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英文原文
This book is called Numbers, from the numberings of the children of Israel, of which it gives an account. Once they were numbered at Mount Sinai, in the first year after they came out of Egypt, which we had an account of, Nu 1:1-2:34. And now a second time they were numbered in the plains of Moab, just before they entered Canaan, and of this we have an account in this chapter. We have, I. Orders given for the doing of it, Nu 26:1-4. II. A register of the families and numbers of each tribe (Nu 26:5-50), and the sum total, Nu 26:51. III. Direction given to divide the land among them, Nu 26:52-56. IV. The families and numbers of the Levites by themselves, Nu 26:57-62. V. Notice taken of the fulfilling of the threatening in the death of all those that were first numbered, Nu 26:63-65), and to this there seems to have been a special regard in the taking and keeping of this account.
1-65
The Numbering of the People (1452 BC)
數點百姓（主前1452年）
¹ 瘟疫之後，耶和華對摩西和祭司亞倫的兒子以利亞撒說：
² 「你要按著以色列全會眾的祖宗家室，計算他們中間一切從二十歲以外、能出去打仗的男丁總數。」
³ 摩西和祭司以利亞撒，在摩押平原、約旦河邁向耶利哥的渡口附近，對他們說：
⁴ 「計算百姓，從二十歲以外的」；正如耶和華所吩咐摩西和出埃及地的以色列人。
當注意：1. 摩西除非神吩咐，並不數點百姓。大衛在自己年間未奉命令而行了這事，為此付出了慘重的代價。神是以色列的王，祂不要這權柄性的行為在非出於祂明確命令之下進行。摩西此時也許已聽見巴蘭違背自己意願、被迫祝福以色列之事，特別是巴蘭注意到他們的人數；他對這個仇敵對他們力量與尊榮所作的一般見證已經十分滿意，雖不知其確實人數，直等到神如今吩咐他計算他們。2. 以利亞撒與他同受委任，正如從前亞倫一樣，藉此神在百姓的長老面前尊榮以利亞撒，印證了他的繼任。3. 這次計算是緊接瘟疫之後所定的，為要表明：神雖然以那毀滅性的瘟疫公義地與他們相爭，卻未將他們盡行滅絕，也決不全然棄絕他們。神的以色列雖受嚴厲責罰，必不滅亡。4. 他們如今所依循的準則，與從前數點之時相同，只計算那些能出去打仗的，因為這正是擺在他們面前的差事。
⁵ 以色列的長子流便：流便的眾子；哈諾，由他而有哈諾族；法勒族屬法勒；
⁶ 希斯倫族屬希斯倫；迦米族屬迦米。
⁷ 這是流便人的各族；他們被數的，共有四萬三千七百三十名。
⁸ 法勒的兒子是以利押。
⁹ 以利押的兒子是尼母利、大坍、亞比蘭。這就是在會中著名的那大坍、亞比蘭，他們在可拉的黨中與摩西、亞倫相爭，向耶和華爭鬧之時，也與他們相爭；
¹⁰ 地就開口，把可拉和他們一同吞下去；那黨人死亡之時，火又燒滅了二百五十人：他們作了記號。
¹¹ 然而可拉的眾子沒有死亡。
¹² 按著家族，西緬的眾子如下：尼母利族屬尼母利；雅憫族屬雅憫；雅斤族屬雅斤；
¹³ 謝拉族屬謝拉；掃羅族屬掃羅。
¹⁴ 這是西緬人的各族，共二萬二千二百名。
¹⁵ 迦得的眾子按著家族如下：洗分族屬洗分；哈基族屬哈基；書尼族屬書尼；
¹⁶ 押尼族屬押尼；以理族屬以理；
¹⁷ 亞羅底族屬亞律；亞列利族屬亞列利。
¹⁸ 這是迦得人按著他們被數的各族，共四萬零五百名。
¹⁹ 猶大的兒子是珥和俄南；珥和俄南死在迦南地。
²⁰ 猶大按著家族的眾子如下：示拉族屬示拉；法勒斯族屬法勒斯；謝拉族屬謝拉。
²¹ 法勒斯的眾子如下：希斯倫族屬希斯倫；哈母勒族屬哈母勒。
