eleazar

Parallels

Numbers 1:1–4

People

Israel: Patriarch, son of Isaac, father of twelve tribes Moses: Prophet who led Israel out of Egypt

Places

Egypt: Ancient nation; Israelites enslaved there; plagues and Exodus

Glossary

Census Desert Deuteronomy, Book of Eleazar Genealogy Jericho Numbers, Book of

Topics

Journey of Israel Through The Desert: Return to the Plains of Moab: Third Numbering