Bible Glide

Numbers 26 Summary, Context, and Full Chapter

Numbers 26 gives Israel's second census after the plague. Moses and Eleazar count the fighting men by tribe on the plains of Moab, then God explains how the land will be divided among them. The chapter also notes the Levites, the family lines that remain, and the narrow survival of Caleb and Joshua.

What happens in Numbers 26?

This chapter records a new census of Israel after the plague, with each tribe counted by clan and total. Several family lines are noted for their history, including Korah's line, which did not disappear. God then directs Moses on how the land will be assigned: larger tribes receive larger portions, but the division is still made by lot. The Levites are counted separately because they will not receive land inheritance. The chapter closes by showing that the wilderness generation has passed away, with only Caleb and Joshua remaining from the earlier census.

Numbers 26 comes near the end of Israel's time in the wilderness, just before the final preparations for entering Canaan. It follows the judgment and plague in the previous chapter and prepares for the land inheritance instructions that continue into Numbers 27. The census shows both a new generation and the end of the old one.

  • Judgment and mercyThe chapter remembers earlier rebellion and shows how God's warnings remained true while His people continued forward.
  • Inheritance and orderGod plans the land's distribution carefully, matching each tribe's portion to its size.
  • New generationA fresh census marks the transition from the wilderness generation to the people who will enter the land.
  • Why does God order a new census after the plague?
  • What does the tribal counting show about how the land will be divided?
  • Why are Caleb and Joshua singled out at the end of the chapter?

Read the full text of Numbers 26 below, then open it in the reader to highlight, take notes, or ask follow-up Bible questions. No account is required to read.

Numbers 26

The Second Census of Israel

1After the plague had ended, the LORD said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron the priest,2“Take a census of the whole congregation of Israel by the houses of their fathers—all those twenty years of age or older who can serve in the army of Israel.”3So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest issued the instruction,4“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:

The Tribe of Reuben

5Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. These were the descendants of Reuben:

The Hanochite clan from Hanoch,

the Palluite clan from Pallu,

6the Hezronite clan from Hezron,

and the Carmite clan from Carmi.

7These were the clans of Reuben, and their registration numbered 43,730.8Now the son of Pallu was Eliab,9and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. It was Dathan and Abiram, chosen by the congregation, who fought against Moses and Aaron with the followers of Korah who rebelled against the LORD.10And the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire consumed 250 men. They serve as a warning sign.11However, the line of Korah did not die out.

The Tribe of Simeon

12These were the descendants of Simeon by their clans:

The Nemuelite clan from Nemuel,

the Jaminite clan from Jamin,

the Jachinite clan from Jachin,

13the Zerahite clan from Zerah,

and the Shaulite clan from Shaul.

14These were the clans of Simeon, and there were 22,200 men.

The Tribe of Gad

15These were the descendants of Gad by their clans:

The Zephonite clan from Zephon,

the Haggite clan from Haggi,

the Shunite clan from Shuni,

16the Oznite clan from Ozni,

the Erite clan from Eri,

17the Arodite clan from Arod,

and the Arelite clan from Areli.

18These were the clans of Gad, and their registration numbered 40,500.

The Tribe of Judah

19The sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan.

20These were the descendants of Judah by their clans:

The Shelanite clan from Shelah,

the Perezite clan from Perez,

and the Zerahite clan from Zerah.

21And these were the descendants of Perez:

the Hezronite clan from Hezron

and the Hamulite clan from Hamul.

22These were the clans of Judah, and their registration numbered 76,500.

The Tribe of Issachar

23These were the descendants of Issachar by their clans:

The Tolaite clan from Tola,

the Punite clan from Puvah,

24the Jashubite clan from Jashub,

and the Shimronite clan from Shimron.

25These were the clans of Issachar, and their registration numbered 64,300.

The Tribe of Zebulun

26These were the descendants of Zebulun by their clans:

The Seredite clan from Sered,

the Elonite clan from Elon,

and the Jahleelite clan from Jahleel.

27These were the clans of Zebulun, and their registration numbered 60,500.

The Tribe of Manasseh

28The descendants of Joseph included the clans of Manasseh and Ephraim.

29These were the descendants of Manasseh:

The Machirite clan from Machir, the father of Gilead,

and the Gileadite clan from Gilead.

30These were the descendants of Gilead:

the Iezerite clan from Iezer,

the Helekite clan from Helek,

31the Asrielite clan from Asriel,

the Shechemite clan from Shechem,

32the Shemidaite clan from Shemida,

and the Hepherite clan from Hepher.

33Now Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons but only daughters. The names of his daughters were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah.

34These were the clans of Manasseh, and their registration numbered 52,700.

The Tribe of Ephraim

35These were the descendants of Ephraim by their clans:

The Shuthelahite clan from Shuthelah,

the Becherite clan from Becher,

and the Tahanite clan from Tahan.

36And the descendants of Shuthelah were the Eranite clan from Eran.

37These were the clans of Ephraim, and their registration numbered 32,500. These clans were the descendants of Joseph.

The Tribe of Benjamin

38These were the descendants of Benjamin by their clans:

The Belaite clan from Bela,

the Ashbelite clan from Ashbel,

the Ahiramite clan from Ahiram,

39the Shuphamite clan from Shupham,

and the Huphamite clan from Hupham.

40And the descendants of Bela from Ard and Naaman were the Ardite clan from Ard and the Naamite clan from Naaman.

41These were the clans of Benjamin, and their registration numbered 45,600.

The Tribe of Dan

42These were the descendants of Dan by their clans:

The Shuhamite clan from Shuham.

These were the clans of Dan.

43All of them were Shuhamite clans, and their registration numbered 64,400.

The Tribe of Asher

44These were the descendants of Asher by their clans:

The Imnite clan from Imnah,

the Ishvite clan from Ishvi,

and the Beriite clan from Beriah.

45And these were the descendants of Beriah:

the Heberite clan from Heber

and the Malchielite clan from Malchiel.

46And the name of Asher’s daughter was Serah.

47These were the clans of Asher, and their registration numbered 53,400.

The Tribe of Naphtali

48These were the descendants of Naphtali by their clans:

The Jahzeelite clan from Jahzeel,

the Gunite clan from Guni,

49the Jezerite clan from Jezer,

and the Shillemite clan from Shillem.

50These were the clans of Naphtali, and their registration numbered 45,400.51These men of Israel numbered 601,730 in all.

Inheritance by Lot

52Then the LORD said to Moses,53“The land is to be divided among the tribes as an inheritance, according to the number of names.54Increase the inheritance for a large tribe and decrease it for a small one; each tribe is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those registered.55Indeed, the land must be divided by lot; they shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.56Each inheritance is to be divided by lot among the larger and smaller tribes.”

The Levites Numbered

57Now these were the Levites numbered by their clans:

The Gershonite clan from Gershon,

the Kohathite clan from Kohath,

and the Merarite clan from Merari.

58These were the families of the Levites:

The Libnite clan,

the Hebronite clan,

the Mahlite clan,

the Mushite clan,

and the Korahite clan.

Now Kohath was the father of Amram,

59and Amram’s wife was named Jochebed. She was also a daughter of Levi, born to Levi in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam.60Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar were born to Aaron,61but Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.62The registration of the Levites totaled 23,000, every male a month old or more; they were not numbered among the other Israelites, because no inheritance was given to them among the Israelites.

Only Caleb and Joshua Remain

63These were the ones numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho.64Among all these, however, there was not one who had been numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Wilderness of Sinai.65For the LORD had told them that they would surely die in the wilderness. Not one was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

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