MPV Commentary

Israel Numbered.

After the devastating plague that had swept away the remnant of the old generation, who were doomed to never enter Canaan (Ps 95:11), God instructed Moses to take a new census of all the Israelites.

The purpose of this census was twofold. Firstly, it aimed to demonstrate the remarkable multiplication of Abraham's descendants despite the severe judgments they had faced. Secondly, it prepared the way for their entrance into the promised land by establishing the relative population of each tribe and making arrangements for the distribution of the country accordingly.

These are the families of Reuben, who had suffered greatly due to Korah's conspiracy and other outbreaks (Nu 16:1). The earth opened its mouth and swallowed up Korah and his followers along with their possessions (Ps 106:17).

Notwithstanding this tragedy, the children of Korah did not die out. Either they were not involved in their father's crime or they repented in time. Their descendants became famous during David's reign and are often mentioned in the Psalms.

The sons of Simeon had been preeminent in the guilt of Baal-peor, which led to a significant reduction in their numbers.

In this way, God's justice and holiness were displayed alongside His truth and faithfulness. The judgments that reduced some tribes demonstrated His justice and holiness, while the extraordinary increase of others showed His truth and faithfulness, ensuring that the Israelites continued as a numerous people.

The land was to be divided according to the number of names in each tribe. To the more populous tribes, a larger allotment would be granted. The distribution was based on the number of persons twenty years old at the time of the census, without considering any subsequent increase or decrease that might occur during the war of invasion.

The land was to be divided by lot, but this did not place the matter beyond God's control (Pr 16:33). He had fixed the bounds of their habitation. The manner in which the lot was taken is unknown, but it determined the section of the country where each tribe would settle, not the quantity of their possessions.

The census of the Levites was taken separately and on a different principle from the rest (Ex 6:16-19). There were twenty-three thousand males from a month old and upward. Notably, there was no one among them who had been numbered in the wilderness of Sinai, except for Caleb and Joshua.

| Tribe | Original Number | New Number | Increase/Decrease |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Reuben | 46,500 | 43,730 | -2,770 |
| Simeon | 59,300 | 22,200 | -37,100 |
| Gad | 45,650 | 40,500 | -5,150 |
| Judah | 74,600 | 76,500 | +1,900 |
| Issachar | 54,400 | 64,300 | +9,900 |
| Zebulun | 57,400 | 60,500 | +3,100 |
| Ephraim | 40,500 | 32,500 | -8,000 |
| Manasseh | 32,200 | 52,700 | +20,500 |
| Benjamin | 35,400 | 45,600 | +10,200 |
| Dan | 62,700 | 64,400 | +1,700 |
| Asher | 41,500 | 53,400 | +11,900 |
| Naphtali | 53,400 | 45,400 | -8,000 |

The total number of Israelites decreased by 1,820.