Numbers 26:2 kjv
Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers' house, all that are able to go to war in Israel.
Numbers 26:2 nkjv
"Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel from twenty years old and above, by their fathers' houses, all who are able to go to war in Israel."
Numbers 26:2 niv
"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."
Numbers 26:2 esv
"Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers' houses, all in Israel who are able to go to war."
Numbers 26:2 nlt
"From the whole community of Israel, record the names of all the warriors by their families. List all the men twenty years old or older who are able to go to war."
Numbers 26 2 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Num 1:2-3 | "Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by their clans, by their fathers' houses..." | First census, similar command |
| Num 1:18 | "...registered themselves by families, by fathers' houses... from twenty years old and upward..." | Same age & lineage requirement |
| Num 14:29-30 | "...Your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness... you shall not come into the land I swore to make you dwell in..." | Previous generation died due to unbelief |
| Num 14:35 | "...they shall be consumed in this wilderness, and there they shall die.” | God's judgment on the unbelieving generation |
| Num 32:11 | "‘Surely none of the men who came up out of Egypt, from twenty years old and upward... shall see the land...'" | Confirmation of the older generation's fate |
| Deut 1:34-36 | "...The Lord heard your words... and He swore, 'Not one of these men of this evil generation shall see the good land...'" | Moses recalls God's judgment |
| Josh 1:6 | "Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land..." | Preparations for entering the land |
| Josh 11:23 | "...Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the Lord had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it for an inheritance..." | Conquest and land distribution |
| Gen 12:2 | "And I will make of you a great nation..." | God's promise to Abraham to multiply Israel |
| Gen 15:5 | "...Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.' Then he said to him, 'So shall your offspring be.'” | God's promise of numerous descendants |
| Ex 1:7 | "But the people of Israel were fruitful and increased greatly; they multiplied and grew exceedingly strong..." | Israel's multiplication in Egypt |
| Ex 12:41 | "...on that very day all the hosts of the Lord went out from the land of Egypt." | Israel as God's "hosts" for action |
| Ex 6:14 | "These are the heads of their fathers' houses..." | Listing by paternal lineage |
| Num 26:52-56 | "...The land shall be divided among them by lot. To the larger group you shall give a larger inheritance... by the names of the tribes of their fathers." | Census ties directly to land inheritance |
| Num 27:1-11 | Zelophehad's daughters request inheritance, leading to law on daughters inheriting. | Lineage-based inheritance |
| Deut 20:1-4 | "When you go out to war against your enemies... for the Lord your God is with you..." | God's presence in warfare for Israel |
| 1 Chr 7:40 | "...and they were mighty men of valor, registered by families as warriors, 26,000 men." | Similar mustering for military readiness |
| 2 Sam 24:1-9 | David's census; highlights the difference when a census is not divinely commanded. | Contrast with a non-divine census |
| Ps 105:43-45 | "So he brought his people out with joy... that they might keep his statutes..." | God fulfills promises, gives land to obey Him |
| Eph 6:10-12 | "Finally, be strong in the Lord... put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil." | Spiritual preparation for God's people |
| 2 Tim 2:3-4 | "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No one serving as a soldier gets entangled in civilian affairs..." | Christian life as spiritual warfare |
| Heb 3:17-19 | "And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned... So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief." | The lesson of the wilderness generation |
Numbers 26 verses
Numbers 26 2 Meaning
Numbers 26:2 commands Moses and Eleazar to conduct a census of all eligible males among the Israelites. This census is specifically for men aged twenty years and older, grouped by their ancestral households, and intended to identify all those physically capable of serving in Israel’s army. It marks a critical step for the new generation preparing to enter and conquer the promised land, establishing their readiness and demonstrating God's continued faithfulness to His covenant promises despite the previous generation's demise.
