Numbers 26:51

KJV

These [were] the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.

KJV (with Strong's)

These were the numbered {H6485} of the children {H1121} of Israel {H3478}, six {H8337} hundred {H3967} thousand {H505} and a thousand {H505} seven {H7651} hundred {H3967} and thirty {H7970}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Thus those who were counted of the people of Isra'el numbered 601,730.

Berean Standard Bible

These men of Israel numbered 601,730 in all.

American Standard Version

These are they that were numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
Numbers 26:51 serves as the climactic summary of the second comprehensive census of the Israelite tribes, taken near the end of their forty-year wilderness wandering. It records the precise total of 601,730 men aged twenty years and upward, fit for military service, signifying the emergence of a new generation poised to enter and inherit the Promised Land. This meticulous enumeration underscores God's unwavering faithfulness to His covenant promises, His divine order in preparing His people for their destiny, and the solemn reality of His judgment upon the disobedient generation who perished.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** Numbers 26:51 concludes the detailed tribal enumeration presented throughout [Numbers chapter 26](/numbers/26 "Numbers 26 - The Second Census of Israel"). This census directly follows the devastating plague in [Numbers 25](/numbers/25 "Numbers 25 - Baal of Peor and the Plague"), which served as a severe judgment on Israel's idolatry and immorality. The meticulous counting of each tribe, culminating in this summary verse, stands in stark contrast to the preceding narrative of rebellion and death. It immediately precedes the instructions for land distribution by lot according to tribal size ([Numbers 26:52-56](/numbers/26-52 "Numbers 26:52-56 - Instructions for Land Distribution")), highlighting the census's primary administrative purpose. Furthermore, the chapter concludes by noting that only Caleb and Joshua remained from the generation counted in the first census ([Numbers 26:65](/numbers/26-65 "Numbers 26:65 - Caleb and Joshua as Survivors")), making this second census a powerful testament to divine judgment and preservation.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** This census takes place in the Plains of Moab, on the eastern side of the Jordan River, just before the Israelites are to cross into Canaan. Approximately forty years have passed since the first census at Mount Sinai, recorded in [Numbers chapter 1](/numbers/1 "Numbers 1 - The First Census"). The original generation, condemned to die in the wilderness due to their unbelief and rebellion at Kadesh Barnea ([Numbers 14:26-35](/numbers/14-26 "Numbers 14:26-35 - God's Judgment on the Disobedient Generation")), has now largely perished. The purpose of this second census was twofold: first, to ascertain the military strength of the nation as they prepared for the conquest of Canaan, and second, to provide a basis for the equitable distribution of the land among the tribes and families. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, censuses were often associated with military conscription, taxation, or land allocation, but here, it is uniquely tied to the fulfillment of God's covenant promises of land and nationhood.
* **Key Themes:** Numbers 26:51 contributes to several overarching themes within the book of Numbers and the Pentateuch. Firstly, it powerfully illustrates **God's enduring faithfulness to His covenant promises** made to Abraham regarding his innumerable descendants and their inheritance of the land ([Genesis 15:5](/genesis/15-5 "Genesis 15:5 - God's Promise of Innumerable Descendants")). Despite the severe judgment on the disobedient generation, God preserved a vast multitude, ensuring the continuity of His people. Secondly, it highlights the theme of **divine order and preparation**. The meticulous numbering and subsequent land distribution instructions demonstrate God's precise and orderly guidance in leading His people towards their destiny. Thirdly, the verse, in conjunction with the entire chapter, underscores the **consequences of disobedience and the grace of a new beginning**. The slight numerical decrease from the first census serves as a tangible reminder of the cost of rebellion, yet the very existence of this new, ready-to-inherit generation signifies God's mercy in providing a fresh start for His people.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Numbered (Hebrew, _paqad'_):** This verb is rich in meaning, encompassing concepts such as to "visit," "muster," "appoint," "inspect," "account for," or "pay attention to." In the context of a census, `paqad` implies not just a simple count but a divine act of oversight, accountability, and preparation. It suggests that God is actively involved in taking stock of His people, recognizing each individual, and preparing them for their specific roles and inheritance. It carries a sense of divine reckoning and purpose.
* **Children of Israel (Hebrew, _b'nei Yisrael'_):** This phrase consistently identifies the people as the descendants of Jacob (Israel), emphasizing their unique identity as God's covenant nation. Despite their repeated failures and the judgments they faced, they remain "the children of Israel," the recipients of God's promises and the instruments of His redemptive plan. This highlights God's unwavering commitment to His chosen people, even when they are unfaithful.
* **Six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty (Hebrew, _shesh-me'ot 'eleph u'eleph shiv'a me'ot u'shloshim'_):** This precise numerical total of 601,730 is not merely a statistic; it is a theological statement. While slightly less than the 603,550 counted in the first census ([Numbers 1:46](/numbers/1-46 "Numbers 1:46 - Total of the First Census")), the sheer magnitude of the number, after nearly forty years of wilderness wandering and divine judgment, testifies to God's miraculous preservation and growth of His people. It demonstrates His power to sustain life and fulfill His promise to multiply Abraham's descendants, even in the face of human rebellion and natural attrition.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"These [were] the numbered":** This opening phrase functions as a conclusive summary, referring back to the preceding tribal lists in [Numbers 26:5-50](/numbers/26-5 "Numbers 26:5-50 - Tribal Counts in the Second Census"). It affirms that the following number is the grand total derived from the meticulous, divinely ordered enumeration of each tribe, emphasizing the comprehensive and authoritative nature of the census.
* **"of the children of Israel":** This clause precisely identifies the subjects of the census as God's covenant people. It underscores that this counting is not of a generic population but of the specific nation chosen by God, highlighting their collective identity, their shared history of divine deliverance, and their impending destiny as inheritors of the Promised Land.
* **"six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty":** This final numerical declaration provides the exact total of males aged twenty and above, signifying the conclusion of the census. It represents the generation now ready to enter Canaan, marking a pivotal moment in Israel's journey from wilderness wandering to settled inheritance, and serving as a tangible sign of God's faithfulness despite the previous generation's failures.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in Numbers 26:51, and indeed throughout the entire chapter, is **Enumeration**. The meticulous listing of each tribe and its fighting men, culminating in this precise summary, underscores the divine order, meticulousness, and accountability inherent in God's dealings with His people. It is not a casual count but a divinely commanded act with profound theological and practical implications. Implicitly, there is also a powerful **Contrast** at work. The generation being numbered here stands in stark contrast to the generation that perished in the wilderness due to their disobedience. The slight numerical decrease, despite forty years of potential growth, serves as a solemn reminder of the cost of rebellion, while the sheer size of the remaining multitude highlights God's unwavering covenant faithfulness. Finally, the verse functions as a form of **Inclusio** or framing device for the entire census account, providing a definitive conclusion to the detailed tribal counts that began earlier in the chapter, thus emphasizing the completeness and finality of this divine accounting.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Numbers 26:51 is far more than a mere numerical summary; it is a profound theological statement about God's character and His ongoing relationship with His covenant people. It powerfully demonstrates God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises, even when human sin and disobedience seem to derail His plans. Despite the judgment that consumed the first generation, God preserved a vast multitude, ensuring the continuity of His redemptive purposes. This census signifies God's meticulous preparation and divine order, setting the stage for the fulfillment of the land promise. It also serves as a stark reminder that while God's promises are sure, human disobedience carries severe consequences, yet His grace always provides a way for a new beginning.

