1Und es geschah nach der Plage, daß Jehovah sprach zu Mose und zu Eleasar, dem Sohne Aharons, des Priesters; und Er sprach: 2Nehmet auf die Kopfzahl der ganzen Gemeinde der Söhne Israels vom zwanzigsten Jahre und aufwärts nach dem Hause ihrer Väter, alle, die im Heer ausziehen in Israel. 3Und Mose und Eleasar, der Priester, redete mit ihnen in Arboth Moab am Jordan, bei Jericho und sprachen: 4Vom zwanzigsten Jahre an und aufwärts, wie Jehovah dem Mose und den Söhnen Israels, die aus Ägyptenland auszogen, geboten hat. 5Ruben, Israels Erstgeborener: Söhne Rubens waren Chanoch, die Familie der Chanochiten; von Phallu die Familie der Phalluiten; 6Von Chezron die Familie der Chezroniten, von Charmi die Familie der Charmiten; 7Dies sind die Familien der Rubeniten. Ihrer Gemusterten aber waren es dreiundvierzigtausendsiebenhundertdreißig; 8Und die Söhne Phallus Eliab. 9Und die Söhne Eliabs Nemuel und Dathan und Abiram - das waren Dathan und Abiram, Berufene der Gemeinde, die zankten mit Mose und mit Aharon in der Gemeinde Korachs, als sie wider Jehovah zankten. 10Und die Erde öffnete ihren Mund und verschlang sie und Korach, da die Gemeinde starb, indem das Feuer die zweihundertfünfzig Männer auffraß und sie zum Zeichen wurden. 11Korachs Söhne waren aber nicht gestorben. 12Die Söhne Simeons nach ihren Familien: Von Nemuel die Familie der Nemueliten, von Jamin die Familie der Jaminiten, von Jachin die Familie der Jachiniten; 13Von Serach die Familie der Serachiten, von Schaul die Familie der Schauliten. 14Dies sind die Familien der Simeoniten: Zweiundzwanzigtausendzweihundert. 15Die Söhne Gads nach ihren Familien: Von Zephon die Familie der Zephoniten, von Chaggi die Familie der Chaggiten, von Schuni die Familie der Schuniten; 16Von Osni die Familie der Osniten, von Eri die Familie der Eriten; 17Von Arod die Familie der Aroditen; von Areli die Familie der Areliten. 18Dies sind die Familien der Söhne Gads nach ihren Gemusterten: vierzigtausendfünfhundert. 19Die Söhne Judahs: Er und Onan. Und Er und Onan starben im Lande Kanaan. 20Und die Söhne Judahs waren nach ihren Familien: Von Schelah die Familie der Schelaniten, von Perez die Familie der Parziten, von Serach die Familie der Sarchiten. 21Und die Söhne des Perez waren: Von Chezron die Familie der Chezroniten, von Chamul die Familie der Chamuliten. 22Dies sind die Familien Judahs nach ihren Gemusterten: sechsundsiebzigtausendfünfhundert. 23Die Söhne Issaschars nach ihren Familien: Von Thola die Familie der Tholaiten; von Puvah die Familie der Puniten. 24Von Jaschub die Familie der Jaschubiten; von Schimron die Familie der Schimroniten. 25Das sind die Familien Issaschars nach ihren Gemusterten: vierundsechzigtausenddreihundert. 26Die Söhne Sebuluns nach ihren Familien: Von Sared die Familie der Sarditen; von Elon die Familie der Eloniten; von Jachleel die Familie der Jachleeliten; 27Dies sind die Familien der Sebuluniten nach ihren Gemusterten: sechzigtausendfünfhundert. 28Die Söhne Josephs nach ihren Familien sind Menascheh und Ephraim. 29Die Söhne Menaschehs: Von Machir die Familie der Machiriten. Und Machir zeugte Gilead. Von Gilead die Familie der Gileaditen. 30Das sind die Söhne Gileads: Jeser, die Familie der Jesriten; von Chelek, die Familie der Chelekiten. 31Und Asriel, die Familie der Asrieliten; und Schechem, die Familie der Schichmiten. 32Und Schemidah, die Familie der Schemidaiten, und Chepher, die Familie der Chephriten. 33Und Zelaphechad, Chephers Sohn, hatte keine Söhne, nur Töchter. Und die Namen von Zelaphechads Töchtern waren Machlah und Noah, Choglah, Milkah und Thirzah. 34Das sind die Familien Menaschehs; und ihrer Gemusterten sind zweiundfünfzigtausendsiebenhundert. 35Das sind die Söhne Ephraims nach ihren Familien: Von Schuthelach die Familie der Schuthalchiten; von Becher die Familie der Bachriten; von Thachan die Familie der Thachaniten. 36Und dies sind die Söhne Schuthelachs: Von Eran die Familie der Eraniten. 37Dies sind die Familien der Söhne Ephraims nach ihren Gemusterten: zweiundreißigtausendfünfhundert. Das sind die Söhne Josephs nach ihren Familien. 38Die Söhne Benjamins nach ihren Familien: Von Bela die Familie der Baliten; von Aschbel die Familie der Aschbeliten; von Achiram die Familie der Achiramiten; 39Von Schephupham die Familie der Schuphamiten; von Chupham die Familie der Chuphamiten. 40Und die Söhne Belahs sind Ard und Naaman; die Familie der Arditen, von Naaman die Familie der Naamiten. 41Dies sind die Söhne Benjamins nach ihren Familien; und ihrer Gemusterten waren es fünfundvierzigtausendsechshundert. 