²² 這是猶大按著他們被數的各族，共七萬六千五百名。
²³ 按著家族，屬以薩迦的眾子：陀拉族屬陀拉；普瓦族屬普瓦；
²⁴ 雅述族屬雅述；伸崙族屬伸崙。
²⁵ 這是以薩迦按著他們被數的各族，共六萬四千三百名。
²⁶ 按著家族，屬西布倫的眾子：西列族屬西列；以倫族屬以倫；雅利族屬雅利。
²⁷ 這是西布倫人按著他們被數的各族，共六萬零五百名。
²⁸ 按著家族，約瑟的眾子是瑪拿西和以法蓮。
²⁹ 瑪拿西的眾子：瑪吉族屬瑪吉；瑪吉生基列；基列族屬基列。
³⁰ 這是基列的眾子：屬伊以謝，有伊以謝族；希勒族屬希勒；
³¹ 屬亞斯列，有亞斯列族；屬示劍，有示劍族；
³² 屬示米大，有示米大族；屬希弗，有希弗族。
³³ 希弗的兒子西羅非哈沒有兒子，只有女兒；西羅非哈女兒的名字是瑪拉、挪阿、和轄、密迦、得撒。
³⁴ 這是瑪拿西的各族，他們被數的，共五萬二千七百名。
³⁵ 按著家族，這是以法蓮的眾子：書提拉族屬書提拉；比結族屬比結；他罕族屬他罕。
³⁶ 書提拉的眾子如下：以蘭族屬以蘭。
³⁷ 這是以法蓮兒子按著他們被數的各族，共三萬二千五百名。這是約瑟按著家族的眾子。
³⁸ 按著家族，便雅憫的眾子如下：比拉族屬比拉；亞實別族屬亞實別；亞希蘭族屬亞希蘭；
³⁹ 書反族屬書反；戶反族屬戶反。
⁴⁰ 比拉的眾子是亞勒和拿瑪：亞勒族屬亞勒；又拿瑪族屬拿瑪。
⁴¹ 這是便雅憫按著家族的眾子；他們被數的共四萬五千六百名。
⁴² 按著家族，這是但的眾子：書含族屬書含。這是但按著家族的各族。
⁴³ 書含的各族，按著他們被數的，共六萬四千四百名。
⁴⁴ 按著家族，屬亞設的眾子：音拿族屬音拿；亦施韋族屬亦施韋；比利亞族屬比利亞。
⁴⁵ 比利亞的眾子如下：希伯族屬希伯；瑪結族屬瑪結。
⁴⁶ 亞設的女兒的名字是西拉。
⁴⁷ 這是亞設兒子的各族，按著他們被數的，共五萬三千四百名。
⁴⁸ 按著家族，屬拿弗他利的眾子：雅薛族屬雅薛；沽尼族屬沽尼；
⁴⁹ 耶色族屬耶色；示冷族屬示冷。
⁵⁰ 這是拿弗他利按著家族的各族；他們被數的共四萬五千四百名。
⁵¹ 以色列人被數的，共六十萬一千七百三十名。
這就是各支派如今被登記的名冊，次序與民一1-54數點之時相同。當注意：
一、這裏為每個支派的家族都留下了記錄——這不可理解為我們所謂的「家庭」（同住一屋的人），而是各 patriarchs 眾子的後裔，他們以這些祖先的名字、為著尊崇他們，使自己與別人有所分別。十二支派的家族如此被數點：——但支派只有一個家族，因為但只有一個兒子，然而那支派除了猶大之外是最多的（民二十六42-43）。它的起頭雖小，後來卻大大增多。西布倫分為三個家族，以法蓮四個，以薩迦四個，拿弗他利四個，流便四個；猶大、西緬、亞設各有五個家族，迦得和便雅憫各有七個，瑪拿西有八個。便雅憫帶了十個兒子進埃及（創四十六21），但其中三個看來不是無子而死，就是家族已絕，所以此處只見七個名字被保存下來，而那整個支派並不是最多的；因為護理在建立家族和國家之時，並不受概率所限。素來不生育的，生了七個兒女；多有兒女的，反倒衰微（撒上二5）。
二、各支派的人數。在此，我們最好的樂趣，就是把這些數字與在西奈山數點之時相比較。總數幾乎相同；他們如今比那時少了1,820人；然而有七個支派人數增加了。猶大增加了1,900，以薩迦9,900，西布倫3,100，瑪拿西20,500，便雅憫10,200，但1,700，亞設11,900。但其他五個支派減少的數目，超過了這些增加的總和。流便減少了2,770，西緬37,100，迦得5,150，以法蓮8,000，拿弗他利8,000。在這記錄中我們可以觀察到：1. 在猶大——基督的祖先——旗號下安營的三個支派都增加了，因為祂的教會必被建立、增多。2. 沒有一個支派比瑪拿西增加得更多——在前次記錄中它是最小的支派，只有32,200人，此處卻是最重要的支派之一；而他的兄弟以法蓮從前人多，此處卻成了最小的之一。雅各曾在他們頭上交叉按手，立以法蓮在瑪拿西之上，以法蓮人對此也許太過自誇，輕看他們瑪拿西的弟兄；但當主看見瑪拿西被輕視，就這樣格外地使他增多，因為扶持最軟弱的、扶起被壓下的，乃是祂的榮耀。3. 沒有一個支派比西緬減少得更多；從59,300減到22,200，不過原來的三分之一稍多。那支派有一整個家族（即出埃及記六15所提的阿轄）在曠野中滅絕了。所以西緬在摩西的祝福中未被提及（申三十三1-29），那支派在迦南所得的份也微不足道，不過是從猶大所得中分出的一塊地（書十九9）。有人推測，那因巴力毗珥的罪而被瘟疫剪除的24,000人中，大多是那支派的；因為在那罪中作首領的心利，是那支派的一個首領，所以其中許多人受他榜樣的影響，隨從他敗壞的方式。
