Numbers 26 Summary: A Concise Overview in 5 Minutes

Numbers 26 Summary - A Quick Overview

WHEN:

• These events occurred towards the end of the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering in the wilderness.

• The Israelites were in the wilderness from approximately 1490-1450 B.C.

CHARACTERS:

• Moses – God selected Moses to lead the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and guide them to the land of Canaan.

• Eleazar – The High Priest of Israel. He became High Priest after the death of his father, Aaron.

• Caleb – He was one of the 12 spies selected to spy out the land of Canaan in Numbers 13. He encouraged the Israelites to put their faith in God and conquer the land. He was from the tribe of Judah.

• Joshua – Also known as Hoshea. He was Moses’ assistant and accompanied Caleb to spy out Canaan (Numbers 13).

WHERE:

• The Israelites were camped on the border of the Amorites and Moabites near Pisgah at a place called Shittim (21:20; 23:14, 25:1).

OUTLINE:

• THE SECOND CENSUS OF THE ISRAELITES (26:1-51):

  • God told Moses and Eleazar to take a census of the people while they were camped in the plains of Moab.

  • It had been approximately 40 years since the census recorded in Numbers chapter 1.

  • The census counted men 20 years and older who were capable of going to war.

  • The tribes and their census numbers are listed below:

    • Reuben – 43,730

    • Simeon – 22,200

    • Gad – 40,500

    • Judah – 76,500

    • Issachar – 64,300

    • Zebulun – 60,500

    • Manasseh – 52,700

    • Ephraim – 32,500

    • Benjamin – 45,600

    • Dan – 64,400

    • Asher – 53,400

    • Naphtali – 45,400

  • Total for all Tribes of Israel – 601,730

  • Every Israelite who was counted in the first census had died in the wilderness. The only exceptions were Joshua and Caleb (26:64-65).

• THE DIVISION OF CANAAN BETWEEN TRIBES (26:52-56):

  • When the Israelites conquered Canaan, the land was to be divided up between the tribes by casting lots.

  • The amount of land each tribe received depended on their population.

• THE TRIBE OF LEVI (26:57-65):

  • The Levites were not included in the general census because they were set apart to serve God.

  • They did not receive a portion of the land alongside their countrymen.

  • There were 23,000 males (1 month and older) in the tribe.
    

COMPARING THE 1ST AND 2ND CENSUS:

• The census of Numbers 1 and the census of Numbers 26 took place approximately 40 years apart.

• 1st Census Total – 603,550

• 2nd Census Total – 601,730

• The population of fighting men in each tribe remained relatively stable except for the tribe of Simeon.

• In Numbers 1, Simeon had 59,300 fighting men.

• In Numbers 26, Simeon had 22,200 fighting men.

DIAGRAM OF THE CAMP OF ISRAEL:

DIAGRAM OF THE TABERNACLE: