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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)
简体中文
数点百姓（主前1452年）
¹ 瘟疫之后，耶和华对摩西和祭司亚伦的儿子以利亚撒说：
² "你们要将以色列全会众，从二十岁以外，按着他们的父家凡能出去打仗的，计算总数。"
³ 摩西和祭司以利亚撒，在摩押平原约旦河边，对着耶利哥，与他们说话，说：
⁴ 计算百姓，从二十岁以外的——正如耶和华所吩咐摩西和出埃及地的以色列人。
当留意：1. 摩西若非神所命，就不数点百姓。大卫在他的时候没有命令便如此行，结果付了重价。神是以色列的王，他不许这主权之举在他明令之外而行。摩西此时大概已经听见巴兰虽极不情愿、却被迫为以色列祝福的事，尤其听见他对他们人数的留意；他对此敌手为他们实力与尊荣所作的这概括见证已经十分满意——虽然他并不确知他们的人数，直到神此时命他计算总数。2. 以利亚撒与他同受此任，正如从前亚伦与他同受一样；神借此在众长老面前尊荣以利亚撒，并印证了他的继任。3. 这次的清点是在瘟疫之后立刻下令进行的，为要表明：神虽在公义中借那场扫除性的瘟疫与他们相争，但他并没有尽行灭绝，也不全然弃绝他们。属神的以色列民虽受严责，却不致灭亡。4. 他们如今所用的准则与从前数点时相同，只数算能出去打仗的，因为摆在他们眼前的正是争战的事奉。
⁵ 以色列的长子流便：流便的众子；哈诺——由此出哈诺族；法勒族；
⁶ 希斯伦族；迦米族。
⁷ 这些是流便的各族；他们被数点的共有四万三千七百三十名。
⁸ 法勒的儿子是以利押。
⁹ 以利押的儿子是尼母利、大坍、亚比兰。这大坍、亚比兰，原是会众中所选召的，在与可拉一党同谋攻击摩西、亚伦时，也就是攻击耶和华的时候，出名的人；
¹⁰ 地便开口吞了他们和可拉；当那会众死亡，火烧灭二百五十个人的时候，他们就作了鉴戒。
¹¹ 然而可拉的众子没有死亡。
¹² 按着家族，西缅的众子：尼母利族；雅悯族；雅斤族；
¹³ 谢拉族；扫罗族。
¹⁴ 这些是西缅的各族，共有二万二千二百名。
¹⁵ 按着家族，迦得的众子：洗分族；哈基族；书尼族；
¹⁶ 押斯尼族；以利族；
¹⁷ 亚罗底族；亚列族。
¹⁸ 这些是迦得众子按着他们被数点的各族，共有四万零五百名。
¹⁹ 犹大的儿子是珥和俄南；这珥和俄南死在迦南地。
²⁰ 按着家族，犹大的众子是：示拉族；法勒斯族；谢拉族。
²¹ 法勒斯的众子是：希斯伦族；哈母勒族。
²² 这些是犹大的各族，按着他们被数点的，共有七万六千五百名。
²³ 按着家族，以萨迦的众子：陀拉族；普瓦族；
²⁴ 雅述族；示剑族。
²⁵ 这些是以萨迦的各族，按着他们被数点的，共有六万四千三百名。
²⁶ 按着家族，西布伦的众子：西烈族；以伦族；雅利族。
²⁷ 这些是西布伦的各族，按着他们被数点的，共有六万零五百名。
²⁸ 按着家族，约瑟的众子是玛拿西和以法莲。
²⁹ 玛拿西的众子：玛吉族；玛吉生基列；基列族。
³⁰ 这些是基列的众子：耶伊谢族；希勒族；
³¹ 亚斯列族；示剑族；
³² 示米大族；希弗族。
³³ 希弗的儿子西罗非哈没有儿子，只有女儿；西罗非哈女儿的名字是玛拉、挪阿、曷拉、密迦、得撒。
³⁴ 这些是玛拿西的各族，按着他们被数点的，共有五万二千七百名。
³⁵ 这些是以法莲众子按着家族的：书提拉族；比结族；他罕族。
³⁶ 这些是书提拉的儿子：以兰族。
³⁷ 这些是以法莲众子的各族，按着他们被数点的，共有三万二千五百名。这些是约瑟众子按着家族。