三、在流便支派的記錄中，提到了大坍和亞比蘭的叛亂——他們是那支派的人，與利未人可拉結盟（民二十六9-11）。這故事雖然幾章之前才詳細記載過，此處又再出現，因為每逢他們查看自己的家譜、因家族的古老和祖先的榮耀而自娛之時，都當記念並思想這事，好叫他們自稱為作孽之人的後裔。關於他們，這裏說了兩件事：1. 他們曾在會中著名（民二十六9）。他們大概以才幹、活躍和辦事的能力而聞名：那大坍和亞比蘭，本可按時在神和摩西之下得著高升；但他們野心的靈使他們與神和摩西相爭，他們既與一位相爭，就與另一位也相爭。結果如何呢？2. 那些本可著名的人，竟成了臭名昭著：他們成了記號（民二十六10）。他們成了神公義的紀念物；神在他們的滅亡中顯明自己在聖潔中為大，所以他們被立為對一切世代之人的警戒，要謹慎不可跟從他們的驕傲和叛亂的腳蹤。此處也記下了可拉的眾子得蒙保全（民二十六11）；他們沒有死亡，不像大坍和亞比蘭的兒女那樣，無疑是因為他們保守自己不受感染，不肯連自己的父親也不放過，竟與他一同叛亂。我們若不與罪人有分，就必不與他們的災殃有分。這些可拉的兒子後來在他們的後裔中，格外地對教會有所貢獻，被大衛用作耶和華殿中的歌唱者；所以許多詩篇被稱為可拉後裔的詩：也許他們此後長久被稱為可拉的後裔，而不是任何其他祖先的後裔，是為了對他們自己的警戒，也是神大能的明證——這大能從那苦根中結出了這些寶貴的果子。家族曾被玷污的人，當努力以自己傑出的美德，滾去祖先的羞辱。
⁵² 耶和華對摩西說：
⁵³ 「你要按著人名的數目，將這地分給他們為業。
⁵⁴ 人多的，你要多給產業；人少的，你要少給產業：各人要按著被數的人數，得自己的產業。
⁵⁵ 雖然如此，還要拈鬮分地：要按著他們祖宗支派的名字，他們才可承受為業。
⁵⁶ 要按著所拈的鬮，把地分給人多或人少的。」
若有人問，為何對以色列人的支派、家族、人數留下這樣詳細的記錄，這裏就是給他們的答案；他們既被增多，也就被分配產業——不是憑普遍的護理，而是憑應許；為支持神啟示的尊榮，神要使應許的成全在他們的增多和產業上都得著記念。當摩西數點了百姓，神並沒有說：藉這些人可以征服那地；而是把這當作既定的事，告訴他：你要把這地分給這些人。「這些如今被登記為以色列兒子的人，將被接納（彷彿憑著法庭的登記簿）為迦南地的承受者。」如今在分配或安排這些支派之時：1. 這裏向摩西定下公平的通則：人多的多給，人少的少給（民二十六54）；然而，唉！他不但沒有把甚麼給別人，自己也不可得甚麼；這指示是要給他的繼承者約書亞的。2. 這通則的應用，要由拈鬮來決定（民二十六55）；雖然表面上看似乎交給了他們君王的謀略，但這事最終要保留給他們神的護理——他們都當順服，無論這與他們的策略或傾向如何相違：要按著所拈的鬮，把地分給。作為列國的神，照樣作為以色列的神，祂也保留派定我們居住的疆界的權利。照樣，我們的約書亞——基督——當被請求在祂的國裏一個坐在祂右邊、一個坐在左邊之時，也承認祂父在分配上的主權：*這不是我可以賜的。*約書亞不可憑己意分配迦南的產業。但這是為誰預備的，就賜給誰——是為我父所預備的。
⁵⁷ 利未人按著家族被數的如下：革順族屬革順；哥轄族屬哥轄；米拉利族屬米拉利。
⁵⁸ 這是利未的各族：立尼族、希伯倫族、抹利族、母示族、可拉族。哥轄生暗蘭。
⁵⁹ 暗蘭妻子的名字是約基別，是利未的女兒，是她母親在埃及生給利未的：她給暗蘭生了亞倫、摩西，並他們的姐姐米利暗。
⁶⁰ 亞倫生拿答、亞比戶、以利亞撒、以他瑪。
⁶¹ 拿答、亞比戶在耶和華面前獻凡火的時候死了。
⁶² 他們被數的，共二萬三千名，一切男的從一個月以外的：因為他們沒有在以色列人中與他們一同被數，因為在以色列人中沒有給他們產業。
利未是神的支派，是在迦南地與其餘支派同得不著產業的支派，所以沒有與其餘支派一同被數，而是單獨被數；本書開頭在西奈山時就是這樣被數的，所以也不在被定罪於當時一切被數之人的判決之下——他們中間除了迦勒和約書亞之外，無一人能進迦南；因為沒有與他們一同被數的利未人，也不是出去打仗的，以利亞撒、以他瑪，也許還有其他當時二十歲以外的人（如民四16、28所顯明的），進了迦南；然而這支派如今在第二次被數之時，只增加了1,000名，仍舊是最小的支派之一。此處提到拿答和亞比戶因獻凡火而死，正如先前提到可拉的罪和刑罰一樣，因為這些事臨到他們作為鑑戒。
⁶³ 這些人就是摩西和祭司以利亞撒所數的；他們在摩押平原、約旦河邁向耶利哥的渡口附近，數點了以色列人。
⁶⁴ 但這些人中間，沒有一個是摩西和祭司亞倫從前在西奈的曠野數點以色列人之時所數過的人。
⁶⁵ 因為耶和華論到他們曾說：他們必死在曠野。除了耶孚尼的兒子迦勒和嫩的兒子約書亞之外，連一個人也沒有存留。
