Numbers 26:43 kjv
All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those that were numbered of them, were threescore and four thousand and four hundred.
Numbers 26:43 nkjv
All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those who were numbered of them, were sixty-four thousand four hundred.
Numbers 26:43 niv
All of them were Shuhamite clans; and those numbered were 64,400.
Numbers 26:43 esv
All the clans of the Shuhamites, as they were listed, were 64,400.
Numbers 26:43 nlt
These were the Shuhamite clans of Dan. Their registered troops numbered 64,400.
Numbers 26 43 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 12:2 | "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you..." | God's promise of a numerous descendants to Abraham. |
| Gen 13:16 | "...I will make your offspring like the dust of the earth..." | Further emphasis on innumerable descendants. |
| Gen 22:17 | "...I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply your offspring..." | Reiteration of the multiplication covenant. |
| Exod 12:37 | "The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about 600,000 men on foot, besides women and children." | First significant count of men leaving Egypt. |
| Num 1:1 | "The Lord spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai...Take a census of the whole congregation..." | The first census taken earlier in their journey. |
| Num 1:43 | "Those of Naphtali numbered 53,400." | Naphtali's count in the first census, showing a decrease. |
| Num 26:2 | "Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel...all who are able to go to war..." | The command for this specific census, purpose defined. |
| Num 26:51 | "These are the numbered ones of the people of Israel: 601,730." | Total sum of all tribes in this census, emphasizing overall growth. |
| Num 32:10-13 | "The Lord's anger was kindled against Israel, and he made them wander...until all that generation died." | Context of the wilderness generation's demise, necessitating the new census. |
| Deut 1:35 | "...not one of these men, this evil generation, shall see the good land..." | Divine judgment on the previous generation. |
| Deut 6:3 | "...that you may multiply greatly, as the Lord, the God of your fathers, has promised you..." | Recalling God's promise of increase upon entering the land. |
| Josh 1:2-3 | "Moses my servant is dead. Now therefore arise, cross over this Jordan...Every place that the sole of your foot..." | Transition of leadership and readiness for land possession. |
| Josh 19:32-39 | "The sixth lot fell to the people of Naphtali, to the people of Naphtali according to their clans..." | Naphtali's assigned inheritance in Canaan. |
| Judges 1:33 | "Naphtali did not drive out the inhabitants of Beth-shemesh..." | Shows Naphtali's partial failure in complete conquest despite their numbers. |
| 1 Chr 27:19 | "...of Naphtali, Jeremoth the son of Azriel." | Later references to tribal leadership. |
| Ps 105:24 | "And the Lord greatly increased his people and made them stronger than their foes." | God's sovereign hand in increasing His people. |
| Isa 9:1-2 | "In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali...the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light..." | Prophetic significance of Naphtali, foretelling Christ's ministry. |
| Jer 30:19 | "...I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will make them honored, and they shall not be humble." | God's promise of restoration and numerical increase for Israel. |
| Ezek 48:3-4 | "Adjoining the territory of Asher shall be the territory of Naphtali...Adjoining the territory of Manasseh..." | Future vision of tribal divisions, including Naphtali. |
| Matt 4:13-15 | "leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali..." | Fulfillment of Isa 9:1-2 concerning Christ's early ministry location. |
| Heb 6:13-14 | "For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself... 'Surely I will bless you and multiply you.'" | Highlights the surety of God's oath and promises of multiplication. |
| Rev 7:6 | "...from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000..." | Naphtali's presence among the redeemed in the New Heavens and New Earth. |
Numbers 26 verses
Numbers 26 43 Meaning
Numbers 26:43 specifies the number of able-bodied men from the tribe of Naphtali, totaling forty-five thousand four hundred, counted in the second census taken at the plains of Moab. This enumeration details the tribe's strength and lineage, reinforcing the divinely mandated organization and preparation of Israel for entering and conquering the land of Canaan, confirming their continued growth and fulfillment of God's covenant promises despite the wilderness wanderings.
Numbers 26 43 Context
Numbers Chapter 26 records the second census of the Israelites, conducted in the plains of Moab before their entry into the Promised Land. This census followed a devastating plague and served multiple critical purposes: to confirm the population growth necessary to inherit the land, to determine military strength for the impending conquest, and to establish the basis for land distribution by clans within each tribe (Num 26:52-56). The specific verse, Numbers 26:43, focuses on the tribe of Naphtali, providing its total count of men twenty years old and upward who were able to go to war. Historically, this census marks a pivotal transition, highlighting a new generation ready to fulfill the covenant after the wilderness generation, disobedient in their fear at Kadesh-barnea, had died off. Compared to the first census in Numbers chapter 1, Naphtali shows a decrease from 53,400 to 45,400, reflecting the challenges and judgments faced during the wilderness journey, yet the overall national population remained robust, confirming God's sustaining hand.
