Numbers 26:52 kjv
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Numbers 26:52 nkjv
Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:
Numbers 26:52 niv
The LORD said to Moses,
Numbers 26:52 esv
The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
Numbers 26:52 nlt
Then the LORD said to Moses,
Numbers 26 52 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Land Promise & Fulfillment | ||
| Gen 12:7 | "...To your offspring I will give this land." | God's initial promise of land to Abram. |
| Gen 15:18 | "To your offspring I give this land..." | Covenant oath ratifying the land promise. |
| Exod 3:8 | "...to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land..." | God's declared purpose to deliver and give land. |
| Deut 1:7-8 | "...go... to the land that the LORD swore..." | Moses reminds Israel of God's land oath. |
| Num 26:53 | "To these the land shall be divided for an inheritance..." | Direct continuation, distribution principle. |
| Num 26:54 | "...to the more you shall give more inheritance..." | Specifics on proportionality of distribution. |
| Josh 14:1 | "These are the inheritances... which Eleazar... and Joshua... apportioned." | Fulfillment: Leaders divide the land. |
| Josh 17:1 | "There was also a lot for the tribe of Manasseh..." | Example of a tribe receiving its portion. |
| Psa 78:55 | "...He drove out nations before them... allotted their inheritance..." | God's sovereign act in granting land. |
| Ezek 47:13 | "This is the boundary by which you shall divide the land for inheritance." | Prophetic vision of future land division. |
| Inheritance (General & Spiritual) | ||
| Deut 1:38 | "...Joshua the son of Nun... he shall put Israel in possession of it." | Joshua's role in securing the inheritance. |
| Psa 16:5-6 | "The LORD is my chosen portion... The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places." | God as one's spiritual inheritance/portion. |
| Psa 37:29 | "The righteous shall inherit the land..." | General promise of blessing and inheritance. |
| Eph 1:11 | "In him we have obtained an inheritance..." | Believers' spiritual inheritance in Christ. |
| Col 1:12 | "...who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints..." | Sharing in the inheritance of God's people. |
| Heb 9:15 | "...that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance." | Eternal inheritance through the New Covenant. |
| 1 Pet 1:4 | "...an inheritance that is imperishable... kept in heaven for you..." | The incorruptible nature of the spiritual inheritance. |
| Rev 21:7 | "The one who conquers will have this heritage..." | Final inheritance in the New Jerusalem. |
| Census & Order | ||
| Num 1:2-3 | "Take a census... according to the number of names..." | The first census, setting a precedent for counting. |
| Num 26:2 | "...take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel..." | Command for the specific census relevant to this verse. |
| Num 26:63-64 | "These are those counted by Moses... For among them there was not one of those counted... in Sinai." | Highlights the new generation entering the land. |
| God's Sovereignty & Justice | ||
| Prov 16:33 | "The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD." | Implies divine oversight in apparently random division. |
| Acts 17:26 | "...determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place." | God's sovereignty over national territories. |
Numbers 26 verses
Numbers 26 52 Meaning
Numbers 26:52 outlines the divine directive for how the Promised Land (Canaan) is to be apportioned among the tribes of Israel. Following the second census, this verse establishes a foundational principle: the land distribution would be equitable and proportionate to each tribe's population size. This command, delivered directly by the LORD to Moses, ensures a just and orderly allocation of the inheritance among the Israelites as they prepare to enter and possess their promised dwelling place.
Numbers 26 52 Context
Numbers chapter 26 records the second census of the Israelites, taken approximately thirty-eight years after the first census at Mount Sinai (Num 1) and just before the Israelites were to enter the Promised Land from the plains of Moab. This census was crucial because the first generation, save for Joshua and Caleb, had died in the wilderness due to their disobedience and unbelief, as foretold in Numbers 14. This new enumeration accounts for the generation destined to inherit the land, preparing them not only for military organization but, as detailed in this verse, for the specific task of land distribution. Historically, this moment signifies the transition from the period of wilderness wandering and judgment to the immanent fulfillment of God's ancient promise to Abraham regarding the land of Canaan. The command in Numbers 26:52 ensures an orderly, just, and divinely guided process for this momentous and foundational aspect of their national life in their new homeland.