這記錄的結語中可注意的，是向發怨言之人所定判決的執行（民十四29）：凡從二十歲以外被數的人（利未人不是這樣，而是從一個月大或從三十到五十歲），除了迦勒和約書亞之外，無一人能進迦南。如今所進行的點名中，無疑給了各支派中負責記錄的人特別的指示，要他們將這些名冊與先前的相比，看看如今還有沒有西奈山被數之人存留，結果除了迦勒和約書亞之外，沒有一個是從前被數如今又被數的（民二十六64-65）。在此顯明：1. 神的公義，以及祂對自己威嚇的信實——當判決已經發出之時。祂在怒中起誓，祂所起誓的，祂也成就了。寧可讓那些屍首，即使多十倍，都倒在地上，也不可讓神的話落空。雖然興起的一代與他們雜處，許多有罪、被定罪的罪犯在判決之後活得很久，甚至到第四十年的最後一年，但他們在這次點名之前，都藉這樣或那樣的方法被剪除了。神所定罪的人，不能因在人群中隱沒或因執行的遲延而逃脫。2. 神向這百姓所施的恩慈，儘管他們屢次惹動祂。雖然那發怨言的一代被剪除，神卻興起了另一代，與他們一樣眾多，這樣，他們雖然滅亡，以色列的名卻不至斷絕，免得應許的產業因缺乏繼承人而喪失。而且，雖然人數比西奈山之時略少，然而如今被數的人都有一樣長處：他們都是中年人，年齡在二十到六十之間，正是事奉的盛年；在他們三十八年曠野漂流和耗損的期間，他們有機會熟悉神的律法和條例，沒有民事或軍事的事務使他們從這些神聖的研習中分心，並且有摩西和亞倫教導他們，又有神的良善的靈（尼九20）。3. 神的真實，在成全祂對迦勒和約書亞所應許之事上的真實。他們要被保全，不至在這普遍的毀滅中仆倒，他們也確實被保全了。死亡的箭雖在暗中飛，卻不亂飛，就是在飛得最密之時，也是指向所定的目標，不偏不倚。凡記錄在活人之中的，在最危險的時候，也必得著性命作為掠物。千萬可以在他們右邊仆倒，萬萬可以在他們左邊仆倒，他們卻必逃脫。
英文原文
The Numbering of the People (1452 BC)
¹ And it came to pass after the plague, that the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,
² Take the sum of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers' house, all that are able to go to war in Israel.
³ And Moses and Eleazar the priest spake with them in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho, saying,
⁴ Take the sum of the people, from twenty years old and upward; as the LORD commanded Moses and the children of Israel, which went forth out of the land of Egypt.
Observe here, 1. That Moses did not number the people but when God commanded him. David in his time did it without a command, and paid dearly for it. God was Israel's king, and he would not have this act of authority done but by his express orders. Moses, perhaps, by this time, had heard of the blessing with which Balaam was constrained, sorely against his will, to bless Israel, and particularly the notice he took of their numbers; and he was sufficiently pleased with that general testimony borne to this instance of their strength and honour by an adversary, though he knew not their numbers exactly, till God now appointed him to take the sum of them. 2. Eleazar was joined in commission with him, as Aaron had been before, by which God honoured Eleazar before the elders of his people, and confirmed his succession. 