Numbers-Chapter-26b

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Please Note: Some alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and ‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.

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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!

Ye shall NOT ADD TO THE WORD which I command you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT, that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem, which I command you”. Davarim - Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).

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“Numbers Chapter 26”

Part Two..

 Verses 33 to 65..

With Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

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Introduction:

This section of the second census focuses on the practical application of dividing the Land of Israel among the tribes, transitioning from desert life to national settlement. It highlights the legal framework for inheritance, ensuring each family receives their portion, and honours the new generation prepared to enter the land.

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Let us read Numbers Chapter 26, verses 33 to 65: (JPS-1917 version of the Torah). Below this chapter you will find my commentary for this study.

33 “And Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters; and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, and Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah34 These are the families of Manasseh; and they that were numbered of them were fifty and two thousand and seven hundred. 35 These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites; of Becher, the family of the Becherites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites36 And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites37 These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those that were numbered of them, thirty and two thousand and five hundred. These are the sons of Joseph after their families. 38 The sons of Benjamin after their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites39 of Shephupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites40 And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman; (of Ard), the family of the Ardites; of Naaman, the family of the Naamites41 These are the sons of Benjamin after their families; and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and six hundred. 42 These are the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families. 43 All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those that were numbered of them, were threescore and four thousand and four hundred. 44 The sons of Asher after their families: of Imnah, the family of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the family of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the family of the Beriites45 Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites46 And the name of the daughter of Asher was Serah47 These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those that were numbered of them, fifty and three thousand and four hundred. 48 The sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites49 of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites50 These are the families of Naphtali according to their families; and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and four hundred. 51 These are they that were numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand and seven hundred and thirty. 52 And יְהוָה - the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 53 ‘Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names. 54 To the more thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to the fewer thou shalt give the less inheritance; to each one according to those that were numbered of it shall its inheritance be given. 55 Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot; according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. 56 According to the lot shall their inheritance be divided between the more and the fewer’. 57 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 Merarites58 These are the families of Levi: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korahites. And Kohath begot Amram59 And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt; and she bore unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister. 60 And unto Aaron were born Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar61 And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before יְהוָה - the LORD. 62 And they that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, every male 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 Israel63 These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho64 But among these there was not a man of them that were numbered by Moses and Aaron the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. 65 For יְהוָה - the LORD had said of them: ‘They shall surely die in the wilderness’. And there was not left a man of them, save Caleb the son of Jephunneh, and Joshua the son of Nun”.

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Below is my commentary of Numbers chapter 26, Part Two.

Verse 33: The mention of Zelophehad’s daughters introduces the important principle of female inheritance to preserve a family’s land and name.

Verses 34-37: The listing of Ephraim’s families completes the house of Joseph, confirming their large, central role in the territory.

Verses 38-41: Benjamin’s families are recorded, showing the tribe’s resilience and growth despite being the youngest branch.

Verses 42-43: Dan’s large population, stemming from a single, robust family, demonstrates that strength is measured by vitality rather than the number of branches.

Verses 44-47: Asher’s recording includes the unique mention of Serah, highlighting the preservation of lineage and family memory.

Verses 48-51: The final count of 601,730 proves that, despite forty years of challenges, the people’s strength has been maintained through Divine protection.

Verses 52-56: The “Law of Inheritance” ensures that land is distributed proportionally based on family size, using a lottery system to blend human fairness with divine guidance.

Verses 57-62: The Levites, counted separately, receive the role of spiritual service rather than a land inheritance, separating their function from territorial ownership.

Verse 63-65: The conclusion confirms that only Joshua and Caleb remain from the original Sinai census, marking the passing of the old generation and the start of the new.

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My Closing Message:

This census serves as a powerful testament to renewal, showing how the community’s mission continues through the next generation. It emphasizes that inheritance and family structure are the foundation of society, connecting us to our history while preparing us for the future.

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שָׁלוֹם עֲלֵיכֶם Shalom Aleichem - Peace be with you!

Rabbi, Dr. Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD.

 

 

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