42Das sind die Söhne Dans nach ihren Familien: Von Schucham die Familie der Schuchamiten. Dies die Familien Dans nach ihren Familien. 43Alle Familien der Schuchaniten nach ihren Gemusterten waren vierundsechzigtausendvierhundert. 44Die Söhne Aschers nach ihren Familien sind: Von Jimmah die Familie der Jimniten; von Jischvi die Familie der Jischviten; von Beriah die Familie der Beriiten. 45Von den Söhnen Beriah, von Cheber die Familie der Chebriten; von Malkiel die Familie der Malkieliten. 46Und der Name der Tochter Aschers war Serach. 47Dies sind die Familien der Söhne Aschers nach ihren Gemusterten: dreiundfünfzigtausendvierhundert. 48Die Söhne Naphthalis nach ihren Familien: Von Jachzeel die Familie der Jachzeeliten; von Guni die Familie der Guniten. 49Von Jezer die Familie der Jizriten; von Schillem die Familie der Schillemiten. 50Das sind die Familien Naphthalis nach ihren Familien; und ihrer Gemusterten waren es fünfundvierzigtausendvierhundert. 51Dies sind die Gemusterten der Söhne Israels sechshunderttausend und tausendsiebenhundertdreißig. 52Und Jehovah redete zu Mose und sprach: 53An diese soll das Land verteilt werden zum Erbe nach der Zahl der Namen. 54Dem Vielen werde viel zu seinem Erbe und dem Wenigen wenig zu seinem Erbe. Jeglichem Manne werde sein Erbe gegeben nach dem Verhältnis seiner Gemusterten. 55Man verteile jedoch das Land durch das Los; nach den Namen der Stämme ihrer Väter sollen sie es erben. 56Nach dem Los soll man sein Erbe verteilen, zwischen viel oder wenig. 57Und das sind die gemusterten der Leviten nach ihren Familien: Von Gerschon die Familie der Gerschoniten; von Kohath die Familie der Kohathiten; von Merari die Familie der Merariten. 58Dies sind die Familien Levis, die Familien der Libniten, der Familien der Chebroniten, die Familie der Machliten, die Familie der Muschiten, die Familie der Korchiten, und Kohath zeugte den Amram. 59Und der Name von Amrams Weib war Jochebet, eine Tochter Levis, die dem Levi in Ägypten geboren ward. Und sie gebar dem Amram den Aharon und den Mose und Mirjam, ihre Schwester. 60Und dem Aharon wurden geboren Nadab und Abihu, Eleasar und Ithamar.  61Und Nadab und Abihu waren gestorben, da sie fremdes Feuer vor Jehovah darbrachten. 62Und ihrer Gemusterten waren es dreiundzwanzigtausend, alles Männliche von einem Monat und aufwärts: denn sie wurden nicht inmitten der Söhne Israels gemustert, weil ihnen kein Erbe inmitten der Söhne Israels gegeben ward. 63Dies sind die von Mose und dem Priester Eleasar Gemusterten, da sie die Söhne Israels in Arboth Moab am Jordan, bei Jericho, musterten. 64Und unter ihnen war kein Mann, der von Mose und Aharon, dem Priester, Gemusterten, da sie die Söhne Israels in der Wüste Sinai musterten. 65Denn Jehovah hatte von ihnen gesprochen, daß sie in der Wüste des Todes sterben sollten. Und kein Mann blieb von ihnen übrig außer Kaleb, der Sohn Jephunnehs und Joschua, der Sohn Nuns.


Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary
 1   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   This is the register of the tribes as they were now enrolled, in the same order that they were numbered in ch. 1. 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, Num 26:42, Num 26:43. 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 (Gen 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, 1Sam 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 Exod 6:15) was extinct in the wilderness. Hence Simeon is not mentioned in Moses's blessing (Deu. 33), and the lot of that tribe in Canaan was inconsiderable, only a canton out of Judah's lot, Josh 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, Num 26:9-Num 26:11. 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, Num 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, Num 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 (Num 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   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 (Num 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 (v. 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   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, Josh 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   That which is observable in this conclusion of the account is the execution of the sentence passed upon the murmurers (Num 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, Num 26:64, Num 26:65. 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 the, 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, Neh 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.