Numbers 26 4

Numbers 26:4 kjv

Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt.

Numbers 26:4 nkjv

"Take a census of the people from twenty years old and above, just as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel who came out of the land of Egypt."

Numbers 26:4 niv

"Take a census of the men twenty years old or more, as the LORD commanded Moses." These were the Israelites who came out of Egypt:

Numbers 26:4 esv

"Take a census of the people, from twenty years old and upward," as the LORD commanded Moses. The people of Israel who came out of the land of Egypt were:

Numbers 26:4 nlt

"List all the men of Israel twenty years old and older, just as the LORD commanded Moses." This is the record of all the descendants of Israel who came out of Egypt.

Numbers 26 verses

Numbers 26 4 Meaning

Numbers 26:4 outlines the divine criterion for Israel's second census: individuals counted must be twenty years old and upward. This stipulation reinforces that the enumeration was directly ordered by God to Moses, maintaining the standard established earlier in their wilderness journey. The verse explicitly links this census, though of a new generation, to the historical lineage and foundational identity of "the people of Israel who came out of the land of Egypt," thereby establishing continuity with God's redemptive history despite the passage of time and the deaths of the previous generation. The census was vital for reorganizing the tribes, preparing for the division of the Promised Land, and signifying renewal under God's unchanging command.

Numbers 26 4 Context

Numbers 26 stands as a pivotal chapter in the Israelites' journey, marking the second official census taken after a period of significant divine judgment and wandering in the wilderness. The first census, recorded in Numbers 1, enumerated the generation that had come out of Egypt and was ready for military service. However, due to their rebellion and unbelief at Kadesh-barnea (Num 13-14), nearly all those counted in the first census who were twenty years and older died in the wilderness, as foretold by God. This second census, therefore, serves several crucial purposes: to number the new generation prepared to enter and conquer the Promised Land, to establish the framework for land distribution among the tribes based on population (Num 26:52-56), and to demonstrate God's continued faithfulness to His covenant despite the previous generation's failures. Verse 4 specifically reiterates the divine authority for the census and the age requirement for accountability and service, connecting this new generation directly to the historical identity of Israel formed in the Exodus. It highlights the divine continuity and purpose for God's chosen people.

Numbers 26 4 Word analysis

• From twenty years old and upward (מִבֶּן עֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וָמַעְלָה - mibben 'eśrîm šānāh wāmā'lāh):

  • "From twenty years old": This phrase precisely defines the minimum age for inclusion in the military census. It signifies physical maturity, readiness for warfare, and legal accountability within Israelite society. This age group was responsible for both military service and a portion of the half-shekel atonement money (Exod 30:13-14). Spiritually, this age was tied to the generation held accountable for the rebellion at Kadesh-barnea (Num 14:29-30).
  • "and upward": This inclusive term ensures all individuals beyond the age of twenty, irrespective of how old they were, were counted, provided they met other criteria. This also serves as a distinct marker from specific age brackets for Levites, who had different service age requirements (Num 8:24-25, 4:3).

• as the LORD commanded (כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּה יְהוָה - ka'ăšer ṣiwwāh YHVH):

  • "as": Indicates conformity and adherence. The census was not an arbitrary human decision but directly responsive to a divine mandate.
  • "the LORD" (יְהוָה - YHVH): The divine personal name (Tetragrammaton), indicating the covenant-keeping God. This underscores that the census, with its purpose and criteria, was established by the supreme authority of the God of Israel. It emphasizes the census's legitimacy and the necessity of obedience to God's specific instructions for His people.
  • "commanded" (צִוָּה - ṣiwwāh): A strong verb meaning to command or instruct, denoting authority and the expectation of immediate and precise obedience. This emphasizes that God Himself initiated and ordained this specific action for the people.

• Moses (מֹשֶׁה - mōšeh):

  • God's appointed mediator and leader for Israel. The command was given through Moses, affirming his authority and role in administering God's laws and instructions to the people. He was God's direct conduit for communication with Israel.

• and the people of Israel (וְאֵת בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - wə'ēt bənê Yiśrā'ēl):

  • "the people of Israel": Identifies the specific recipient of the command and the subjects of the census. They are God's chosen covenant people, unified by their common ancestry and relationship with YHVH. The census is for them, concerning their organization and future.

• who came out of the land of Egypt (הַיֹּצְאִים מֵאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם - hayyōṣ'îm mê'ereṣ Miṣrāyim):

  • This phrase serves as a fundamental identity marker for the Israelite nation, recalling their defining moment of divine deliverance from slavery (Exod 12-14). Though the specific generation that literally walked out of Egypt had largely perished, the phrase identifies the current generation being counted as the legitimate continuation of the Exodus community. It grounds their present reality and future hope in God's redemptive work. This is a crucial linking phrase, ensuring the new generation understood their place in God's ongoing narrative of redemption.

• Group analysis: "as the LORD commanded Moses and the people of Israel who came out of the land of Egypt.":

  • This entire phrase provides the divine authorization and historical continuity for the second census. It reaffirms that the method and purpose of counting were not new or human-derived but stemmed directly from God's established will communicated through His chosen leader, Moses. Furthermore, it firmly anchors the present census, which involves a mostly new generation, to the foundational event of the Exodus. This linkage underscores that God's covenant with Israel is continuous across generations, and His redemptive plan persists even through periods of failure and judgment. It serves as a reminder of their identity, purpose, and the divine faithfulness that transcended even the forty years of wandering.

Numbers 26 4 Bonus section

• The continuity of the "twenty years old and upward" criterion in both censuses (Num 1 and Num 26) demonstrates the unchanging nature of God's requirements and the consistent structure He imposes on His covenant people for their function as a nation. It serves as a pedagogical tool for both generations regarding their duties and accountability.
• The absence of the Levites from this general census, as in the first one (Num 1:49), underscores their distinct role within the Israelite community. Their purpose was specific—dedicated to the tabernacle service rather than warfare or land inheritance, reflecting a unique priestly calling that transcended the general responsibilities of the other tribes.
• This structured, divinely commanded census stands in implicit contrast to ancient Near Eastern practices where kings might take censuses for their own pride, taxation, or military strength without divine authorization, which sometimes resulted in judgment (cf. David's unauthorized census in 2 Sam 24). In Numbers, the census is part of God's ordered plan for His people.

Numbers 26 4 Commentary

Numbers 26:4 provides the core parameters for the second census, highlighting the crucial twenty-year-old threshold for men eligible for military service and inclusion in the division of the land. This age, first established in Numbers 1, signified readiness for adult responsibility, particularly for defending the nation and receiving an inheritance. More soberly, it was also the age from which God held the previous generation accountable for their rebellion, leading to their demise in the wilderness. Thus, for the new generation, this age was both a sign of hope—their eligibility to enter and inherit the Promised Land—and a solemn reminder of accountability. The explicit declaration that the census was conducted "as the LORD commanded Moses" unequivocally grounds the entire undertaking in divine authority. This removes any suggestion of human whim and underscores the theological importance: God Himself orchestrates Israel's affairs, whether in judgment or preparation for fulfillment of promise. Finally, linking the new generation to "the people of Israel who came out of the land of Egypt" reaffirms their identity as the inheritors of the covenant and beneficiaries of God's redemptive acts. Even though most of the original Exodus generation had perished, their descendants maintained this identity and were counted for a fresh start. This verse is not merely a procedural detail but a theological statement about divine faithfulness, human accountability, and the continuity of God's plan across generations.