Skip to reading
Atomic Bible
Numbers

Chapter 26

The Second Census of Israel and more

After the plague, the chapter counts a new generation of Israel tribe by tribe on the plains of Moab. The census prepares for the land ahead: inheritance will be assigned by number and by lot, the Levites are counted separately, and the old wilderness generation is shown to be gone except for Caleb and Joshua.

Near the end of Numbers, this chapter turns from wilderness judgment toward settled inheritance. It measures the people who remain after a generation has passed and readies the book for questions of land, succession, and final preparation east of the Jordan.

16 sections·851 words·~4 min read

Begin reading Zoom into first section
Reader

Numbers 26

A continuous BSB reading flow. Turn on the guide when you want authored orientation; leave it off when you simply want the text.

vv. 1-4

The Second Census of Israel

Open section

A1fter 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.”

vv. 5-11

The Tribe of Reuben

Open section

R5euben was the firstborn of Israel. These were the descendants of Reuben: 6the Hezronite clan from Hezron, 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. 10It was Dathan and Abiram, chosen by the congregation, who rebelled against Moses and Aaron with the followers of Korah who rebelled against the LORD. And 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.

vv. 12-14

The Tribe of Simeon

Open section

T12hese were the descendants of Simeon by their clans: 13the Zerahite clan from Zerah, 14These were the clans of Simeon, and there were 22,200 men.

vv. 15-18

The Tribe of Gad

Open section

T15hese were the descendants of Gad by their clans: 16the Oznite clan from Ozni, 17the Arodite clan from Arod, 18These were the clans of Gad, and their registration numbered... 40,500.

vv. 19-22

The Tribe of Judah

Open section

T19he sons of Judah were Er and Onan, but they died in the land of Canaan. 20These were the descendants of Judah by their clans: 21And these were the descendants of Perez: 22These were the clans of Judah, and their registration numbered... 76,500.

vv. 23-25

The Tribe of Issachar

Open section

T23hese were the descendants of Issachar by their clans: 24the Jashubite clan from Jashub, 25These were the clans of Issachar, and their registration numbered... 64,300.

vv. 26-27

The Tribe of Zebulun

Open section

T26hese were the descendants of Zebulun by their clans: 27These were the clans of Zebulun, and their registration numbered... 60,500.

vv. 28-34

The Tribe of Manasseh

Open section

T28he descendants of Joseph included the clans of Manasseh and Ephraim. 29These were the descendants of Manasseh: 30These were the descendants of Gilead: 31the Asrielite clan from Asriel, 32the Shemidaite clan from Shemida,

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.

vv. 35-37

The Tribe of Ephraim

Open section

T35hese were the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: 36And the descendants of Shuthelah were the Eranite clan from Eran. 37These were the clans of Ephraim, and their registration numbered... 32,500.

vv. 38-41

The Tribe of Benjamin

Open section

T38hese were the descendants of Benjamin by their clans: 39the Shuphamite clan from Shupham, 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.

vv. 42-43

The Tribe of Dan

Open section

T42hese were the descendants of Dan by their clans: 43These were the clans of Dan. All of them were Shuhamite clans, and their registration numbered... 64,400.

vv. 44-47

The Tribe of Asher

Open section

T44hese were the descendants of Asher by their clans: 45And these were the descendants of Beriah: 46And the name of Asher’s daughter was Serah. 47These were the clans of Asher, and their registration numbered... 53,400.

vv. 48-51

The Tribe of Naphtali

Open section

T48hese were the descendants of Naphtali by their clans: 49the Jezerite clan from Jezer, 50These were the clans of Naphtali, and their registration numbered... 45,400.

51These men of Israel numbered 601,730 in all.

vv. 52-56

Inheritance by Lot

Open section

T52hen 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.”

vv. 57-62

The Levites Numbered

Open section

N57ow these were the Levites numbered by their clans: 58These were the families of the Levites: 59Now Kohath was the father of Amram, and 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.

vv. 63-65

Only Caleb and Joshua Remain

Open section

T63hese 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.