Numbers 26 52 Word analysis
- The LORD: (יְהוָה - Yahweh) This is the sacred, personal covenant name of God. Its use emphasizes God's faithfulness to His covenant promises, specifically the promise of land to Abraham and his descendants. He is the divine authority commanding this action, underlining the sacredness and divine origin of the land division.
- said to Moses: (וַיְדַבֵּר אֶל-מֹשֶׁה - Vayyedaḇēr el-Mosheh) Highlights Moses's pivotal role as the chosen mediator and recipient of God's direct revelation and commands to Israel. It reinforces the authority behind the subsequent instruction, as it comes directly from God through His designated leader.
- 'To these (לָאֵלֶּה - lā'elleh): Refers directly to the male individuals, by tribe and clan, enumerated in the census just concluded (Num 26:1-51). This connects the land allocation precisely to the specific individuals and their familial units identified in the divine census.
- the land (הָאָרֶץ - hā'āreṣ): Not just any land, but the Land – Canaan, the divinely promised territory central to the Abrahamic covenant. It symbolizes God's faithfulness, Israel's national identity, and their unique relationship with God as His chosen people in His holy land.
- shall be divided (תֵּחָלֵק - tēḥālēq): Hebrew chalaq, meaning "to apportion, allot, distribute." The passive voice signifies that the division is a divinely commanded act that will occur, not a human invention. It implies a systematic and ordered distribution process, precluding chaotic or contentious acquisition.
- for an inheritance (לְנַחֲלָה - l'naḥălâ): Hebrew nachalah. This word means much more than simple "possession." It signifies an enduring, permanent, hereditary estate, often gifted and passed down through generations. The land is thus a permanent endowment from God, intrinsically linked to their tribal and family identity and continuity within the covenant.
- according to the number of names (לְמִסְפַּר שֵׁמוֹת - ləmispar šêmôṯ): This is the core principle of the distribution. Mispar (number) refers to the count from the census, and shemot (names) specifically refers to the enumerated males (typically 20 years old and upward, capable of military service and heads of households). This signifies that larger tribes or clans, with more enumerated men, would receive a larger portion of land to sustain their population, demonstrating God's principle of fairness and proportionality in His provision. It links the allocation directly to the living family units who will occupy and cultivate the land.
Numbers 26 52 Bonus section
- The allocation "according to the number of names" ensured not merely tribal portions but equitable provision down to the clan and family levels, ensuring no family was arbitrarily disadvantaged based on land availability within the larger tribal lot.
- While the census determined the size of the portion, Numbers 26:55 and 34:13 clarify that the location of each tribal inheritance would be determined by lot (casting lots), a process understood to reveal God's specific will for where each tribe would settle (Prov 16:33). This combination illustrates both divine justice in proportion and divine sovereignty in placement.
- The "inheritance" of land in Canaan served as a tangible, earthly prototype of the believer's spiritual inheritance in Christ (Eph 1:11), which is eternal, secure, and incorruptible (1 Pet 1:4). Just as the land secured their physical future, so Christ secures their spiritual and eternal future.
- The emphasis on "names" in the census reflects God's individual knowledge and care for each person within His covenant community, a theme consistently found throughout Scripture.
Numbers 26 52 Commentary
Numbers 26:52 serves as a foundational command regarding the allocation of the Promised Land, following the critical second census of Israel. God, true to His covenant with their forefathers, instructs Moses on a meticulous and just method for land distribution. The key principle "according to the number of names" ensures equity; tribes with larger populations would receive more land, thus providing sufficient resources for each household within the tribe. This divine fairness prevented disputes and laid the groundwork for an orderly settled life, marking a significant transition from their nomadic wilderness existence. The term "inheritance" elevates the land from a mere possession to a sacred, enduring endowment from God, fundamental to their identity and future as a nation. It underscores God's meticulous care and sovereignty in establishing His people in the land He promised.