Numbers 26:34

KJV

These [are] the families of Manasseh, and those that were numbered of them, fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.

KJV (with Strong's)

These are the families {H4940} of Manasseh {H4519}, and those that were numbered {H6485} of them, fifty {H2572} and two {H8147} thousand {H505} and seven {H7651} hundred {H3967}.

Complete Jewish Bible

These were the families of M'nasheh; of them were counted 52,700.

Berean Standard Bible

These were the clans of Manasseh, and their registration numbered 52,700.

American Standard Version

These are the families of Manasseh; and they that were numbered of them were fifty and two thousand and seven hundred.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 26:34 is a precise statistical entry within the second national census of Israel, conducted on the plains of Moab. It specifically records the numerical strength of the tribe of Manasseh, stating that 52,700 individuals were counted from its various families. This verse, like the others in the chapter, serves as a vital record of the new generation of Israelites, prepared by divine providence to inherit the Promised Land, demonstrating God's meticulous order, faithfulness to His covenant, and readiness to fulfill His promises despite the previous generation's rebellion.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 26:34 is embedded within a meticulous demographic survey, the second census of Israel, spanning the entirety of [Numbers chapter 26](/numbers/26 "Numbers 26 - The Second Census of Israel"). This chapter systematically lists the male population (aged 20 and above) of each tribe, beginning with Reuben in [Numbers 26:5-7](/numbers/26-5 "Numbers 26:5-7 - The Census of Reuben") and concluding with Gad in [Numbers 26:18](/numbers/26-18 "Numbers 26:18 - The Census of Gad"), before moving to the descendants of Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh), and then other tribes. The specific mention of Manasseh's families and numbers follows the enumeration of Ephraim, highlighting the distinct branches of Joseph's lineage. The chapter then concludes by reiterating the total number of Israelites and explicitly linking the census results to the subsequent division of the land by lot, ensuring each tribe's inheritance was proportional to its strength, as stated in [Numbers 26:53-56](/numbers/26-53 "Numbers 26:53-56 - Division of the Land by Lot").
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** This census took place on the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, at a pivotal moment in Israelite history—the very end of their forty-year wilderness wandering, just prior to their entry into Canaan. The first census, recorded in [Numbers chapter 1](/numbers/1 "Numbers 1 - The First Census at Sinai"), had occurred at Mount Sinai at the beginning of their journey. The intervening decades saw the demise of the entire generation that had rebelled against God at Kadesh-Barnea, as prophesied in [Numbers 14:29-35](/numbers/14-29 "Numbers 14:29-35 - God's Judgment on the Rebellious Generation"). Thus, this second census was not merely an update but a profound declaration of a new generation, born and raised in the wilderness, now poised for conquest and settlement. Culturally, such censuses were crucial for military organization, taxation, and, in this unique case, for the equitable and divinely ordained distribution of the Promised Land among the tribal families, ensuring the fulfillment of God's covenant promises to Abraham.
* **Key Themes:** The meticulous record in Numbers 26:34 contributes significantly to several overarching themes within the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it underscores **Divine Order and Organization**, demonstrating God's precise and systematic approach to His people. The detailed accounting of each family and tribe was essential for military readiness, camp structure, and the future administration of the land. Secondly, it powerfully illustrates **God's Unwavering Faithfulness to His Covenant Promises**. Despite the rebellion and judgment that decimated the previous generation, the sheer size of the new generation—including Manasseh's substantial numbers—is a testament to God's commitment to multiply Abraham's descendants into a great nation, as promised in [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "Genesis 12:2 - God's Promise to Abraham to Make Him a Great Nation"). Finally, the census highlights **Preparation for Inheritance and Fulfillment of Promise**. The numbering directly links population size to the allocation of land, ensuring that each tribe, including Manasseh, would receive its portion according to its strength, thereby fulfilling the divine promise of a homeland, as detailed in [Numbers 26:53](/numbers/26-53 "Numbers 26:53 - Land Division According to Population").

