Tyndale Open Study Notes

Verse 1

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.

Verse 8

26:8-11 the sons of Korah did not die that day: See study note on 16:31-33.

Verse 33

26:33 The daughters of Zelophehad initiated important legal reform (see 27:1-11; 36:1-12).

Verse 51

26:51 In spite of warfare, plagues, and punishments, God had been faithful to Israel. The number of male warriors had shrunk by 1,820 compared to the first registration (cp. 2:32), a difference of 0.3 percent.

Verse 52

26:52-56 The second registration, like the first, was a military one, but it also provided the basis for distributing land to Israel’s tribes in proportion to the tribes’ populations (cp. Josh 15–19). • assign the land by lot: Lots were used to seek divine guidance and avoid favoritism in important matters (e.g., Num 27:21; 1 Sam 10:20; 14:41-42; Prov 18:18; Acts 1:26).

Verse 57

26:57-61 The family of Kohath received special attention as the clan of Aaron, Moses, and Miriam.

Verse 62

26:62 The Levites were numbered separately (cp. 1:47-49; 3:14-39). • one month old or older: Cp. 3:15. • they were not given an allotment of land when it was divided among the Israelites: The Levites were given forty-eight towns for their use, but they received no large territory through the process described in 26:52-56 (35:1-8; cp. 18:23-24).

Verse 63

26:63-65 The registration figures represent an entirely new generation of Hebrews, for everyone who came out of Egypt died in the wilderness except Caleb and Joshua. Joshua inherited Moses’ position as the leader of Israel (27:12-23; see “Joshua” Profile), and Caleb later played an important role as well (see “Caleb” Profile). Numbers 26 documents Israel’s transition from a generation under God’s condemnation (ch 14) to a people with a future, as predicted by Balaam’s four prophecies (chs 23–24).