3. It was presently after the plague that this account was ordered to be taken, to show that though God had in justice contended with them by that sweeping pestilence, yet he had not made a full end, nor would he utterly cast them off. God's Israel shall not be ruined, though it be severely rebuked. 4. They were now to go by the same rule that they had gone by in the former numbering, counting those only that were able to go forth to war, for this was the service now before them.
⁵ Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, of whom cometh the family of the Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the Palluites:
⁶ Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family of the Carmites.
⁷ These are the families of the Reubenites: and they that were numbered of them were forty and three thousand and seven hundred and thirty.
⁸ And the sons of Pallu; Eliab.
⁹ And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram, which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the LORD:
¹⁰ And the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, what time the fire devoured two hundred and fifty men: and they became a sign.
¹¹ Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not.
¹² The sons of Simeon after their families: of Nemuel, the family of the Nemuelites: of Jamin, the family of the Jaminites: of Jachin, the family of the Jachinites:
¹³ Of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites: of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
¹⁴ These are the families of the Simeonites, twenty and two thousand and two hundred.
¹⁵ The children of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites: of Haggi, the family of the Haggites: of Shuni, the family of the Shunites:
¹⁶ Of Ozni, the family of the Oznites: of Eri, the family of the Erites:
¹⁷ Of Arod, the family of the Arodites: of Areli, the family of the Arelites.
¹⁸ These are the families of the children of Gad according to those that were numbered of them, forty thousand and five hundred.