Numbers 26 43 Word analysis
- All (וְכָל- 'və·ḵāl-'): Hebrew: "all, every." Signifies inclusivity; the count fully encompasses every eligible male within Naphtali's specified demographic. It ensures that the subsequent figure represents the complete military-age population.
- these (אֵלֶּה '’êl·leh'): Hebrew: "these, these here." Refers collectively to the enumerated individuals within the tribe, grounding the count in a specific group.
- were (הֵם 'hêm'): Hebrew: "they, are." A pronoun used as a linking verb, affirming the identity of the enumerated as the core composition.
- the clans (מִשְׁפְּחֹת 'mish·pə·ḥōṯ'): Hebrew: "clans, families, divisions." The foundational unit of Israelite society. Land distribution and societal organization were based on these clans (Num 26:54), highlighting the structured nature of Israel's tribal system. This term underscores that the counting wasn't just individuals but organized social units within the tribe.
- of Naphtali (נַפְתָּלִי 'nap̄·tā·lî'): Hebrew: "Naphtali." One of Jacob's sons, progenitor of the tribe. His name means "my wrestling," referring to Rachel's struggle in naming him (Gen 30:8). The tribe later inhabited a fertile region in the northern Galilee. The focus here is on the specific lineage and inheritance.
- according to those (כְּפְקֻדֵיהֶם 'kə·p̄ə·qu·ḏê·hem'): Hebrew: "according to their numbered ones/their appointed ones." The term
pequdim(פְּקֻדֵיהֶם) refers to those who have been "appointed" or "registered" or "numbered." It implies a formal, organized census or enrollment under divine authority. This is not a casual count but a meticulous registration based on divine command (Num 26:2). - who were numbered of them: Reinforces the rigorous, official nature of the census. It's not a general estimate but a precise counting, indicative of divine order and meticulous planning for the impending land division and military readiness. This precision also counters potential charges of disorganization or arbitrary claim.
- forty-five thousand (חֲמִשָּׁה וְאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף 'ḥă·mish·šāh wə·’ar·bā·‘îm ’e·lep̄'): Hebrew numerals for 45,000.
- four hundred (אַרְבַּע מֵאוֹת '’ar·ba‘ mê·’ōṯ'): Hebrew numerals for 400.
- forty-five thousand four hundred: The specific numerical count (45,400). This precise number indicates the current military strength of the tribe and its share in the land inheritance. Comparing it to their initial census number (53,400 in Num 1:43) reveals a significant decrease for Naphtali, contrary to the overall slight increase of the total population, suggesting specific challenges or judgments experienced by this tribe during the wilderness period. Yet, it still represents a formidable fighting force and a confirmation of the continuation of God's covenant with the descendants of Abraham.
Numbers 26 43 Bonus section
The second census in Numbers 26 reveals that while the overall population of fighting men remained relatively stable (increasing slightly from 603,550 to 601,730), individual tribal numbers fluctuated significantly. Some tribes like Manasseh, Benjamin, and Asher increased dramatically, while Reuben, Simeon, Gad, Ephraim, and Naphtali saw decreases. Naphtali's decrease, alongside other tribes, underscores that the judgment of the wilderness generation was not uniform across all tribes, and specific internal factors or incidents might have impacted their individual population trends. This tribal specificity implies God's particular attention to the details of each segment of His people. The enumeration also lays the groundwork for the fulfillment of the blessings spoken over the tribes by Jacob (Gen 49) and Moses (Deut 33), setting the stage for their future roles and territorial assignments in Canaan. The mention of "clans" emphasizes the deeply entrenched patrilineal structure which governed their social, religious, and political life, crucial for understanding inheritance rights and obligations in ancient Israel.
Numbers 26 43 Commentary
Numbers 26:43 serves as a single data point within a larger divine record of Israel's preparation for nationhood in the Promised Land. The meticulous numbering of Naphtali, down to the exact digit, reflects God's ordered precision and His personal knowledge of each family and tribe within His covenant people. It is a testament to the fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant that Israel had indeed become a great nation, even after suffering divine judgment in the wilderness. The detailed census ensured proper military readiness for the conquest and equitable land distribution according to divine command. It solidified their identity not as a scattered, disobedient remnant, but as an organized, albeit chastened, people poised for their inheritance. For Naphtali, the slight reduction in numbers from the first census serves as a silent reminder of the wilderness generation's fate, yet their continued substantial count emphasizes God's faithfulness to preserve and guide the new generation towards the Promised Land.