Section map

Open the closer view when you want it.

Each section keeps the passage focused, adds summaries and cross references, and gives verse-level links.

  1. 01vv. 1-4The Second Census of IsraelAfter the plague, the LORD orders Moses and Eleazar to count Israel’s fighting men from twenty years old and upward. The chapter opens in the plains of Moab, where a wounded people is measured again for what lies ahead.
  2. 02vv. 5-11The Tribe of ReubenReuben’s clans are listed and numbered, but the record pauses over Eliab’s line to recall Dathan and Abiram, whose rebellion ended in judgment. Even within a census, memory of defiance remains, though Korah’s line itself continues.
  3. 03vv. 12-14The Tribe of SimeonSimeon’s clans are named and the tribe is counted at 22,200 men. The section is brief and spare, giving the tribe its place in the roll without narrative pause.
  4. 04vv. 15-18The Tribe of GadGad’s descendants are set out by clans, and the tribe’s number is recorded as 40,500. The chapter keeps its measured pattern, naming families and fixing their place within the nation’s renewed count.
  5. 05vv. 19-22The Tribe of JudahJudah’s record notes the deaths of Er and Onan in Canaan before listing the tribe’s remaining lines and large total of 76,500. Even here, the census remembers loss while marking Judah’s enduring strength.
  6. 06vv. 23-25The Tribe of IssacharIssachar’s clans are named and counted at 64,300 men. The section is brief, keeping the chapter’s emphasis on ordered belonging and measured inheritance rather than narrative expansion.
  7. 07vv. 26-27The Tribe of ZebulunZebulun’s descendants are listed by clan, and the tribe is counted at 60,500 men. The familiar pattern continues, quietly strengthening the sense of an entire people being set in order.
  8. 08vv. 28-34The Tribe of ManassehManasseh’s line is traced through Gilead and other clans, and Zelophehad’s daughters are named because he has no sons. The tribe’s total is then given as 52,700, with family structure already beginning to touch questions of inheritance.
  9. 09vv. 35-37The Tribe of EphraimEphraim’s clans are listed and numbered at 32,500 men. After the fuller notice for Manasseh, this short entry completes Joseph’s house with the same measured clarity.
  10. 10vv. 38-41The Tribe of BenjaminBenjamin’s clans are named, including the lines from Bela, Ard, and Naaman, and the tribe is counted at 45,600 men. The record remains careful with names, preserving family identity within the national whole.
  11. 11vv. 42-43The Tribe of DanDan’s descendants are listed under the Shuhamite clans, and the tribe’s number is recorded as 64,400. The chapter’s rhythm stays spare and steady, carrying the census toward its complete national total.
  12. 12vv. 44-47The Tribe of AsherAsher’s clans are listed, and the notice includes Serah, Asher’s daughter, before recording the tribe’s total of 53,400. As in Manasseh’s entry, the genealogy briefly opens wider than the expected male line.
  13. 13vv. 48-51The Tribe of NaphtaliNaphtali’s clans are named and counted at 45,400 men, and the whole census closes with Israel’s total of 601,730. The chapter has now gathered the new generation into one numbered people.
  14. 14vv. 52-56Inheritance by LotWith the census complete, the LORD directs that the land be divided as an inheritance according to the tribes’ numbers, yet assigned by lot. Size will affect the portion, but the lot will govern the distribution itself.
  15. 15vv. 57-62The Levites NumberedThe Levites are counted separately by their clans, with the family line of Amram and Aaron briefly traced and the deaths of Nadab and Abihu recalled. Their total is 23,000 males a month old or more, and they receive no inheritance among Israel.
  16. 16vv. 63-65Only Caleb and Joshua RemainThe chapter closes by marking this census as entirely new: none of those counted at Sinai remain except Caleb and Joshua. The wilderness sentence has run its course, and the people now standing in Moab are the survivors of another generation.
Previous Chapter 25All 36 chapters in NumbersNextChapter 27