Numbers 26:27

KJV

These [are] the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred.

KJV (with Strong's)

These are the families {H4940} of the Zebulunites {H2075} according to those that were numbered {H6485} of them, threescore {H8346} thousand {H505} and five {H2568} hundred {H3967}.

Complete Jewish Bible

These were the families of the Z'vuloni, according to those counted of them, 60,500.

Berean Standard Bible

These were the clans of Zebulun, and their registration numbered 60,500.

American Standard Version

These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 26:27 records the specific count of the tribe of Zebulun during the second census of Israel, conducted in the plains of Moab. This verse details that 60,500 men of fighting age were registered from the families of Zebulun, a crucial part of the comprehensive numbering of the new generation poised to enter and inherit the Promised Land. This meticulous accounting underscores God's divine order, His faithfulness to His covenant promises across generations, and His preparation of His people for the fulfillment of His purposes.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers chapter 26 presents the second census of the Israelite nation, taken approximately 38 years after the first census recorded in [Numbers 1](/numbers/1 "Numbers 1 - The First Census"). This numbering occurs in the plains of Moab, on the cusp of Israel's entry into Canaan, following the devastating plague in [Numbers 25](/numbers/25 "Numbers 25 - Baal of Peor and the Plague"). The primary purposes of this census were twofold: to ascertain the military strength of the new generation for the impending conquest of Canaan and, more significantly, to provide a basis for the equitable distribution of the land among the tribes and families, as explicitly stated in [Numbers 26:52-56](/numbers/26-52 "Numbers 26:52-56 - Instructions for Land Distribution"). Each tribal entry, including that of Zebulun in [Numbers 26:27](/numbers/26-27 "Numbers 26:27 - Zebulun's Census Count"), adheres to a consistent formula, emphasizing the families within each tribe, thereby establishing their claims to future inheritance.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The setting for this census is the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, directly opposite Jericho. This location marks the end of the wilderness wandering and the threshold of the Promised Land. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, censuses were common for military conscription, taxation, and land allocation. For Israel, however, they carried profound theological weight, signifying God's sovereign organization of His people and His preparation for covenant fulfillment. The preceding generation, marked by disobedience at Kadesh-Barnea, had largely perished in the wilderness, as prophesied in [Numbers 14:29-35](/numbers/14-29 "Numbers 14:29-35 - God's Judgment on the Disobedient Generation"). Thus, this second census represents a generational transition, a new beginning for a people now ready to inherit the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The emphasis on "families" (Hebrew: *mishpachot*) within each tribe was crucial, as land inheritance was distributed according to family size, ensuring a fair and orderly division of the tribal territories.
* **Key Themes:** The verse, situated within [Numbers 26](/numbers/26 "Numbers 26 - The Second Census"), contributes to several overarching themes. Firstly, it highlights **Divine Order and Sovereignty**, demonstrating God's meticulous attention to detail in organizing His people for His purposes, whether for war or for inheritance. The precise numbering underscores His active involvement in their affairs. Secondly, it powerfully illustrates **Covenant Faithfulness and Continuation**. Despite the rebellion and failure of the previous generation, God remains faithful to His covenant promises, raising up a new generation to inherit what was foretold. This census signifies their readiness to step into this divine plan. Thirdly, the focus on specific tribal and family counts emphasizes **Tribal Identity and Inheritance**, reinforcing the importance of lineage and the divinely ordained system for land distribution. Each tribe's unique identity and future portion in Canaan are affirmed. Lastly, the entire census serves as a theme of **Preparation for the Future**, demonstrating God's practical equipping and empowering of His people for the challenges and blessings that lie ahead in the Promised Land.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Zebulunites (Hebrew, _Zevuluni_):** This refers to the descendants of Zebulun, the tenth son of Jacob and Leah. The tribe of Zebulun was prophesied by Jacob to dwell "at the haven of the sea" ([Genesis 49:13](/genesis/49-13 "Genesis 49:13 - Jacob's Prophecy for Zebulun")), a prophecy fulfilled in their later territorial allocation in northern Canaan, bordering the Sea of Galilee. Their specific mention here underscores the importance of tribal identity and the continuity of God's plan for each of Jacob's sons.
* **numbered (Hebrew, _paqad_):** While often translated simply as "numbered" or "counted," the Hebrew verb *paqad* carries a richer theological meaning. It implies a divine "visitation," "muster," or "oversight." When God *paqad*s His people, it's not merely a statistical exercise but an act of divine attention, accountability, and often, preparation for a specific purpose or judgment. Here, it signifies God's active involvement in preparing His people for the inheritance of the land.
* **threescore thousand and five hundred (Hebrew, _shishim elef vachamesh me'ot_):** This precise numerical count, 60,500, highlights the meticulous nature of the census. The specificity of the number, rather than a round approximation, emphasizes the divine precision and the importance of each individual and family unit within the larger collective. It also allows for comparison with the first census, where Zebulun numbered 57,400 ([Numbers 1:31](/numbers/1-31 "Numbers 1:31 - Zebulun's First Census Count")), showing a notable increase unlike many other tribes that experienced significant decline.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"These [are] the families of the Zebulunites":** This opening phrase immediately establishes the focus on the tribal lineage and, more specifically, the family units within the tribe. This emphasis on "families" (Hebrew: *mishpachot*) is crucial because the land was to be divided among these family units based on their population size, ensuring that each clan received an equitable portion of the inheritance. It underscores the foundational importance of kinship and lineage in Israelite society and for the fulfillment of God's promises.
* **"according to those that were numbered of them":** This clause clarifies that the preceding statement about the families of Zebulun is directly linked to the results of the census. It confirms that the subsequent number is the official count derived from the divine mandate to register all eligible males. It reinforces the idea that this numbering was not arbitrary but a divinely ordained and executed process.
* **"threescore thousand and five hundred":** This provides the exact numerical outcome of the census for the tribe of Zebulun, stating their total strength as 60,500 men aged twenty years and upward, fit for military service. This specific figure is a testament to the detailed record-keeping and divine oversight. Notably, Zebulun was one of only three tribes (along with Manasseh and Benjamin) that showed an increase in population from the first census, suggesting resilience, divine favor, or perhaps a lower rate of mortality during the wilderness wanderings compared to other tribes.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Numbers 26:27, and indeed throughout the entire chapter, is **Enumeration** or **Cataloguing**. The chapter systematically lists each tribe and its families, along with their respective numerical counts. This meticulous **Repetition** of the census format for each tribe creates a sense of divine order, precision, and thoroughness. It emphasizes that every part of the nation is accounted for and prepared. Beyond mere listing, the act of numbering itself carries **Symbolism**. The census symbolizes God's sovereign knowledge of His people, His preparation of them for a new era, and the transition from a generation of disobedience to one poised for inheritance. The numbers, though literal, also serve as a tangible representation of God's faithfulness to multiply His people, even after severe judgments. There is also an implicit **Contrast** between the generation that failed in the wilderness and this new generation, now counted and ready to enter the land, highlighting themes of divine patience and renewal.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 26:27, as part of the second census, profoundly illustrates God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promises despite human failure. The meticulous numbering of each tribe, including Zebulun, reveals a God who is intimately involved in the details of His people's lives, organizing them for His purposes. This is not merely a demographic survey but a theological statement about divine faithfulness across generations. It underscores that while individuals and generations may falter, God's overarching plan for His people and His promises of land and blessing endure. The census serves as a tangible sign of God's preparation of a new generation, equipping them not only for military conquest but for the responsibilities of inheriting and stewarding the Promised Land. It teaches us that God’s purposes are generational, and He meticulously prepares each new wave of His people to fulfill His ongoing redemptive plan.

