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Numbers 26 Introduction
英文原文
The mustering of the tribes described in this chapter was immediately preparatory to the war against Midian, and to the invasion of Canaan wbich shortly followed. With a view also to an equitable allotment of the land to be conquered (compare Numbers 26:54) the numbers of the several tribes were taken according to their families.
1
Numbers 26:1
「瘟疫之後」——這句話大致表明了人口統計進行的時間,並暗示了某些支派人數大幅減少的原因。參 Deuteronomy 4:3 及本章 Numbers 26:5 註釋。
英文原文
After the plague - These words serve to show approximately the date at which the census was taken, and intimate the reason for the great decrease in numbers which was found to have taken place in certain tribes. Compare Deuteronomy 4:3 and Numbers 26:5 note in this chapter.
5
Numbers 26:5
以下各支派與先前人口統計（Numbers 1）中的次序相同，只是這裏瑪拿西排在以法蓮之前，大概因為瑪拿西如今是人數較多的支派。
下表顯示兩次統計中各支派的人數——在西乃山的和在摩押平原的：
| 支派 | 西乃山 | 摩押平原 |
|---|---|---|
| 呂便 | 46,500 | 43,730 |
| 西緬 | 9,300 | 22,200 |
| 迦得 | 45,650 | 40,500 |
| 猶大 | 74,600 | 76,500 |
| 以薩迦 | 54,400 | 64,300 |
| 西布倫 | 57,400 | 60,500 |
| 以法蓮 | 40,500 | 32,500 |
| 瑪拿西 | 32,200 | 52,700 |
| 便雅憫 | 35,400 | 45,600 |
| 但 | 62,700 | 64,400 |
| 亞設 | 41,500 | 53,400 |
| 拿弗他利 | 53,400 | 45,400 |
| 總計 | 603,550 | 601,730 |
有七個支派人數增加，其中三個屬於猶大營；有五個支派人數減少，其中包括屬於呂便營的三個支派。單一支派中增幅最大的是瑪拿西。最顯著的減少是西緬，如今其人數不及從前的一半。近期那次過犯中的主犯心利，正是屬於這支派（Numbers 25:14）。大概他的支派同胞多半效法了他，因此在瘟疫中受害最深。在距此時不久之後摩西所發的臨別祝福中，惟獨西緬支派沒有被提及。
利未人以外，各支派的家族共五十七個。這些家族據以命名的祖先首領，與 Genesis 46:8 ff 所列雅各的孫子與曾孫大致吻合。兩份名單主要都由雅各的孫子組成，也都包含猶大同樣的兩個孫子和亞設同樣的兩個孫子。創世記中的這份文獻應視為一份名單，記的不是親自隨雅各下到埃及的人，而是那些在出埃及之時、其名字作為以色列各家族之首傳給後代的人；因此他們可算為百姓早期的祖先。
英文原文
Following The tribes are mentioned in the same order as in the earlier census Numbers 1, except that Manasseh here precedes Ephraim; probably as being now the larger tribe.
The following table shows the numbers of the tribes at each census; at Sinai, and in the Plains of Moab:
At Sinai Plains of Moab Reuben 46,500 43,730 Simeon 9,300 22,200 Gad 45,650 40,500 Judah 74,600 76,500 Issachar 54,400 64,300 Zebulun 57,400 60,500 Ephraim 40,500 32,500 Manasseh 32,200 52,700 Benjamin 35,400 45,600 Daniel 62,700 64,400 Asher 41,500 53,400 Naphtali 53,400 45,400 Totals 603, 550 601, 730
Seven of the tribes, of which three are tribes belonging to the camp of Judah, show an increase of numbers; and five, among whom are the three belonging to the camp of Reuben, show a decrease. The greatest increase of any one tribe is in Manasseh. The most remarkable decrease is in Simeon, which now shows less than half its former strength. To this tribe Zimri, the chief offender in the recent transgression, belonged Numbers 25:14. Probably his tribesmen generally had followed his example, and had accordingly suffered most severely in the plague. In the parting blessing of Moses, uttered at no great interval from this date, the tribe of Simeon alone is omitted.