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Families (Hebrew, _mishpachah'_):** This term refers to the clans or subdivisions within a larger tribe, stemming from a common ancestor. Its inclusion here emphasizes the structured, genealogical basis of Israelite society and the meticulous nature of the census, which accounted for the people not just as a mass but as distinct, identifiable family units. These family units were the foundational blocks for tribal identity, land inheritance, and military organization.
* **Numbered (Hebrew, _paqad'_):** While often translated simply as "counted," the Hebrew verb *paqad* carries a richer theological meaning. It implies a divine visitation, oversight, or even appointment. In this context, it suggests that the census was not merely a human administrative task but a divinely ordained act of mustering, inspecting, and acknowledging His people, preparing them for their destiny. God was actively "visiting" or "attending to" His people through this numbering, setting them in order for the next phase of His plan.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"These [are] the families of Manasseh":** This opening clause immediately identifies the subject of the verse, focusing on the tribal division of Manasseh. It underscores the importance of tribal and familial identity within ancient Israel, where lineage determined social standing, inheritance, and religious roles. Manasseh, as one of Joseph's two sons, represented a significant portion of the northern tribes, and its families were distinct and recognized entities within the larger Israelite confederation.
* **"and those that were numbered of them":** This phrase refers to the specific individuals from Manasseh's families who met the criteria for the census—males aged twenty years and upward, fit for military service. It highlights the purpose of the census: to ascertain the military strength of the nation and to prepare for the allocation of land. The act of "numbering" implies a systematic, authoritative count, reflecting God's precise knowledge and ordering of His people.
* **"fifty and two thousand and seven hundred":** This precise numerical figure provides the exact count for the tribe of Manasseh. The specificity of the number (52,700) is characteristic of the book of Numbers, emphasizing the meticulous detail with which God directed the organization of Israel. This figure, when compared to the first census (Manasseh had 32,200 in [Numbers 1:35](/numbers/1-35 "Numbers 1:35 - Manasseh's Count in the First Census")), indicates a significant increase in population, a testament to God's faithfulness in multiplying His people despite the wilderness hardships and the judgment on the previous generation. This larger number also meant a greater inheritance in the Promised Land.

#### Literary Devices
The verse, though seemingly a simple statistical record, employs several literary techniques. **Precision** and **Detailing** are paramount, as the exact number of 52,700 is given, reflecting the meticulous nature of the divine record and the importance of each individual within the collective. This numerical exactitude serves to underscore God's comprehensive knowledge and sovereign oversight of His people. Furthermore, the **Repetition** of similar census entries for each tribe throughout [Numbers chapter 26](/numbers/26 "Numbers 26 - The Second Census") creates a rhythmic, authoritative tone, reinforcing the theme of divine order and the systematic preparation for the land. While not overt, there is an underlying **Symbolism** in the numbers themselves—the growing population signifying God's covenant faithfulness and the burgeoning strength of a nation ready to claim its inheritance, moving from the judgment of the past to the promise of the future.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 26:34, though a single data point, powerfully illustrates God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promises and His meticulous involvement in the details of His people's lives. The census, including Manasseh's count, is a tangible demonstration of God's faithfulness to Abraham's descendants, multiplying them into a great nation despite their failures and the wilderness judgment. It underscores the divine principle that God's plans are sovereign and will be fulfilled, even across generations. The numbering also highlights God's divine order, preparing His people not only for military conquest but also for the structured and equitable distribution of the Promised Land, ensuring that each family and tribe received its rightful inheritance. This meticulous preparation signifies God's providence in equipping His people for their destiny and establishing the framework for their national life in Canaan.

