39: Counting of the New Generation (Num 26:1 - 37)

After the plague, the Lord asked Moses to take the second census of the Israelites.

πŸ‘‰ Read Numbers 26:1-37

From the Reubenites, who had rebelled against Moses’s leadership?

 

Fill out the table comparing the first and the second census.

Tribal names

The first census

The second census

Reuben

46500

 

Simeon

 

22200

Gad

 

 

Judah

 

76500

Issachar

 

 

Zebulun

 

 

Manasseh

 

 

Ephraim

40500

 

 

Answers and Meditation

 

Dathan and Abiram

Korah is a Levite and a cousin of Moses. He was not a Reubenite but is recorded here, for he had rallied the rebellion with Dathan and Abiram. Note that On, the son of Peleth, is not named here for some reason.

Note that not all sons of Korah died at the Lord’s judgment for his rebellion. They were spared for some reason or God’s mercy. According to 1 Chronicles 6:22-28, Samuel the prophet was a descendant of Korah.

 

Tribal names

The first census

The second census

Difference

Reuben

46500

43730

-2770

Simeon

59300

22200

-37100

Gad

45650

40500

-5150

Judah

74600

76500

+900

Issachar

54400

64300

+9900

Zebulun

57400

60500

+3100

Manasseh

32200

52700

+20500

Ephraim

40500

32500

-8000


Three tribes that camped on the southern side of the camp show a decrease in their numbers.  

Some Reubenites joined the rebellion of Korah.

Note that the Simeonites were decreased by 37,100. They were struck by the plague for their idolatry in chapter 25.

The Gadites seemed they joined Korah's rebellion or the adultery of Baal Peor.


Manasseh was put before Ephraim in the second census. Manasseh increased by 20500, but Ephraim decreased by 8000 for unrecorded reasons.

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