³⁸ 按着家族，便雅悯的众子：比拉族；亚实别族；亚希兰族；
³⁹ 书反族；户反族。
⁴⁰ 比拉的众子是亚勒和乃缦：属亚勒的亚勒族；属乃缦的乃缦族。
⁴¹ 这些是便雅悯众子按着家族的，按着他们被数点的，共有四万五千六百名。
⁴² 按着家族，但的众子：书含族。这些是但按着家族的各族。
⁴³ 书含的各族，按着他们被数点的，共有六万四千四百名。
⁴⁴ 按着家族，亚设的众子：音拿族；亦施韦族；比利亚族。
⁴⁵ 比利亚的众子：希别族；玛结族。
⁴⁶ 亚设的女儿的名字是西拉。
⁴⁷ 这些是亚设众子的各族，按着他们被数点的，共有五万三千四百名。
⁴⁸ 按着家族，拿弗他利的众子：雅薛族；沽尼族；
⁴⁹ 耶色族；示冷族。
⁵⁰ 这些是拿弗他利按着家族的各族，按着他们被数点的，共有四万五千四百名。
⁵¹ 以色列人被数点的，共有六十万一千七百三十名。
这是各支派如今所登录的名册，次序与民1:1-54所记相同。当留意，
I. 这里为各支派的家族都保存了记录。这里所说的"家族"不可理解为我们今日所称的"家庭"——同住一屋之人；而是指各位先祖之子的后裔，他们的后代为尊荣先祖，便以他们的名字彼此区分。十二支派的家族如此被数点：——但只有一个，因为但只有一个儿子，然而这个支派除犹大以外却是最多的（民26:42,43）。它的起头微小，后来却大大增加。西布伦分为三家，以法莲分为四家，以萨迦四家，拿弗他利四家，流便四家；犹大、西缅、亚设各有五家，迦得和便雅悯各有七家，玛拿西有八家。便雅悯曾带十个儿子下埃及（创46:21），但其中三个显然或无子而死、或其家族已绝，因为此处我们只见七个名字得以存留，而且那整个支派的人数不算最多；因为神在建立家族与国家之时，并不受可能性所限。素来不生育的，生了七个；多有儿女的，反倒衰弱（撒上2:5）。
II. 各支派的人数。这里我们最好的功课，乃是将这些数目与在西奈山被数点时的数目作比较。总数几乎相同；如今比那时少了一千八百二十名；然而其中有七个支派人数增加了。犹大增了一千九百，以萨迦增了九千九百，西布伦增了三千一百，玛拿西增了二万零五百，便雅悯增了一万零二百，但增了一千七百，亚设增了一万一千九百。但其余五个支派的减少，超过了上述的增加。流便减了二千七百七十，西缅减了三万七千一百，迦得减了五千一百五十，以法莲减了八千，拿弗他利减了八千。在这记录中我们可留意：1. 在犹大旗下安营的三个支派都增加了——犹大乃是基督的先祖，因为他的教会必被建立、增多。2. 没有一个支派像玛拿西那样增加得这么多；在从前的记录中他原是众支派中最小的，只有三万二千二百名，如今却成了最可观的之一；而他哥哥以法莲从前人多，如今却成了最少的之一。雅各曾把双手交叉按在他们头上，立以法莲在玛拿西以先，以法莲人很可能因此过于自高，又轻看他们的弟兄玛拿西人；但当主看见玛拿西被藐视，便如此使他在人数上极其加增，因为帮助软弱的、扶起被压下的，正是他的荣耀。3. 没有一个支派的减少像西缅那样多；从五万九千三百减到二万二千二百，不过是原来的三分之一多一点。那一支派中整整一家（即出6:15所提的俄罕）在旷野中绝了。因此西缅在摩西的祝福中（申33:1-29）没有被提到，而那一支派在迦南所得的份也微不足道，只是从犹大所得的份中分出的一块（书19:9）。有人推测因毗珥的罪而被瘟疫剪除的那二万四千人中，大多数属这一支派；因为心利——那罪中的首犯——正是这一支派的首领，其中许多人因此受他的榜样影响，随从他败坏的路。