The families of all the tribes, excluding the Levites, number 57. The ancestral heads after whom these families are named correspond nearly with the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of Jacob, enumerated in Genesis 46:8 ff. Both lists consist mainly of grandchildren of Jacob, both contain also the same two grandchildren of Judah, and the same two grandchildren of Asher. The document in Genesis should be regarded as a list, not of those who went down in their own persons with Jacob into Egypt, but of those whose names were transmitted to their posterity at the date of the Exodus as the heads of Israelite houses, and wire may thus be reckoned the early ancestors of the people.
10
Numbers 26:10
「與可拉一同」——意即他們是在可拉滅亡的同一時候被吞滅的；因為可拉本人看來是在會幕門口那二百五十個獻香的人中間死的，而不是與大坍、亞比蘭一同滅亡（對照 Numbers 16:32 的註釋）。
英文原文
Together with Korah - i. e., they were engulfed at the same time that Korah perished, for Korah himself appears to bare died among the two hundred and fifty incense offerers at the door of the tabernacle, not with Dathan and Abiram (compare Numbers 16:32 note).
11
Numbers 26:11
「可拉的眾子沒有死亡」——參 Numbers 26:58。先知撒母耳即屬於這一家族，「王的先見」希幔也是如此（1 Chronicles 6:22、1 Chronicles 6:33；1 Chronicles 25:5）。有幾篇詩篇從標題看來是為可拉的眾子寫成的：可比較 Psalm 42:1-11、詩篇 44、45 等篇的標題。
英文原文
The children of Korah died not - Compare Numbers 26:58. Samuel the prophet was of this family, and Heman, "the king's seer" 1 Chronicles 6:22, 1 Chronicles 6:33; 1 Chronicles 25:5. Several of the Psalms appear from the titles to have been composed for the sons of Korah: compare titles of Psalm 42:1-11; 44; 45, etc.
51
Numbers 26:51
這數目比西奈山時少了1,820人；這減少是因近來的瘟疫。
英文原文
This shows a decrease of 1,820 from the number at Sinai; a decrease due to the recent plague.
56
Numbers 26:56
「按着所拈的鬮……」——採用這方法，不僅是為了杜絕嫉妒與爭執，也是要使各支派把他們的疆土視為神親自為他們所定的：對照 Proverbs 16:33。
英文原文
According to the lot ... - This method was adopted not only in order to preclude jealousies and disputes, but also that the several tribes might regard the territories as determined for them by God Himself: compare Proverbs 16:33.
59
Numbers 26:59
「他的母親所生的」——字面是「她所生的」：主語缺失，動詞為陰性。「他的母親」這幾個字純屬推測。原文大概是不完整的。
英文原文
whom her mother bare - literally, "whom she bare;" the subject is wanting, and the verb is in the feminine gender. The words "her mother" are merely conjectural. The text is probably imperfect.
62
Numbers 26:62
利未男丁的總數二萬三千，比西奈山時的數目增加了一千（Numbers 3:39）。這無疑應視為一個約數；而且與先前一樣，既包括成年男子，也包括一個月以上的男嬰。
英文原文
The total number of male Levites, 23,000, shows an increase of 1,000 on the number at Sinai Numbers 3:39. It is doubtless to be taken as a round number; and, as before, includes the male children from a month old and upward, as well as the male adults.
64
Numbers 26:64
根據 Deuteronomy 2:14-15，從前數點中被數的那一代，在軍隊渡過撒烈溪以前便已經滅沒了。
英文原文
It appears from Deuteronomy 2:14-15 that the generation numbered at the former census had perished before the host crossed the brook Zered.
本章所述各支派的點閱,乃是為緊接而來的米甸之戰、以及不久之後對迦南的侵攻作直接的預備;同時,為使將被征服之地得以公平分配(參 Numbers 26:54),各支派的人數便按其宗族加以統計。