November 14, 2024
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Numbers and 1 Corinthians? Here’s today’s reading:
Numbers 26 (NIV)
The Second Census
1 After the plague the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, 2“Take a census of the whole Israelite community by families—all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army of Israel.” 3 So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them and said,……Continue Reading
I read that this second census came after the plague of judgment in the last chapter and marked the conclusion of the passing of the generation that would die in the wilderness. Certainly God counts people for organization and for military purposes but this census also gives the people the chance to see which tribes have been blessed and grown since the last census and those that have actually reduced in number due to their disobedience. When God calls for a census it also reminds me that each one of us is important to Him, He knows each of us and the number of hairs on our head.
Numbers 25 & 26
Numbers 26
By rough estimates if there were around 600,000 men then there would be roughly 1.2 million men and women. And that’s not including the Levites and anyone under the age of 20 so the total population was likely significantly greater than that. For reference the population of Rhode Island today is just over 1 million.
It’s also interesting to see that in spite of the older generation dying off in the wilderness, the population is similar to the first census taken about 40 years prior back in chapter 1. God preserving His people shows both His power in sustaining a population that massive in the wilderness for 40 years and His mercy in not letting the whole population die off for their doubt and sin.
I am sure these numbers and names were very significant and necessary when it came to military might and dividing the land. It is interesting how past disobedience is referenced and family connections to them are made. What is more exciting is this count is made on the precipice of entering the land and being prepared for what God intended for His people 40 years ago. But this generation would be the ones to do what the last generation failed to do. May we be ones that are more defined by our present and future rather than our past.
How can anyone dispute the orientation of the Bible. All these names were real and these people actually walked the earth. Good luck trying to disprove. Love to hear someone recite this chapter from pulpit
…the Lord had told those Israelites they would surely die in the wilderness, and not one of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun. The Lord always does what he says he will do. So we know that what he says will happen in the future will most definately take place. We can be sure of that.
Some interesting points in this census:
”Nevertheless the children of Korah did not die. “
I assume this means that despite his disobedience and the ground swallowing his family that some of his descendants survived.
Now Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters; and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.
A tribe is given land through daughters because zelophehad had no sons. I have always thought this an interesting point. Although tribes and families were identified through fathers and sons, God breaks with the norm to accommodate this family. The daughters appeal to Moses re: their tribes’ inheritance and God says, “yes, the daughters are right.”
The name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and to Amram she bore Aaron and Moses and their sister Miriam.“
I believe this is the only wife mentioned in this census.
Numbers 26:11, 33, 59 NKJV