Numbers 26 3

Numbers 26:3 kjv

And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,

Numbers 26:3 nkjv

So Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho, saying:

Numbers 26:3 niv

So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them and said,

Numbers 26:3 esv

And Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying,

Numbers 26:3 nlt

So there on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River, across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest issued these instructions to the leaders of Israel:

Numbers 26 verses

Numbers 26 3 Meaning

Numbers 26:3 introduces the divine mandate for the second census of Israel, establishing the specific location from which this instruction was given. Moses, acting as God's chosen leader, and Eleazar, representing the consecrated priestly line, jointly addressed the people. This momentous occasion took place in the Plains of Moab, directly across the Jordan River from Jericho, a significant geographic marker at the very threshold of the Promised Land. The purpose of this instruction was to number the new generation of Israelites, prepared to inherit and settle the land God had promised.

Numbers 26 3 Context

Numbers chapter 26 recounts the second census of the Israelites, ordered by the LORD. This enumeration serves as a critical bridge between the wilderness generation, which perished due to disobedience, and the new generation prepared to enter the Promised Land. Occurring approximately thirty-eight years after the first census (Numbers 1), it highlights divine judgment for past rebellion, yet equally underscores God's faithfulness in preserving and multiplying His people. The immediate preceding chapter (Numbers 25) details the plague at Peor, caused by Israelite idolatry and immorality, which resulted in the death of 24,000. Thus, the census not only demonstrates God's continuing care and organization for His people but also functions as a fresh start, signaling a cleansed and renewed community poised for inheritance. The meticulous nature of this census is crucial for military readiness, tribal organization, and most significantly, the equitable division of the land (Numbers 26:52-56). Historically, censuses in the Ancient Near East were standard for military conscription, taxation, and land administration, but for Israel, it was a divinely commanded act to organize God's people for their unique mission.

Numbers 26 3 Word analysis

• וַיְדַבֵּר (vaydabber): "and he spoke / they spoke." From the root דָּבַר (dabar), meaning "to speak, to declare, to command." This Qal imperfect consecutive verb structure signifies an action that occurred as part of a sequential narrative, establishing the authority and formality of the communication. It highlights the divine impetus behind Moses' and Eleazar's words; they were not speaking on their own accord but relaying God's command.
• מֹשֶׁה (Mosheh): "Moses." The divinely appointed leader and lawgiver of Israel. His consistent presence throughout the wilderness narrative signifies God's faithfulness in guiding His people through an established human authority.
• וְאֶלְעָזָר (v'El'azar): "and Eleazar." Son of Aaron and the High Priest (Num 20:28). His inclusion alongside Moses is highly significant. It represents the crucial dual leadership of civil (Moses) and religious (Eleazar) authority, both acting under God's supreme authority. This continuity ensures divine guidance not only through leadership succession but also through sacred rituals and direct communication with God via the High Priest. Eleazar was the intermediary for the Urim and Thummim.
• הַכֹּהֵן (hakkōhēn): "the priest." The definite article "ha-" (the) emphasizes Eleazar's singular and distinct sacred office as the High Priest, vital for spiritual oversight and mediation between God and Israel. His role affirmed the sacredness and importance of the command about to be given.
• אֹתָם (ʾotām): "with them." Refers to the "whole congregation of the sons of Israel," specifically those "from twenty years old and upward" mentioned in the preceding verse (Num 26:2). This highlights that the command was directed at the generation ready for battle and land inheritance.
• בְּעַרְבֹת מוֹאָב (bəʿarəvōt Moʾāḇ): "in the plains of Moab." ʿArāvot (ערבות) describes the desolate or arid plains of the Jordan Valley. This geographical location is critical. It marks the endpoint of the wilderness wanderings, the last staging ground before crossing into Canaan. It symbolizes a place of transition, remembrance of past failures (Peor), and preparation for future victory.
• עַל־יַרְדֵּן (ʿal-yardēn): "by/upon the Jordan." The phrase emphasizes their proximity to the Jordan River, the natural boundary to the Promised Land. This literal and symbolic boundary separates the desert from the destiny, signaling the culmination of their arduous journey.
• יְרֵחוֹ (Yərēḥō): "Jericho." A strategic city on the west bank of the Jordan, identified as the first conquest in Canaan. Mentioning Jericho fixes the exact position within the plains of Moab, underscoring the immediate proximity to the land they were about to inherit and conquer. It was a tangible reminder of the next phase of their journey.
• לֵאמֹר (lēʾmōr): "saying." This common Hebrew infinitive construct indicates that what follows is direct speech or the specific content of the instruction. It formally introduces the divine command for the census found in Numbers 26:4.
• Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them: This phrase signifies a critical collaboration. The political and spiritual leadership were united in receiving and delivering God's instructions. This dual leadership reinforced the legitimacy and divine authority of the impending census, demonstrating a harmonious chain of command established by God Himself. This was crucial for the people to obey the demanding instructions that followed, ensuring cohesion and divine order after previous rebellions and disarray.

Numbers 26 3 Bonus section

The precise naming of the "plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho" is a theological signpost. It signifies the end of a long period of wandering as a consequence of disbelief and the start of a new era of possession through faith and obedience. The death of the previous generation, enumerated in the first census (Numbers 1) and lamented throughout the wilderness narrative, gives way to a vibrant new generation ready for battle and inheritance. The census is thus not merely a demographic count but an act of divine order and preparation for fulfilling God's covenant promises, proving that God's purposes will be accomplished regardless of human failure. This geographical reference also implicitly connects to Moses' final farewells and speeches in Deuteronomy, all given from this same general area before his death and the leadership transition to Joshua.

Numbers 26 3 Commentary

Numbers 26:3 concisely establishes the authoritative source and precise location of the second Israelite census command. The divine mandate, conveyed through both Moses, the prophet-leader, and Eleazar, the High Priest, underscores the comprehensive nature of God's governance over His people – involving both civil administration and spiritual oversight. Their united voice signifies the legitimate and consecrated delivery of God's will. The geographical specificity, "in the plains of Moab by the Jordan opposite Jericho," is highly symbolic, marking the Israelites' definitive position at the cusp of the Promised Land. This location represents the end of the long wilderness journey, the culmination of divine promises, and the very threshold of a new chapter of inheritance and conquest. The command issued from this place wasn't merely a count but a preparation for possessing the covenant promises, establishing the new generation’s readiness and entitlement.