III. 在流便支派的记录中，提到了大坍、亚比兰的背叛——他们是那一支派的人，与利未人可拉结党（民26:9-11）。这事虽然几章前已经详细记载过，此处却又再次提起，因它合宜地当被后代记念、思想——每当他们查考自己的家谱、以家族的悠久与先祖的荣耀自满之时，好叫他们知道自己原是作恶之人的后裔。此处关于他们所说有两点：1. 他们曾在会众中出名（民26:9）。大概他们以才能、活跃和办事的才干著称：那本可在日后在神和摩西之下得升高的大坍、亚比兰，他们的野心却驱使他们与神和摩西争斗；当他们与一方相争时，也就与另一方相争了。结果如何呢？2. 那本可出名的人反成了臭名昭著：他们成了鉴戒（民26:10）。他们成了神圣公义判决的标记；神在他们的毁灭中显明自己在圣洁中可畏，如此他们被立为对一切后世之人的警告，叫人谨慎，不可蹈他们骄傲和背叛的覆辙。此处又特别记到可拉的众子得以存留（民26:11）；他们没有死亡，不像大坍、亚比兰的众子那样——无疑是因为他们保守自己不受玷污，即使自己的父亲背叛，他们也不肯附从。我们若不与罪人有分于罪，就必不与他们同受灾殃。这些可拉的众子后来在其后代中格外对教会有益，被大卫用作耶和华殿中的歌唱者；因此许多诗篇被称为可拉后裔的诗：也许他们之所以在此后如此长久地带着他的名字，而非任何其他先祖的名字，是为对自己的警告，也是神大能的实例——他从那样苦的根里结出了如此佳美的果子。家族曾受羞辱的儿女，当借着自己杰出的美德，竭力除去父辈的羞辱。
⁵² 耶和华对摩西说：
⁵³ "你要按着名字的数目，将这地分给这些人为业。
⁴ 人多的，你要把产业多分给他们；人少的，你要把产业少分给他们；各人要按着被数点的人数得产业。
⁵⁵ 虽然如此，还要拈阄分地：他们要按着他们父系支派的名字承受为业。
⁶ 要按着所拈的阄，把产业分给多人或分给少人。"
若有人问：为何对以色列民的支派、家族、人数要保存如此详细的记录？此处给了答复：他们既照应许而加增，也照应许而受分地——不是借寻常的护理，而是借应许；为支持神圣启示的尊荣，神要人在他们的繁增和他们的产业上，都留意应许的应验。当摩西数点百姓之时，神并没有说：借这些人必能征服那地；他以此为当然，只告诉他说：这地要分给这些人。"这些如今被登录为以色列众子的人，必被接纳（如同凭法院卷宗副本）为迦南地的继承人。"如今在分地、布置这些支派时：1. 此处向摩西规定了公平的总则：人多的多给，人少的少给（民26:54）；然而，唉！他不仅不能给别人分地，自己也不得有任何地业；这给他的指示，乃是为他的继任者约书亚所设。2. 这总则的应用，要借拈阄而定（民26:55）；虽然此事看似留给君王的智慧，然而此事最终仍要留给他们神的护理来决定，他们众人无论这与他们的策略或意愿如何相悖，都必须甘服：要按着所拈的阄把产业分给。作为列国的神，照样作为以色列的神，也特别将我们居住的疆界之决定权留给自己。如此，我们的约书亚——基督——当他被请在他的国里指定一个门徒坐在他的右边、一个坐在他的左边时，也承认他父在安排上的主权：*赐给谁，不是我可以作主的。*约书亚不可凭己意在迦南分地。但那预备给谁，就赐给谁。
⁵⁷ 利未人按着家族被数点的如下：革顺族；哥辖族；米拉利族。
⁵⁸ 这些是利未的各族：立尼族；希伯伦族；玛利族；母示族；可拉族。哥辖生暗兰。
⁵⁹ 暗兰的妻子名叫约基别，是利未的女儿，她母亲在埃及给利未生的；她给暗兰生了亚伦、摩西，并他们的姐姐米利暗。
⁶⁰ 亚伦生拿答、亚比户、以利亚撒、以他玛。
⁶¹ 拿答、亚比户在耶和华面前献凡火的时候死了。
⁶² 他们被数点的，共有二万三千名，都是从一个月以外的一切男丁；因为他们没有与以色列众子同被数点，因为在以色列众子中没有给他们分地业。
