Num. 26-27 (26:52-56; 27:15-23) Preparing to Enter the Land

There are several matters that needed to happen as the people of Israel, in the Plains of Moab, prepared to enter the land.  Num. 26, for the most part, is a record of the second census, commanded by the LORD.  There is not a great change in the total: only 1800 fewer people from the first census (Num. 1:46: 603,550) and after 40 years (Num. 26:51: 601,730).  The median age was younger, of course (26:64-65).

Here are a few notes of interest.

·       26:53-54: the largest tribes were Judah (76,500), Dan (64,400), and Issachar (64,300).

·       The smallest were Simeon (22,200) and Ephraim (32,500).

·       Together, Joseph’s 2 sons (Manasseh and Ephraim) had 52,700.  Yet Ephraim received a large territory (in Joshua) and Manasseh received 2 large territories.

·       In Josh. 13-17 territories went to Reuben, Gad, Manasseh East, Judah, Ephraim & Manasseh West.

·       In Josh. 18-19 the smaller 7 tribes received theirs: Benjamin, Simeon, Zebulun, Issachar, Asher, Naphtali, Dan.

·       Levites a month and older numbered 22,300 in Num. 3:39 and 23,000 in 26:62. 

Talk of the “inheritance” (26:52-56) puts a hope, a future reality, before the people.  This helps the people to get off the “death” experience in the wilderness (v65).  Thanks to the Lord, we have the same, a hope!  We will die (barring the catching away of the Church).  But death is the door to eternity in God’s presence.

Num. 27:1-11 records an interesting situation concerning the daughters of Zelophehad.  Since there were no sons there needed to be an answer as to their inheritance.  With this situation an exception was made in the inheritance laws.  It again shows that the Law of Moses was intended to do good things for the nation of Israel.  Necessary exceptions could be made.  As Jesus would later say, The Sabbath (the Law) was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). 

A nation or tribe or “group” of people of any kind are lost if they do not have a leader who cares about them.  A leader who cares is like a “shepherd” for sheep.  Jesus knew the importance of a shepherd for Israel (Matt. 9:36).  So did Moses.  For that reason, he again interceded for the people, asking God to give them a shepherd to lead them after he (Moses) was gone.  This leader would be the one to lead them into the land.  Joshua was to be that shepherd. 

One important thing is that Joshua was a man in whom was the Spirit (27:18).  That is one of several ways that Joshua (Heb. Yehowshuwa, Jehovah is Salvation) is a type of Jesus (Greek Iesous, Jehovah is Salvation).  From the Law (Moses) came grace and truth (Joshua; cf. John 1:17).  God’s goodness to Israel continues so that they are not like sheep without a shepherd!