* [Numbers 1:31](/numbers/1-31 "Numbers 1:31 - Zebulun's First Census Count")
* [Numbers 26:55](/numbers/26-55 "Numbers 26:55 - Land Distribution by Lot")
* [Deuteronomy 1:35-36](/deuteronomy/1-35 "Deuteronomy 1:35-36 - The Fate of the Disobedient Generation")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 26:27, though a seemingly simple numerical entry, carries profound implications for our lives today. It reminds us that God is a God of order, precision, and purpose. Just as He meticulously numbered and prepared the Israelites for their inheritance, He is actively involved in the details of our lives, preparing us for the unique callings and inheritances He has for us. This verse encourages us to trust in God's sovereign oversight, even when our circumstances seem chaotic or uncertain. It challenges us to consider our place within the larger narrative of God's redemptive plan, recognizing that we are part of a continuing story that spans generations. We are called to be a faithful generation, learning from the mistakes of the past and embracing the promises of God for our future, ready to step into the spiritual inheritance prepared for us. Our individual lives, like the numbers of Zebulun, are known and valued by God, and we are being equipped for His ongoing work in the world.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does God's meticulous attention to detail in the census encourage or challenge your view of His involvement in your life and the broader community of faith?**
* **In what ways are you being "numbered" or prepared by God for His specific purposes in your generation, and how can you actively participate in that preparation?**
* **Considering the generational transition in Numbers, what lessons can we learn from past generations of believers, both their successes and their failures, to faithfully embrace God's promises for our future?**