¹⁹ The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
²⁰ And the sons of Judah after their families were; of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites: of Pharez, the family of the Pharzites: of Zerah, the family of the Zarhites.
²¹ And the sons of Pharez were; of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
²² These are the families of Judah according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and sixteen thousand and five hundred.
²³ Of the sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites:
²⁴ Of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites: of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.
²⁵ These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred.
²⁶ Of the sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Sardites: of Elon, the family of the Elonites: of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites.
²⁷ These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred.
²⁸ The sons of Joseph after their families were Manasseh and Ephraim.
²⁹ Of the sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites: and Machir begat Gilead: of Gilead come the family of the Gileadites.
³⁰ These are the sons of Gilead: of Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites: of Helek, the family of the Helekites:
³¹ And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites:
³² And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
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 Tirzah.
³⁴ These are the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.
³⁵ These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites: of Becher, the family of the Bachrites: of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
³⁶ And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
³⁷ 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 Ahiramites:
³⁹ Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites: of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.
⁴⁰ And the sons of Bela were Ard and Naaman: of Ard, the family of the Ardites: and of Naaman, the family of the Naamites.
⁴¹ 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 Of the children of Asher after their families: of Jimna, the family of the Jimnites: of Jesui, the family of the Jesuites: of Beriah, the family of the Beriites.
⁴⁵ Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the family of the Heberites: of Malchiel, the family of the Malchielites.
⁴⁶ And the name of the daughter of Asher was Sarah.
⁴⁷ These are the families of the sons of Asher according to those that were numbered of them; who were fifty and three thousand and four hundred.
⁴⁸ Of the sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites: of Guni, the family of the Gunites:
⁴⁹ Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites: of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites.
⁵⁰ 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 were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.
This is the register of the tribes as they were now enrolled, in the same order that they were numbered in Nu 1:1-54. Observe,
I. The account that is here kept of the families of each tribe, which must not be understood of such as we call families, those that live in a house together, but such as were the descendants of the several sons of the patriarchs, by whose names, in honour of them, their posterity distinguished themselves and one another. The families of the twelve tribes are thus numbered:—Of Dan but one, for Dan had but one son, and yet that tribe was the most numerous of all except Judah, Nu 26:42,43. Its beginning was small, but its latter end greatly increased. Zebulun was divided into three families, Ephraim into four, Issachar into four, Naphtali into four, and Reuben into four; Judah, Simeon, and Asher, had five families apiece, Gad and Benjamin seven apiece, and Manasseh eight. Benjamin brought ten sons into Egypt (Ge 46:21), but three of them, it seems either died childless or their families were extinct, for here we find seven only of those names preserved, and that whole tribe none of the most numerous; for Providence, in the building up of families and nations, does not tie itself to probabilities. The barren hath borne seven, and she that hath many children has waxed feeble, 1Sa 2:5.
II. The numbers of each tribe. And here our best entertainment will be to compare these numbers with those when they were numbered at Mount Sinai. The sum total was nearly the same; they were now 1820 fewer than they were then; yet seven of the tribes had increased in number. Judah had increased 1900, Issachar 9900, Zebulun 3100, Manasseh 20, 500, Benjamin 10,200, Dan 1700, and Asher 11,900. But the other five had decreased more than to balance that increase. Reuben had decreased 2770, Simeon 37,100, Gad 5150, Ephraim 8000, and Naphtali 8000. In this account we may observe, 1. That all the three tribes that were encamped under the standard of Judah, who was the ancestor of Christ, had increased, for his church shall be edified and multiplied. 2. That none of the tribes had increased so much as that of Manasseh, which in the former account was the smallest of all the tribes, only 32,200, while here it is one of the most considerable; and that of his brother Ephraim, which there was numerous, is here one of the least. Jacob had crossed hands upon their heads, and had preferred Ephraim before Manasseh, which perhaps the Ephraimites had prided themselves too much in, and had trampled upon their brethren the Manassites; but, when the Lord saw that Manasseh was despised, he thus multiplied him exceedingly, for it is his glory to help the weakest, and raise up those that are cast down. 3. That none of the tribes decreased so much as Simeon did; from 59,300, it such to 22,200, little more than a third part of what it was. One whole family of that tribe (namely Ohad, mentioned Ex 6:15) was extinct in the wilderness. Hence Simeon is not mentioned in Moses's blessing (De 33:1-29), and the lot of that tribe in Canaan was inconsiderable, only a canton out of Judah's lot, Jos 19:9. Some conjecture that most of those 24,000 who were cut off by the plague for the iniquity of Peor were of that tribe; for Zimri, who was a ringleader in that iniquity, was a prince of that tribe, many of whom therefore were influenced by his example to follow his pernicious ways.
