Numbers 26 57

Numbers 26:57 kjv

And these are they that were numbered of the Levites after their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites: of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites: of Merari, the family of the Merarites.

Numbers 26:57 nkjv

And these are those who were numbered of the Levites according to their families: of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites.

Numbers 26:57 niv

These were the Levites who were counted by their clans: through Gershon, the Gershonite clan; through Kohath, the Kohathite clan; through Merari, the Merarite clan.

Numbers 26:57 esv

This was the list of the Levites according to their clans: of Gershon, the clan of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the clan of the Kohathites; of Merari, the clan of the Merarites.

Numbers 26:57 nlt

This is the record of the Levites who were counted according to their clans: The Gershonite clan, named after their ancestor Gershon.
The Kohathite clan, named after their ancestor Kohath.
The Merarite clan, named after their ancestor Merari.

Numbers 26 verses

Numbers 26 57 Meaning

Numbers 26:57 establishes the lineage and tribal organization of the Levites, who were uniquely set apart from the other Israelite tribes. This verse records their families based on a census, specifically listing the three main descendants of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari, affirming their distinct familial branches within the larger Israelite community. It signifies divine order, genealogical integrity, and the special, ongoing role of the Levites in the spiritual life of the nation, preparing them for their service in the Promised Land.

Numbers 26 57 Context

Numbers chapter 26 records the second census of Israel, conducted in the plains of Moab just before entry into the Promised Land, about forty years after the first census at Sinai (Numbers 1). This census differs from the first primarily because it aims to count the new generation, as the generation counted at Sinai (excluding Joshua and Caleb) had perished in the wilderness due to their disobedience. The census in chapter 26 focuses on preparing the tribes for land distribution (vv. 52-56) and military organization. Verses 57-62 specifically detail the families of the Levites, who were exempted from the general military census because of their unique sacred duties (as per Num 1:47-49). Their meticulous genealogical registration, even amidst the backdrop of widespread death from the previous generation, underscores God's unwavering covenant faithfulness and orderly preparation for the future governance and worship structure in Canaan. The precise enumeration reinforces divine attention to lineage and assigned roles within the community of faith.

Numbers 26 57 Word analysis

• These: Refers to the following enumeration, signaling the direct list of the Levitical families, distinct from the military count of other tribes.
• are the families:
  • "families" (Heb. mishpāḥâ): Denotes a clan or extended family unit. This emphasizes the hierarchical and lineage-based organization crucial to Israelite society, which also determined roles and land distribution (for other tribes). For Levites, it determined specific sacred service.
• of the Levites:
  • "Levites" (Heb. lēwî, descendants of Levi): The priestly and service-oriented tribe, chosen by God to minister at the tabernacle and later the temple. They were distinct because they did not receive a territorial inheritance like the other tribes, as the Lord Himself was their inheritance (Num 18:20). Their identification here confirms their continued unique status.
• according to their registrations:
  • "registrations" (Heb. pĕqūddâ): Implies a precise counting or enumeration, an administrative oversight, and a divine appointment. It highlights God's methodical nature in organizing His people and their service, reflecting His order amidst the wilderness journey's challenges.
• by their families: Reiteration emphasizing the method of enumeration; a family-by-family count ensures accuracy and perpetuates the tribal/clan identity essential for maintaining social, religious, and political order in ancient Israel.
• of Gershon, the family of the Gershonites; of Kohath, the family of the Kohathites; of Merari, the family of the Merarites:
  • "Gershon," "Kohath," "Merari": These are the three direct sons of Levi (Gen 46:11, Ex 6:16). Their names designate the foundational patriarchs of the three main Levitical branches. Each branch was later assigned specific duties in the care and transport of the Tabernacle (Numbers 3-4).
  • "Gershonites," "Kohathites," "Merarites": These terms refer to the collective descendants belonging to each patriarch's lineage, solidifying their established clan identity. The precision reflects the meticulous preservation of their genealogy for the purpose of their sacred office.

Numbers 26 57 Bonus section

The Levitical families mentioned here—Gershon, Kohath, and Merari—are pivotal not just in Numbers but also in later biblical books like 1 Chronicles, where their genealogies and roles in Temple service, including musicians and gatekeepers, are extensively detailed. The specificity of this verse foreshadows the comprehensive responsibilities detailed in the Levitical laws, which ensured the orderly functioning of the worship system. The continuity of their family lines across forty years of wilderness wandering, including their unique exemption from the plague in Numbers 25 that devastated the general Israelite population (who had been numbered), emphasizes divine preservation and purpose. This census of the Levites also differs in that it counted males "from a month old and upward" (Num 26:62), unlike the military census for others which was from twenty years old and upward (Num 26:2), indicating their lifelong dedication to sacred duties from birth, a distinct sign of their set-apart status.

Numbers 26 57 Commentary

Numbers 26:57 functions as a critical bridge between the general tribal census and the specific detailing of the Levites' position. In a book rich with numerical records, this verse highlights the divine importance of order, identity, and succession, particularly for those called to sacred service. The Levites, being "registered by their families," underscores their accountability and specific roles assigned to each of the three major clans. Gershonites were responsible for the tabernacle coverings and hangings; Kohathites for the holiest objects (ark, table of showbread, menorah); and Merarites for the frames, bars, and pillars. This structured arrangement (seen in Numbers 3-4) was not arbitrary but divinely ordained for efficient worship and safe transport of God's dwelling. Even though they had no land, their service was their inheritance, perpetually tied to the tabernacle/temple. This genealogical specificity ensured that sacred duties were passed down precisely and legitimately through appointed lineages, maintaining purity and order in Israel's worship. The enumeration here is a testimony to God's careful organization of His people for their entry into the Promised Land and the ongoing establishment of His kingdom.