* [Genesis 12:2](/genesis/12-2 "God's Promise to Abraham of a Great Nation")
* [Numbers 1:46](/numbers/1-46 "Total Count of the First Census")
* [Joshua 17:1-6](/joshua/17-1 "Manasseh's Inheritance in the Promised Land")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 26:34, seemingly a dry statistic, invites us to reflect on the profound truth that God sees, knows, and numbers each one of us. Just as He meticulously accounted for every family and individual in Israel, preparing them for their inheritance, He is intimately involved in the details of our lives, leading us toward our spiritual inheritance in Christ. This verse reminds us that we are not random accidents but part of a divine plan, counted and purposed by God. It offers hope for new beginnings, demonstrating that even after periods of failure or judgment, God's grace provides opportunities for renewal and the fulfillment of His promises. We are called to live with the awareness that we are known by God, part of His larger story, and equipped by Him for the purpose He has set before us, whether in moments of preparation or in the claiming of spiritual promises.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the meticulous nature of God's census in Numbers 26:34 challenge or affirm your understanding of God's involvement in the details of your own life?**
* **What "new beginnings" or fresh starts has God offered you, mirroring the new generation of Israel poised to enter the Promised Land?**
* **In what ways can you live more intentionally, recognizing that you are "numbered" and purposed by God for His kingdom?**

### FAQ
**Why was a second census necessary, especially after the first one recorded in Numbers 1?**

Answer: The second census, detailed in [Numbers chapter 26](/numbers/26 "Numbers 26 - The Second Census of Israel"), was critically necessary due to a profound generational shift. The first census, taken at Mount Sinai, counted the generation that subsequently rebelled against God at Kadesh-Barnea and was condemned to die in the wilderness (as prophesied in [Numbers 14:29-35](/numbers/14-29 "Numbers 14:29-35 - God's Judgment on the Rebellious Generation")). By the time of the second census on the plains of Moab, that entire rebellious generation, save for Caleb and Joshua, had perished. This new census, therefore, counted the new generation—those born and raised during the wilderness wandering—who were now of fighting age and prepared to enter and conquer the Promised Land. It served to establish the military strength of this new generation and, crucially, to provide the basis for the equitable division of the land by tribal inheritance, as explicitly stated in [Numbers 26:53-56](/numbers/26-53 "Numbers 26:53-56 - Division of the Land by Lot").

**What was the significance of Manasseh's population count compared to other tribes?**

Answer: Manasseh's population of 52,700 was significant for several reasons. Firstly, it represented a substantial increase from its count in the first census (32,200, as per [Numbers 1:35](/numbers/1-35 "Numbers 1:35 - Manasseh's Count in the First Census")), demonstrating God's faithfulness in multiplying His people despite the hardships of the wilderness. This growth meant Manasseh was one of the larger tribes in the second census, which directly impacted its future inheritance. As one of the two half-tribes descended from Joseph, Manasseh was unique in that its inheritance would span both sides of the Jordan River ([Joshua 17:1-6](/joshua/17-1 "Joshua 17:1-6 - Manasseh's Inheritance in the Promised Land")). Its large numbers underscored its importance in the conquest and settlement of Canaan, ensuring it would receive a substantial and strategically important portion of the land.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 26:34, with its meticulous counting of a new generation poised for inheritance, profoundly foreshadows the Christ-centered fulfillment of God's promises. Just as God faithfully preserved and multiplied Israel to inherit the earthly Promised Land, so too does He, through Christ, bring forth a new spiritual generation—the Church—destined for a heavenly inheritance. The census in Numbers speaks of God's sovereign plan to bring His people into their promised rest; similarly, Christ is our true rest and the one through whom we receive our spiritual inheritance ([Ephesians 1:11](/ephesians/1-11 "Our Inheritance in Christ")). The "numbered" people of Israel, organized and prepared, prefigure the spiritual Israel, the Church, whose names are "written in heaven" ([Hebrews 12:23](/hebrews/12-23 "The Church of the Firstborn, whose names are written in heaven")), a people gathered and perfected by Christ. He is the ultimate "Head of the body, the church" ([Colossians 1:18](/colossians/1-18 "Colossians 1:18 - Christ, the Head of the Church")), leading His redeemed people into their eternal dwelling, a fulfillment far grander than any earthly land. The precision of God's counting in Numbers reflects the precision of His redemptive plan, culminating in Christ, who perfectly fulfills every promise and brings His chosen people into their eternal dwelling, a "kingdom that cannot be shaken" ([Hebrews 12:28](/hebrews/12-28 "Hebrews 12:28 - A Kingdom that Cannot Be Shaken")).

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.