III. In the account of the tribe of Reuben mention is made of the rebellion of Dathan and Abiram, who were of that tribe, in confederacy with Korah a Levite, Nu 26:9-11. Though the story had been largely related but a few chapters before, yet here it comes in again, as fit to be had in remembrance and thought of by posterity, whenever they looked into their pedigree and pleased themselves with the antiquity of their families and the glory of their ancestors, that they might call themselves a seed of evil doers. Two things are here said of them:—1. That they had been famous in the congregation, Nu 26:9. Probably they were remarkable for their ingenuity, activity, and fitness for business:—That Dathan and Abiram that might have been advanced in due time under God and Moses; but their ambitious spirits put them upon striving against God and Moses, and when they quarrelled with the one they quarrelled with the other. And what was the issue? 2. Those that might have been famous were made infamous: they became a sign, Nu 26:10. They were made monuments of divine justice; God, in their ruin, showed himself glorious in holiness, and so they were set up for a warning to all others, in all ages, to take heed of treading in the steps of their pride and rebellion. Notice is here taken of the preservation of the children of Korah (Nu 26:11); they died not, as the children of Dathan and Abiram did, doubtless because they kept themselves pure from the infection, and would not join, no, not with their own father, in rebellion. If we partake not of the sins of sinners, we shall not partake of their plagues. These sons of Korah were afterwards, in their posterity, eminently serviceable to the church, being employed by David as singers in the house of the Lord; hence many psalms are said to be for the sons of Korah: and perhaps they were made to bear his name so long after, rather than the name of any other of their ancestors, for warning to themselves, and as an instance of the power of God, which brought those choice fruits even out of that bitter root. The children of families that have been stigmatized should endeavour, by their eminent virtues, to roll away the reproach of their fathers.
⁵² And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
⁵³ Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names.
⁵⁴ To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him.
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 the possession thereof be divided between many and few.
If any ask why such a particular account is kept of the tribes, and families, and numbers, of the people of Israel, here is an answer for them; as they were multiplied, so they were portioned, not by common providence, but by promise; and, for the support of the honour of divine revelation, God will have the fulfilling of the promise taken notice of both in their increase and in their inheritance. When Moses had numbered the people God did not say, By these shall the land be conquered; but, taking that for granted, he tells him, Unto these shall the land be divided. "These that are now registered as the sons of Israel shall be admitted (as it were by copy of court-roll) heirs of the land of Canaan." Now, in the distributing, or quartering, of these tribes, 1. The general rule of equity is here prescribed to Moses, that to many he should give more, and to few he should give less (Nu 26:54); yet, alas! he was so far from giving any to others that he must not have any himself, but this direction given to him was intended for Joshua his successor. 2. The application of this general rule was to be determined by lot (Nu 26:55); notwithstanding it seems thus to be left to the prudence of their prince, yet the matter must be finally reserved to the providence of their God, in which they must all acquiesce, how much soever it contradicted their policies or inclination: According to the lot shall the possession be divided. As the God of nations, so the God of Israel in particular, reserves it to himself to appoint the bounds of our habitation. And thus Christ, our Joshua, when he was urged to appoint one of his disciples to his right hand, another to his left in his kingdom, acknowledged the sovereignty of his Father in the disposal: It is not mine to give. Joshua must not dispose of inheritances in Canaan according to his own mind. But it shall be given to those for whom it is prepared of my Father.
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 Merarites.
⁵⁸ These are the families of the Levites: the family of the Libnites, the family of the Hebronites, the family of the Mahlites, the family of the Mushites, the family of the Korathites. And Kohath begat Amram.
