19 Er and Onan were sons of Judah who died early on in Canaan. 20 The sons of Judah by clans: Shelah and the Shelanite clan, Perez and the Perezite clan, Zerah and the Zerahite clan. 21 The sons of Perez: Hezron and the Hezronite clan, Hamul and the Hamulite clan. 22 These were the clans of Judah. They numbered 76,500. 23 The sons of Issachar by clans: Tola and the Tolaite clan, Puah and the Puite clan, 24 Jashub and the Jashubite clan, Shimron and the Shimronite clan. 25 These were the clans of Issachar. They numbered 64,300. 26 The sons of Zebulun by clans: Sered and the Seredite clan, Elon and the Elonite clan, Jahleel and the Jahleelite clan. 27 These were the clans of Zebulun. They numbered 60,500. 28 The sons of Joseph by clans through Manasseh and Ephraim. Through Manasseh: 29 Makir and the Makirite clan (now Makir was the father of Gilead), Gilead and the Gileadite clan. 30 The sons of Gilead: Iezer and the Iezerite clan, Helek and the Helekite clan, 31 Asriel and the Asrielite clan, Shechem and the Shechemite clan, 32 Shemida and the Shemidaite clan, Hepher and the Hepherite clan. 33 Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons, only daughters. Their names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 34 These were the clans of Manasseh. They numbered 52,700. 35 The sons of Ephraim by clans: Shuthelah and the Shuthelahite clan, Beker and the Bekerite clan, Tahan and the Tahanite clan. 36 The sons of Shuthelah: Eran and the Eranite clan. 37 These were the clans of Ephraim. They numbered 32,500. These are all the sons of Joseph by their clans. 38 The sons of Benjamin by clans: Bela and the Belaite clan, Ashbel and the Ashbelite clan, Ahiram and the Ahiramite clan, 39 Shupham and the Shuphamite clan, Hupham and the Huphamite clan. 40 The sons of Bela through Ard and Naaman: Ard and the Ardite clan, Naaman and the Naamite clan. 41 These were the clans of Benjamin. They numbered 45,600. 42 The sons of Dan by clan: Shuham and the Shuhamite clan. 43 all Shuhamite clans. They numbered 64,400. 44 The sons of Asher by clan: Imnah and the Imnite clan, Ishvi and the Ishvite clan, Beriah and the Beriite clan. 45 The sons of Beriah: Heber and the Heberite clan, Malkiel and the Malkielite clan. 46 Asher also had a daughter, Serah. 47 These were the clans of Asher. They numbered 53,400. 48 The sons of Naphtali by clans: Jahzeel and the Jahzeelite clan, Guni and the Gunite clan, 49 Jezer and the Jezerite clan, Shillem and the Shillemite clan. 50 These were the clans of Naphtali. They numbered 45,400. 51 The total number of the People of Israel: 601,730.
52 God spoke to Moses: 53 "Divide up the inheritance of the land based on population. 54 A larger group gets a larger inheritance; a smaller group gets a smaller inheritance - each gets its inheritance based on the population count. 55 "Make sure that the land is assigned by lot. 56 "Each group's inheritance is based on population, the number of names listed in its ancestral tribe, divided among the many and the few by lot."
57 These are the numberings of the Levites by clan: Gershon and the Gershonite clan, Kohath and the Kohathite clan, Merari and the Merarite clan. 58 The Levite clans also included: the Libnite clan, the Hebronite clan, the Mahlite clan, the Mushite clan, the Korahite clan. 59 Amram's wife was Jochebed, a descendant of Levi, born into the Levite family during the Egyptian years. Jochebed bore Aaron, Moses, and their sister Miriam to Amram. 60 Aaron was the father of Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar; 61 however, Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized sacrifice in the presence of God. 62 The numbering of Levite males one month and older came to 23,000. They hadn't been counted in with the rest of the People of Israel because they didn't inherit any land.
63 These are the ones numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, the People of Israel counted in the Plains of Moab at Jordan-Jericho. 64 Not one of them had been among those counted by Moses and Aaron the priest in the census of the People of Israel taken in the Wilderness of Sinai. 65 For God had said of them, "They'll die, die in the wilderness - not one of them will be left except for Caleb son of Jephunneh, and Joshua son of Nun."
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Numbers 26:19-65
Commentary on Numbers 26:1-51
(Read Numbers 26:1-51)
Moses did not number the people but when God commanded him. We have here the families registered, as well as the tribes. The total was nearly the same as when numbered at mount Sinai. Notice is here taken of the children of Korah; they died not, as the children of Dathan and Abiram; they seem not to have joined even their own father in rebellion. If we partake not of the sins of sinners, we shall not partake of their plagues.
Commentary on Numbers 26:52-56
(Read Numbers 26:52-56)
In distributing these tribes, the general rule of equity is prescribed; that to many should be given more, and to fewer less. Though it seems left to the prudence of their prince, the matter at last must be settled by the providence of God, with which all must be satisfied.
Commentary on Numbers 26:57-62
(Read Numbers 26:57-62)
Levi was God's tribe; therefore it was not numbered with the rest, but alone. It came not under the sentence, that none of them should enter Canaan excepting Caleb and Joshua.
Commentary on Numbers 26:63-65
(Read Numbers 26:63-65)
The execution of the sentence passed on the murmurers, Numbers 14:29, is observable. There was not one man numbered now, who was numbered then, but Caleb and Joshua. Here appeared the righteousness of God, and his faithfulness to his threatenings. Especially observe the truth of God, in performing his promise to Caleb and Joshua. Death makes awful havoc of the human species, and causes surprising changes in families and nations; yet all is appointed in perfect wisdom, justice, and truth, by the Lord himself. This should stir us up to think upon the hateful nature of sin, the cause of all these devastations. We should renew our repentance, seek forgiveness, value the salvation of Christ, remember how frail we are, prepare for the summons of death, and fill up our days in serving our generation according to the will of God.