利未是属神的支派，是在迦南地不与众人同得产业的支派，因此没有与众支派一同被数，而是单独被数；正如本书开头在西奈山所行的那样，所以那判语——凡被数的人除迦勒和约书亚外都不得进迦南——没有临到他们身上；因为在没有被一同数点、也不出去打仗的利未人中，以利亚撒、以他玛，或许还有当时二十岁以上的其他人（如民4:16,28所示），进了迦南；然而这一支派如今第二次数点时，只增了一千名，仍是最小的支派之一。此处提到拿答、亚比户因献凡火而死，正如先前提到可拉的罪与刑罚，因为这些事临到他们，作为鉴戒。
⁶³ 这些是摩西和祭司以利亚撒所数点的；他们在摩押平原约旦河边，对着耶利哥，数点了以色列众子。
⁶⁴ 但这些人中间，并没有一个是摩西和祭司亚伦从前在西奈的旷野数点以色列众子时所数点的。
⁵ 因为耶和华曾论到他们说："他们必死在旷野。"除了耶孚尼的儿子迦勒和嫩的儿子约书亚，连一个人也没有存留。
这记录的结语中可留意的一事，就是当初向发怨言者所宣判之判语的执行（民14:29）：凡被数点的二十岁以上的人（利未人不在其内，因为他们或是一个月以上，或是三十至五十岁）都不得进迦南，除了迦勒和约书亚。在这次征集中，无疑向各支派中负责记录的人下达了特别指示，要将这些名册与从前的相比对，看看在西奈山被数点的人如今还剩下谁；结果发现除了迦勒和约书亚之外，从前被数的人中如今没有一人仍在其中（民26:64,65）。由此显明：1. 神的公义，以及他对所发警告的信实——一旦判语已经发出。他在怒中起誓，他所起的誓他都履行了。宁可那一切尸首——即使比这多十倍——都倒毙在地，也不可让神的话落空。虽然新一代的人与他们混杂，许多被定罪的罪犯在判语之后存活甚久，甚至直到第四十年的最后一年，但他们都在这次征集之前，以这样或那样的方式被剪除了。神所定罪的人，不能因混在群众中、或因执行的迟延而逃脱。2. 神向这百姓所施的良善——尽管他们屡屡惹动他。虽然那发怨言的一代被剪除，神却兴起另一代，与那代同样众多，使以色列的名虽他们灭亡却不致断绝，免得应许的产业因无继承人而失落。虽然人数比在西奈山时略少，但如今被数点的人有这样一个好处：他们都是中年人，年纪在二十到六十之间，正是服事的壮年；而在旷野漂流荒废的三十八年间，他们有机会熟悉神的律例典章，因为他们没有民事或军事上的事务使他们从这些圣洁的学问上分心，又有摩西、亚伦教导他们，有神良善的灵（尼9:20）。3. 神的信实——他对迦勒和约书亚所应许的必然成就。他们必在这次普遍的灾祸中蒙保守免于倒毙，他们也确被保守。死亡的箭虽然在暗中飞行，却不是漫无目标地飞——即便在飞行最密之时，也是指向所定的目标，别无其他。凡记在活人名册上的，在最危险的时候，也必得着性命作为掠物。虽有千人仆倒在右边，万人仆倒在左边，他们却必逃脱。
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.
本书之所以称为《民数记》，是因为它记载了以色列人的数点。他们曾在出埃及后第一年于西奈山被数点过一次，其记载见于民 1:1-2:34。如今在进入迦南之前，他们在摩押平原被第二次数点，其记载就在本章。本章内容如下：I. 关于数点的命令（民 26:1-4）。II. 各支派宗族与数目的登记（民 26:5-50），以及总数（民 26:51）。III. 关于在他们中间分地的指示（民 26:52-56）。IV. 利未人自身的宗族与数目（民 26:57-62）。V. 注意到初次被数点的人尽都死去的应验了那威吓（民 26:63-65），而在这次数点的记录与保存中，似乎对此有特别的关注。