⁵⁹ And the name of Amram's wife was Jochebed, the daughter of Levi, whom her mother bare to Levi in Egypt: and she bare unto Amram Aaron and Moses, and Miriam their sister.
⁶⁰ And unto Aaron was born Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
⁶¹ And Nadab and Abihu died, when they offered strange fire before the LORD.
⁶² And those that were numbered of them were twenty and three thousand, all males 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 Israel.
Levi was God's tribe, a tribe that was to have no inheritance with the rest in the land of Canaan, and therefore was not numbered with the rest, but by itself; so it had been numbered in the beginning of this book at Mount Sinai, and therefore came not under the sentence passed upon all that were then numbered, that none of them should enter Canaan but Caleb and Joshua; for of the Levites that were not numbered with them, nor were to go forth to war, Eleazar and Ithamar, and perhaps others who were above twenty years old then (as appears, Nu 4:16,28), entered Canaan; and yet this tribe, now at its second numbering, had increased but 1000, and was still one of the smallest tribes. Mention is made here of the death of Nadab and Abihu for offering strange fire, as before of the sin and punishment of Korah, because these things happened to them for ensamples.
⁶³ These are they that were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho.
⁶⁴ But among these there was not a man of them whom Moses and Aaron the priest numbered, when they numbered the children of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai.
⁶⁵ For 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.
That which is observable in this conclusion of the account is the execution of the sentence passed upon the murmurers (Nu 14:29), that not one of those who were numbered from twenty years old and upwards (and that the Levites were not, but either from a month old or from thirty years old to fifty) should enter Canaan, except Caleb and Joshua. In the muster now made particular directions, no doubt, were given to those of each tribe that were employed in taking the account, to compare these rolls with the former, and to observe whether there were any now left of those that were numbered at Mount Sinai, and it appeared that there was not one man numbered now that was numbered then except Caleb and Joshua, Nu 26:64,65. Herein appeared, 1. The righteousness of God, and his faithfulness to his threatenings, when once the decree has gone forth. He swore in his wrath, and what he had sworn he performed. Better all those carcasses, had they been ten times as many, should fall to the ground, than the word of God. Though the rising generation was mixed with them, and many of the guilty and condemned criminals long survived the sentence, even to the last year of the forty, yet they were cut off by some means or other before this muster was made. Those whom God has condemned cannot escape either by losing themselves in a crowd or by the delay of execution. 2. The goodness of God to this people, notwithstanding their provocations. Though that murmuring race was cut off, yet God raised up another generation, which was as numerous as they, that, though they perished, yet the name of Israel might not be cut off, lest the inheritance of the promise should be lost for want of heirs. And, though the number fell a little short what it was at Mount Sinai, yet those now numbered had this advantage, that they were all middle-aged men, between twenty and sixty, in the prime of their time for service; and during the thirty-eight years of their wandering and wasting in the wilderness they had an opportunity of acquainting themselves with the laws and ordinances of God, having no business, civil or military, to divert them from those sacred studies, and having Moses and Aaron to instruct them, and God's good Spirit, Ne 9:20. 3. The truth of God, in performing his promise made to Caleb and Joshua. They were to be preserved from falling in this common ruin, and they were so. The arrows of death, though they fly in the dark, do not fly at random, even when they fly thickest, but are directed to the mark intended, and no other. All that are written among the living shall have their lives given them for a prey, in the most dangerous times. Thousands may fall on their right hand, and ten thousands on their left, but they shall escape.
這卷書稱為民數記，得名自其中所記載以色列人被數點的事。他們曾在出埃及後第一年於西奈山被數點一次，其記載見於民 1:1-2:34。如今，在他們將要進入迦南之前，於摩押平原第二次被數點，這次的記載就在本章。內容包括：一、下令進行數點的吩咐，民 26:1-4。二、各支派家族與數目的登記（民 26:5-50），以及總人數，民 26:51。三、在他們中間分地的指示，民 26:52-56。四、利未人獨立統計的家族與數目，民 26:57-62。五、記述首次被數點之人盡數死亡，應驗了先前的警告，民 26:63-65），而這次數算與保存的記錄似乎正是特別針對此事而作。