Numbers 26 20

Numbers 26:20 kjv

And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites: of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites.

Numbers 26:20 nkjv

And the sons of Judah according to their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Parzites; of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites.

Numbers 26:20 niv

The descendants of Judah by their clans were: through Shelah, the Shelanite clan; through Perez, the Perezite clan; through Zerah, the Zerahite clan.

Numbers 26:20 esv

And the sons of Judah according to their clans were: of Shelah, the clan of the Shelanites; of Perez, the clan of the Perezites; of Zerah, the clan of the Zerahites.

Numbers 26:20 nlt

These were the clans descended from Judah's surviving sons: The Shelanite clan, named after their ancestor Shelah.
The Perezite clan, named after their ancestor Perez.
The Zerahite clan, named after their ancestor Zerah.

Numbers 26 verses

Numbers 26 20 Meaning

Numbers 26:20 systematically lists the genealogical subdivisions of the tribe of Judah for the purpose of the second census. It meticulously details three primary clans descending from Judah's sons Shelah, Perez, and Zerah, indicating the heads of these family units. This enumeration serves to organize the new generation of Israelites for their imminent entry into the Promised Land, specifically for the equitable allocation of land by ancestral right, confirming their tribal identity and readiness for the covenant inheritance.

Numbers 26 20 Context

Numbers 26:20 is situated within the second census of the Israelites, taken on the plains of Moab just before their entry into the Promised Land (Num 26:1). This census contrasts sharply with the first one taken at Mount Sinai nearly forty years earlier (Num 1), as nearly the entire generation counted in the first census had died in the wilderness due to their disobedience and unbelief (Num 14). The survivors, notably Joshua and Caleb, represent the only continuity. This second enumeration is not merely for military purposes but is primarily crucial for the equitable distribution of the land according to the number of registered male heads of households in each clan, ensuring that the inheritance reflects the divine promise to their ancestors.

The specific detailing of Judah's clans (Shelahites, Perezites, Zerahites) underscores Judah's significant role among the tribes, prefiguring its later prominence as the royal tribe and the lineage of the Messiah. The focus on individual clans rather than just the larger tribe highlights the meticulous organization God prescribed for His people, emphasizing each family's identity and its destined share in the covenant inheritance.

Numbers 26 20 Word analysis

• The sons of Judah: This phrase, bĕnê Yehudāh (בְּנֵי יְהוּדָה), literally "children of Judah," refers to the tribal members who are descendants of Jacob's son, Judah. Judah (יְהוּדָה - Yehudah) means "praised" or "He shall be praised," a name bestowed by Leah (Gen 29:35) recognizing God's favor. This tribal identity is paramount in Israelite society, denoting their ancestry, covenantal status, and future inheritance. It foreshadows Judah's preeminence as the royal tribe from which the Davidic dynasty and ultimately the Messiah would emerge.
• according to their clans: The Hebrew lĕmišpĕḥōṯām (לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָם), means "according to their families" or "according to their clans." A mishpaḥah (מִשְׁפָּחָה) refers to a larger family unit, a subdivision of a tribe. This hierarchical structure (tribe > clan > household) was essential for social organization, military mobilization, and crucially, for the orderly distribution of land in Canaan (Num 26:52-56), ensuring a detailed, equitable, and verifiable system for each group's ancestral portion.
• of Shelah: Shelah (שֵׁלָה - Shelâh) was Judah's third son by his Canaanite wife (Gen 38:5). As Er and Onan, his older brothers, died prematurely and childless due to sin (Gen 38:7, 10), Shelah was the firstborn and only son through Judah's first marriage to inherit from this lineage. The clan named after him is the Shelâḥî (שֵׁלָחִי).
• the clan of the Shelahites: This repetitive structure ("of X, the clan of the X-ites") strongly affirms the distinct family identity and legal lineage within the larger tribe, confirming their specific right to the future inheritance based on this census.
• of Perez: Perez (פֶּרֶץ - Pereṣ) means "breakthrough." He was born to Judah through Tamar, his daughter-in-law (Gen 38:29). This birth was highly unusual, but pivotal. The clan Pereṣî (פֶּרְצִי) stemming from him is significant because the messianic line of King David and Jesus Christ directly descended through Perez, not Shelah (Ruth 4:18-22; Matt 1:3; Lk 3:33).
• the clan of the Perezites: Reiterates the distinctness and importance of Perez's lineage within Judah, despite the unconventional circumstances of his birth.
• of Zerah: Zerah (זֶרַח - Zeraḥ), meaning "rising" or "brightness," was Perez's twin brother, also born to Judah by Tamar (Gen 38:30). He was almost born first, indicated by his hand coming out with a scarlet thread (Gen 38:28). The clan descending from him is the Zarḥî (זַרְחִי).
• the clan of the Zerahites: Again, solidifies the clan's identity and its place in the census for inheritance and tribal order. The inclusion of both twins, Perez and Zerah, shows the thoroughness of the census and the comprehensive recording of all valid lines of descent for land allocation.

Numbers 26 20 Bonus section

The inclusion of Shelah, Perez, and Zerah here not only details Judah's direct descendants but also implicitly validates the entire lineage stemming from Judah, despite the scandalous nature of Tamar's actions in Genesis 38, demonstrating God's capacity to work His redemptive purposes through imperfect human lines. The census, which explicitly excludes those who perished in the wilderness due to sin (Num 26:64-65), reinforces the principle that while sin brings consequences and cuts off one generation from the full promise, God, in His mercy, raises up a new generation prepared to receive the inheritance. This careful enumeration of specific clans reflects the legal framework for ownership and transfer of land in the ancient Near East, which often relied on clear genealogical records to establish claims, thus making God's provision for Israel both spiritually profound and practically sound for their societal structure.

Numbers 26 20 Commentary

Numbers 26:20 is a testament to God's meticulous order and faithfulness in preparing His people to inherit the Promised Land. This seemingly mundane genealogical list is deeply significant, functioning as a vital link between divine promise and its practical fulfillment. By detailing the clans of Judah – the Shelahites, Perezites, and Zerahites – it establishes a foundational structure for land division. The very act of this second census, a precise counting by clan, underscores a renewed covenant between God and this generation, one marked by meticulous adherence to His design after the failures of their parents. The prominent mention of Perez's lineage implicitly anticipates the royal line and eventually the Messiah, showcasing God's sovereign plan woven into the fabric of Israel's tribal and family structures. It highlights the divine emphasis on continuity, inheritance, and identity as they transition from wilderness wanderers to a settled, nation-state in Canaan.