Numbers 26 63

Numbers 26:63 kjv

These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.

Numbers 26:63 nkjv

These are those who were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho.

Numbers 26:63 niv

These are the ones counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.

Numbers 26:63 esv

These were those listed by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who listed the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho.

Numbers 26:63 nlt

So these are the results of the registration of the people of Israel as conducted by Moses and Eleazar the priest on the plains of Moab beside the Jordan River, across from Jericho.

Numbers 26 verses

Numbers 26 63 Meaning

This verse serves as a summary statement for the comprehensive census recorded in Numbers chapter 26. It affirms that the numbering of the Israelites was formally and divinely sanctioned, executed under the authority of Moses, the covenant mediator, and Eleazar, the high priest, thus underscoring the spiritual and civil authority behind this crucial task. The specific geographical location—the plains of Moab by the Jordan, across from Jericho—pinpoints the historical moment and context just prior to Israel’s entry into the Promised Land. This census prepared the nation for war, inheritance distribution, and organizational structure for their future.

Numbers 26 63 Context

Numbers 26 details the second comprehensive census of the Israelites, taken approximately thirty-eight years after the first census (recorded in Numbers 1) and just before the generation that perished in the wilderness due to their rebellion against the Lord (Num 14) fully died out. This census took place "after the plague" (Num 25:9, 26:1), specifically the one concerning the apostasy at Peor. The historical context is crucial: Israel is no longer at Sinai but encamped on the brink of the Promised Land, poised to cross the Jordan River. The enumeration was not merely a head count but served a multifaceted divine purpose: to re-establish the fighting force of the nation, to organize them by tribes and clans, and fundamentally, to prepare for the equitable distribution of the land of Canaan as an inheritance according to tribal population size (Num 26:52-56). The verse concludes the detailed lists, summarizing the authority figures and the precise geographical setting of this momentous demographic re-evaluation.

Numbers 26 63 Word analysis

• These are those who were numbered: Hebrew: אֵלֶּה פְקוּדֵי (elleh pequdei).
  • אֵלֶּה (elleh): "These" - a demonstrative pronoun, pointing back to the preceding list of tribal counts in Numbers 26:5-51. It emphasizes the collective body that has just been itemized.
  • פְקוּדֵי (pequdei): "numbered ones," "appointed ones," "inspected ones." This noun form is derived from the verb פָּקַד (paqad), which signifies not just a simple count but an official "visiting," "mustering," "appointing," "inspecting," or "accounting." It implies divine oversight, authorization, and purpose, suggesting the census was for accountability and preparation for a specific task or role (e.g., military service, land distribution). The use of this word implies a divine order and structure for the community.
• by Moses: Hebrew: מֹשֶׁה (Mōšeh).
  • Moses' ongoing role as the primary divinely appointed leader, prophet, and mediator of the covenant, even at the very end of his leadership. His presence legitimizes the census as being directly commanded by God and executed under His will.
• and Eleazar the priest: Hebrew: וְאֶלְעָזָר הַכֹּהֵן (wə'Ele'azar hakKōhēn).
  • Eleazar: The son of Aaron and his successor as High Priest (Num 20:25-28). His involvement signifies the religious authority and divine sanction of the census. The High Priest represents the nation before God and serves as a guardian of sacred order.
  • the priest: Highlights his office and continuity of the priestly line (unlike Aaron who conducted the first census, but had since died). The participation of both civil/prophetic and religious authorities underscored the dual nature of God's covenant with Israel and the comprehensive divine mandate behind the census.
• who numbered the children of Israel: Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר פָּקְדוּ אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (asher paqdu et-benei Yisrael).
  • who numbered: Reiterates the action פָּקְדוּ (paqdu), emphasizing that Moses and Eleazar performed this divinely commissioned task.
  • the children of Israel: Identifies the subjects of the census – the entire Israelite community, implying a collective national identity and destiny under God.
• in the plains of Moab: Hebrew: בְּעַרְבוֹת מוֹאָב (bə'arəvôṯ Mô'āḇ).
  • Plains of Moab: This geographical designation refers to the flat, fertile land east of the Jordan River, opposite Canaan. It was the Israelites' final encampment after their wilderness wandering, serving as a critical staging ground for the impending invasion of Canaan. This location signifies the end of one era (wilderness journey) and the beginning of another (entry into the Promised Land).
• by the Jordan: Hebrew: עַל יַרְדֵּן ('al Yarədēn).
  • by the Jordan: Pinpoints the exact location on the river. The Jordan River was the natural boundary between the wilderness and the Promised Land. This phrase underscores the immediacy of their transition.
• across from Jericho: Hebrew: יְרֵחוֹ׃ (Yərēḥô).
  • Jericho: The first significant city in Canaan that the Israelites were to encounter and conquer. Mentioning Jericho here highlights their readiness to enter and possess the land, linking the census directly to the fulfillment of God's promise regarding the conquest.

Numbers 26 63 Bonus section

The second census in Numbers 26, culminating in verse 63, reveals not only a meticulous administrative process but also profound theological truths about God's governance. The phrase "who were numbered" (paqad) emphasizes that God is actively involved in His people's affairs, visiting them not only in judgment (as with the previous generation) but also in preparation for His blessings and promises. This detailed enumeration was a strategic act: it determined military strength for the conquest, provided the basis for the allocation of tribal inheritances (linking each family's future directly to their present obedience), and showcased the miraculous growth of Israel even through arduous wilderness years. This continuity of census activity (first and second) under divine command shows God’s unchanging design for His people's organized and purposeful existence, always preparing them for His next stage in His redemptive plan.

Numbers 26 63 Commentary

Numbers 26:63 acts as the concluding summary to a detailed census report, establishing the definitive record of the Israelite population ready to inherit the Promised Land. It underlines the divine order and meticulously organized nature of God's dealings with His people. The census was not an arbitrary counting but a meticulously commanded act by the Lord, performed by His appointed leaders, Moses and Eleazar, thereby endowing it with full spiritual and administrative authority. Their joint leadership highlights the intertwining of civil/prophetic and religious functions in leading Israel, ensuring divine authorization and ceremonial purity.

The context in the plains of Moab, by the Jordan, opposite Jericho, is highly symbolic. This geographical position marks a pivotal transition: the generation of disobedience has died, and a new generation stands on the threshold of God's promised inheritance. This census reflects God's unfailing faithfulness to His covenant despite human failure. Though the first generation perished, God did not abandon His promises; He raised a new, numerous people to fulfill His purposes, counted and organized for the challenges and blessings ahead. It teaches the vital lesson that obedience brings forth blessings and continuity, while disobedience brings severe consequences and halts progress.