Numbers 26 54

Numbers 26:54 kjv

To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him.

Numbers 26:54 nkjv

To a large tribe you shall give a larger inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a smaller inheritance. Each shall be given its inheritance according to those who were numbered of them.

Numbers 26:54 niv

To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those listed.

Numbers 26:54 esv

To a large tribe you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a small inheritance; every tribe shall be given its inheritance in proportion to its list.

Numbers 26:54 nlt

Give the larger tribes more land and the smaller tribes less land, each group receiving a grant in proportion to the size of its population.

Numbers 26 verses

Numbers 26 54 Meaning

Numbers 26:54 stipulates the principle for land distribution among the tribes of Israel after the second census. It decrees that tribes and clans with larger populations, as determined by the census, shall receive a greater portion of the land, while those with smaller populations shall receive a smaller portion. The distribution is explicitly tied to the number of people in each group, ensuring a proportional and equitable allocation of inheritance according to the divine directive. This was a critical step in preparing the new generation to possess the Promised Land according to God's covenant promises.

Numbers 26 54 Context

Numbers chapter 26 records the second census of the Israelites, taken in the plains of Moab just before their entry into the Promised Land. This census followed the devastating plague due to the sin at Baal-peor and succeeded the first census taken at Mount Sinai nearly forty years prior. The previous generation, marked by disobedience and unbelief, had died in the wilderness, except for Caleb and Joshua. This new census was crucial as it cataloged the generation appointed to inherit the land, and, as indicated in this verse, it formed the very basis for the equitable distribution of that land. Verse 54, therefore, directly links the numerical strength of each clan and tribe, as ascertained by the census, to the size of their allotted inheritance in Canaan. This detailed approach underscored God's orderliness, justice, and faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promise to provide His people with their own possession in the land He swore to their forefathers. It also indirectly set a precedent for managing resources and ensuring fairness within a communal structure, preventing disproportionate gains by smaller, powerful factions or the marginalization of larger families.

Numbers 26 54 Word analysis

• To the larger (לָרַב - larav): "To the many" or "to the numerous." This refers to the larger population of a particular clan or tribal sub-group as identified in the census. It signifies proportionality based on numerical strength.
• You shall give (תַרְבּוּ - tarbu): From the root רָבָה (ravah), meaning "to be great," "to multiply," or "to increase." Here, it's a command to increase or magnify the inheritance given to the larger group. This active verb underscores the divine directive in the land's distribution.
• A larger inheritance (נַחֲלָה - nachalah): Refers to the portion of land allotted as a perpetual possession. Nachalah (inheritance) is a foundational concept in Israel, representing not just a physical asset but a divinely bestowed heritage tied to the covenant and family identity. The repetition of "larger" emphasizes the direct correlation with the preceding "larger" group.
• And to the smaller (וְלַמְעַט - v'lam'at): "And to the few" or "to the diminished." Refers to groups with fewer members according to the census.
• You shall give (תַּמְעִיט - tam'it): From the root מָעַט (ma'at), meaning "to be little," "to diminish," or "to decrease." Here, it's a command to make the inheritance less for the smaller group.
• A smaller inheritance (נַחֲלָה - nachalah): Again, the portion of land. The parallelism reinforces the principle of proportionate distribution.
• Each shall be given (אִישׁ יֻתַּן - ish yuttan): "Each man/person shall be given." This indicates that the overall tribal/clan allotment would ultimately provide for individual family units within that group, stressing comprehensive provision.
• Its inheritance (נַחֲלָתוֹ - nachalato): The possessive form highlights the individual ownership and permanent nature of the allotted portion once assigned to a family.
• According to its numbered ones (לִפְקֻדָיו - lifkudav): From the root פָּקַד (pakad), meaning "to visit," "to attend to," "to muster," or "to number." Pequddah refers to the enumeration or enrollment. This is the crucial criterion: the allocation is strictly determined by the numerical strength of each clan/family unit as ascertained by the census (pekuddah). It ensures a system based on objective measurement rather than arbitrary decision or favoritism, directly connecting the census purpose to land division.

Words-group analysis

• "To the larger, you shall give a larger inheritance, and to the smaller, you shall give a smaller inheritance": This establishes the overarching principle of proportional distribution. It underscores divine fairness and equity, ensuring that land resources were allocated based on actual population size, directly addressing practical needs and preventing significant imbalances among tribes and clans.
• "each shall be given its inheritance according to its numbered ones": This concluding phrase explicitly states the foundation of the land distribution. The census (pekuddah) was not merely for military purposes but served as the administrative basis for establishing land boundaries and ensuring that every family, down to its individual members, had a stake in the land according to its size. This method eliminated contention and arbitrary assignments, rooted in the divine covenant with Israel. It implies an orderly process guided by divine wisdom.

Numbers 26 54 Bonus section

The emphasis on "numbered ones" (pekuddah) links this specific verse to the broader significance of all censuses in the Pentateuch. Censuses were not merely demographic exercises but acts of divine accounting, preparation for military organization, and in this case, direct instruments for divine providence in land distribution. This highlights that God’s promises were not abstract but unfolded through practical, ordered means. The inheritance of land, nachalah, for the Israelites represented God’s covenant faithfulness (Gen 12:7), their identity, security, and a tangible fulfillment of their being His people. This earthly inheritance serves as a shadow of the spiritual inheritance believers have in Christ (Eph 1:11; 1 Pet 1:4), a boundless and eternal possession not subject to physical size or worldly measures, yet meticulously given according to God's gracious will.

Numbers 26 54 Commentary

Numbers 26:54 unveils a fundamental principle of divine economy and justice in the allocation of the Promised Land. After forty years of wandering, the new generation was being counted for the critical purpose of possessing their inheritance. This verse highlights that the land, which was a gift from God to His people (Num 33:53), was not to be distributed arbitrarily or based on social status, but rather on a quantifiable, equitable basis: population size. The meticulous nature of the census directly facilitated this fair distribution, linking a family's present size to its future territorial provision.

This command showcases God's wisdom in creating a stable societal structure where every family, irrespective of its original tribal standing (beyond the census, not by pre-ordained fixed amounts for each tribe), received land commensurate with its need to sustain itself. It prevented scenarios where large families would be granted insufficient land or small families would receive disproportionate acreage, leading to potential future conflicts or economic hardship. It affirmed God's meticulous care for His people's material well-being as they established their life in the covenant land. The enduring system of family inheritance within designated tribal lands (Lev 25:10) found its foundation in such decrees, reinforcing a perpetual bond between the Israelite families and their divinely appointed heritage, which was considered inseparable from their identity and covenant blessings. This fair distribution minimized jealousy and promoted internal harmony as the tribes settled.