Numbers 26 62

Numbers 26:62 kjv

And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, all males from a month old and upward: for they were not numbered among the children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given them among the children of Israel.

Numbers 26:62 nkjv

Now those who were numbered of them were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and above; for they were not numbered among the other children of Israel, because there was no inheritance given to them among the children of Israel.

Numbers 26:62 niv

All the male Levites a month old or more numbered 23,000. They were not counted along with the other Israelites because they received no inheritance among them.

Numbers 26:62 esv

And those listed were 23,000, every male from a month old and upward. For they were not listed among the people of Israel, because there was no inheritance given to them among the people of Israel.

Numbers 26:62 nlt

The men from the Levite clans who were one month old or older numbered 23,000. But the Levites were not included in the registration of the rest of the people of Israel because they were not given an allotment of land when it was divided among the Israelites.

Numbers 26 verses

Numbers 26 62 Meaning

Numbers 26:62 explains the separate census for the Levites within the second wilderness enumeration of Israel. It states their specific total population of males from one month old and upward was twenty-three thousand, clearly distinguishing them from the other tribes who were counted from twenty years old and upward for military service and land inheritance. This distinct count underscores their unique divine appointment, set apart for service to the Tabernacle rather than for war or receiving a tribal land portion.

Numbers 26 62 Context

Numbers chapter 26 records the second census of the Israelites, taken at the plains of Moab, specifically referenced as occurring "after the plague" (Num 25:9, 26:1). This census served two primary purposes: to prepare for the distribution of the land of Canaan, with inheritance portions allotted based on the number of individuals in each tribe (Num 26:52-56), and to assess the nation's military readiness, as only males aged twenty years and upward were counted for war (Num 26:2).Verse 62, however, forms an essential clarifying appendix. It explains that while the census counted 601,730 fighting men from the other tribes (Num 26:51), the Levites were treated distinctly. Their exclusion from the main count and the specific methodology applied to them (counting all males from one month old, resulting in 23,000) highlights their unique theological and practical role within Israel. They were consecrated to serve the Tabernacle and later the Temple, fulfilling specific priestly and ancillary duties, and did not receive a tribal land inheritance as the other tribes did. Their calling necessitated a separate accounting, reflecting their separation unto God.

Numbers 26 62 Word analysis

• But (וְ – ve): A conjunctive waw, translated as "but" here, introduces a clear distinction or contrast. It signals a shift from the general census of the other tribes to the specific and unique numbering of the Levites, emphasizing their exceptional status.

• those who were numbered (פְּקֻדֵיהֶם – pəquḏêhem): Derived from the root פָּקַד (paqad), meaning "to count, muster, visit, appoint." This word denotes an authoritative and purposeful counting, often implying a divine review or appointment. Here, it refers specifically to the male individuals among the Levites who were counted in this divinely mandated census.

• of the Levites (הַלֵּוִם – ha-Levîm): Refers to the tribe of Levi. Their name itself (from Hebrew לָוָה – lavah, "to join" or "attach") reflects their calling to be joined to God's service. Unlike other tribes who derived their identity primarily from a geographic inheritance, the Levites were identified by their exclusive attachment to sacred service and proximity to God's dwelling place (the Tabernacle/Temple).

• were twenty-three thousand (שְׁלשָׁה וְעֶשְׂרִים אֶלֶף – šəlōšāh wə‘eśrîm ‘elep): The exact number 23,000. This is higher than the 22,000 counted in the first census of Levites in Numbers 3, despite the plagues that had reduced other tribes. This subtle increase highlights God's preserving hand over those consecrated to His service, suggesting His faithfulness to His chosen ministers even amidst widespread judgment on others.

• every male (כָּל־זָכָר – kol-zākār): Specifies that the count included all male Levites, emphasizing that this was a comprehensive count of the entire male population.

• from a month old and upward (מִבֶּן־חֹדֶשׁ וָמַעְלָה – mi-ben-chōḏeš wā-ma‘lāh): This critical phrase highlights a significant difference from the general census criterion of "twenty years old and upward" for the other tribes (Num 26:2). Counting from one month old emphasizes the immediate dedication of Levite males to God's service from infancy, unlike the others whose adult age indicated their readiness for war and inheritance. This distinct age criterion reflects their dedication to spiritual roles from their earliest days, signifying an "all-inclusive" dedication.

• for (כִּי – kî): A causal conjunction, meaning "because" or "for." It introduces the explanation or reason for the previous statement.

• they were not numbered (לֹא הָתְפָּקְדוּ – lo hotpakdu): Reinforces the preceding distinct count. The root פָּקַד (paqad) is used again, emphasizing that their non-inclusion in the general census was also a specific, divinely ordained action.

• among the children of Israel (בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל – bə-toḵ bənê Yisrā’ēl): This phrase specifies the general populace from whom the Levites were explicitly separated for census purposes. It underlines their unique standing as a tribe set apart within the larger nation of Israel.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "those who were numbered of the Levites were twenty-three thousand, every male from a month old and upward": This entire phrase presents the core fact of the Levite census, immediately setting it apart by specifying their total and their unique minimum age for counting. This highlights divine particularity in the commissioning and support of those dedicated to spiritual service, implying God’s comprehensive care for those consecrated to Him from their very beginning.
  • "for they were not numbered among the children of Israel": This explanatory clause serves as the divine rationale for the separate Levite census. It emphasizes their distinct function and calling: not for military muster or land allocation like the other tribes, but for exclusive sacred service. This theological separation ensures the clarity of their role as intercessors and caretakers of God’s holiness, underscoring that spiritual function precedes and distinctively orders their identity and numbers.

Numbers 26 62 Bonus section

The Levite count of 23,000 in Numbers 26 compared to 22,000 in Numbers 3 is significant. Despite the wilderness journey and various plagues (e.g., Num 14 and 25) which greatly reduced the numbers of other tribes, the Levites experienced a modest increase. This subtle detail emphasizes God's faithfulness and preservation of those consecrated specifically for His service. It symbolically indicates that those devoted entirely to the Lord are uniquely guarded and prosper, even when surrounded by decline or judgment. Their role of "bearing the ark of the covenant" and "ministering before Him" (Deut 10:8) placed them at the heart of Israel's spiritual life, illustrating the importance of a set-apart group in maintaining covenant faithfulness. Furthermore, the exclusion of the Levites from the military census implies a trust in divine protection rather than reliance solely on physical might for the national defense of Israel. Their strength was not in numbers for war, but in their adherence to sacred duty and their role in facilitating the divine presence among the people.

Numbers 26 62 Commentary

Numbers 26:62 concisely encapsulates the unique, divinely ordained status of the tribe of Levi within ancient Israel. While the main census in the chapter quantifies the other tribes for military readiness and land inheritance, this verse highlights that the Levites operated under different parameters and for a distinct purpose. Their counting from one month old rather than twenty years signifies an immediate, lifelong dedication to God's service from infancy. This wasn't merely a demographic detail but a theological statement: the Levites were consecrated to God as substitutes for the firstborn, serving the Tabernacle and ensuring the maintenance of proper worship. Their non-inclusion in the general count reinforces their separation and specialized role—they were "not of the world" in the same sense as the other tribes, exempt from warfare and inheriting no tribal territory. Instead, God Himself was their inheritance, providing for them through the tithes and offerings of the other tribes. This divine distinction showcases God's careful order and the principle of set-apartness for sacred duties. Their slight increase in number since the previous census in Numbers 3, despite the preceding plagues that reduced other tribes, subtly speaks to God's protection and blessing on those who are wholly dedicated to Him. This passage underscores that spiritual functions often operate under a different set of divine criteria than secular or material pursuits.