### FAQ
**Why was a second census necessary, given that one was already taken in Numbers 1?**

Answer: The second census, detailed in [Numbers 26](/numbers/26 "Numbers 26 - The Second Census"), was critically necessary because the generation counted in the first census ([Numbers 1](/numbers/1 "Numbers 1 - The First Census")) had largely perished in the wilderness due to their disobedience and rebellion against God, particularly after the incident at Kadesh-Barnea ([Numbers 14](/numbers/14 "Numbers 14 - Israel's Rebellion at Kadesh-Barnea")). God had decreed that none of that generation, save for Caleb and Joshua, would enter the Promised Land. Therefore, this new census was taken to count the new generation, those aged twenty and above, who were now ready to enter Canaan. Its primary purposes were to ascertain the military strength of this new generation for the impending conquest and, crucially, to provide an accurate basis for the fair distribution of the land by lot among the tribes and their families.

**What is significant about Zebulun's count increasing from the first census, unlike many other tribes?**

Answer: The increase in Zebulun's population from 57,400 in the first census ([Numbers 1:31](/numbers/1-31 "Numbers 1:31 - Zebulun's First Census Count")) to 60,500 in the second census ([Numbers 26:27](/numbers/26-27 "Numbers 26:27 - Zebulun's Census Count")) is indeed significant. Most other tribes experienced a decrease in their numbers due to the wilderness judgments and plagues. Zebulun was one of only three tribes (along with Manasseh and Benjamin) to show an increase. This could indicate several things: divine favor upon the tribe, greater resilience within their families, or perhaps a lower incidence of participation in the rebellions that led to divine judgment. Regardless of the specific human factors, it ultimately highlights God's sovereign oversight and unique dealings with each tribe, ensuring that His purposes for the nation as a whole would be fulfilled, even as individual tribal strengths fluctuated.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The meticulous numbering of the tribes in Numbers 26, including Zebulun, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in God's sovereign knowledge and selection of His people in Christ. Just as God knew each family and individual counted for the earthly inheritance, so too does He know those who are His by grace through faith. The census, preparing a new generation for a promised land, foreshadows the new covenant people of God, brought into a spiritual inheritance through Jesus. Christ is the true leader who brings His people into their eternal rest and inheritance, a rest that Moses, despite leading the census, could not fully provide ([Hebrews 4:9](/hebrews/4-9 "The Sabbath Rest for God's People")). In Christ, we are not merely numbered for an earthly territory, but we are "chosen in him before the foundation of the world" ([Ephesians 1:4](/ephesians/1-4 "Ephesians 1:4 - Chosen in Christ")) and have "obtained an inheritance" ([Ephesians 1:11](/ephesians/1-11 "Ephesians 1:11 - Our Inheritance in Christ")) that is imperishable and undefiled. Every hair on our heads is numbered ([Matthew 10:30](/matthew/10-30 "Matthew 10:30 - God Knows Every Hair")), signifying God's intimate knowledge and care for each believer. Through faith in Him, we become part of a spiritual lineage, children of God ([John 1:12](/john/1-12 "John 1:12 - Children of God")), and heirs according to the promise ([Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Galatians 3:29 - Heirs According to the Promise")), inheriting not a physical land, but eternal life and communion with God Himself.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.