Numbers 26 2 Context
Numbers chapter 26 records the second census of Israel, conducted nearly forty years after the first one (Numbers 1). It takes place after a devastating plague (Num 25:9), which underscores God's judgment and purification of the nation. The entire adult generation that left Egypt and rebelled at Kadesh-Barnea, having been condemned to die in the wilderness, has now perished. This census therefore concerns a new generation, born and raised in the wilderness. It serves a dual purpose: firstly, to prepare the nation for the impending conquest of Canaan by identifying the available fighting force; and secondly, to establish a detailed record of the tribes and their households, which would be essential for the equitable distribution of land (as detailed later in Num 26:52-56). It marks a transition from a nomadic past to a future in the Promised Land under divine leadership, renewing Israel’s commitment and order under the covenant.
Numbers 26 2 Word analysis
- "Take a census" (פְּקוּד – pāqad): The Hebrew verb paqad means more than simply "to count" or "to number." It implies an official visitation, muster, inspection, or registering for a specific purpose. Here, it indicates a divine mandate and oversight, a call to account, and preparation for service under God’s authority. It underscores the Lord's ongoing engagement with His people, even through hardship.
- "of all the congregation" (כָּל־הָעֵדָה – kol-ha-edah): This phrase emphasizes the collective body of Israel, indicating that this is a comprehensive, national enrollment. The "congregation" (edah) refers to the assembled community of Israel, signifying its identity as God's chosen people, governed by divine law and prepared for covenant responsibilities.
- "of the people of Israel" (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל – bene Yisrael): "Sons of Israel" or "Children of Israel." This term reiterates their unique national identity rooted in their forefather Jacob (Israel), emphasizing their shared heritage and covenant relationship with Yahweh. It highlights their continuity as God’s peculiar possession.
- "from twenty years old and upward" (מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה – mibben esrim shanah va-ma’lah): This specifies the minimum age for military service and, more broadly, for full civic and religious accountability within the Israelite community. It mirrors the age qualification from the first census, establishing consistency and the standard for participation in national duties, including warfare.
- "by their fathers’ houses" (לְבֵית אֲבֹתָם – leveit avotam): This points to the tribal and clan-based organization of Israel. Each male was identified through his direct paternal lineage, reinforcing the importance of family units as fundamental building blocks of the nation. This structure was critical for maintaining tribal identity, inheritance rights, and the future distribution of land.
- "all who are able to go to war in Israel" (כָּל־יֹצֵא צָבָא בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל – kol yotze tzava b’Yisrael): This phrase clearly defines the census’s primary purpose: identifying individuals fit for military service. Yotze tzava means literally "going out for military service" or "going out for an army." This is not just a general population count but a military registration, demonstrating God’s preparation of His people for the active phase of conquest, where He would lead their hosts into battle.
Numbers 26 2 Bonus section
The consistent total number of males fit for war (around 600,000) from the first census (Numbers 1) to this second one (Numbers 26) is remarkable. Despite forty years of wandering, multiple plagues, and God's judgment leading to the death of the entire previous generation (over the age of 20), the population remained largely stable. This highlights God's supernatural preservation and His faithfulness to multiply Abraham’s descendants as promised, showcasing His power to maintain His covenant people through both discipline and grace, readying them for the future He intended.
Numbers 26 2 Commentary
Numbers 26:2 stands as a pivotal command in Israel’s wilderness journey. It is a direct divine instruction to undertake a new accounting of the nation, explicitly linked to its martial readiness. Unlike other historical censuses, this is not for taxation or boastful human strength, but a divinely ordained enrollment. This meticulous count signifies a renewal and re-establishment of order after four decades of wandering and the passing of a disobedient generation. It is God's active preparation for His people to inherit the promised land, proving His unwavering commitment to His covenant despite Israel’s failures. The focus on age (twenty years and older) and ability "to go to war" underlines the serious nature of the impending conquest. Moreover, the grouping "by their fathers’ houses" affirms tribal identities crucial for the future land division, demonstrating divine order and precision in fulfilling promises. This census powerfully illustrates that even after severe judgment, God's purposes endure, and a new, faithful generation is readied for the inheritance He promised.