* [Numbers 1:46](/numbers/1-46 "Numbers 1:46 - Total of the First Census")
* [Numbers 26:65](/numbers/26-65 "Numbers 26:65 - Caleb and Joshua's Survival")
* [Genesis 15:5](/genesis/15-5 "Genesis 15:5 - God's Promise to Abraham of Innumerable Descendants")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Numbers 26:51, though seemingly a dry statistic, offers rich spiritual lessons for believers today. It reminds us that God is a God of both meticulous detail and grand purpose. He knows each of us intimately, and His plans for His people, individually and corporately, are precise and unwavering, even when our journey through the "wilderness" of life seems long or fraught with challenges. Just as God prepared a new generation for their inheritance, He is continually preparing us for the future He has for us, equipping us for the tasks ahead and guiding us toward our ultimate spiritual inheritance. This verse calls us to trust in God's sovereign hand, to learn from the consequences of past disobedience, and to embrace the new beginnings He offers, knowing that His faithfulness endures through every generation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does the precision of God's numbering in this passage speak to His attention to detail in our own lives, even in seemingly insignificant areas?**
* **What lessons can we draw from the contrast between the two generations of Israel regarding the importance of obedience and faithfulness to God's commands?**
* **In what ways might God be preparing you, like the new generation of Israel, for a "new inheritance" or a new phase in your spiritual journey today?**

### FAQ
**Why was this second census taken?**

Answer: The second census, recorded in [Numbers 26](/numbers/26 "Numbers 26 - The Second Census"), was taken primarily for two strategic reasons. First, it was to ascertain the military strength of the Israelite nation as they prepared to enter and conquer the land of Canaan. Second, and perhaps more importantly, it was to provide a basis for the equitable distribution of the Promised Land by inheritance among the tribes and families, as explicitly commanded in [Numbers 26:52-56](/numbers/26-52 "Numbers 26:52-56 - Land Distribution Instructions"). Each family's strength and size would determine their portion of the land, ensuring divine order in the fulfillment of God's promises.

**How does the total number compare to the first census?**

Answer: The total of 601,730 men aged twenty and upward recorded in [Numbers 26:51](/numbers/26-51 "Numbers 26:51 - Second Census Total") is slightly less than the 603,550 recorded in the first census at Mount Sinai, nearly forty years prior ([Numbers 1:46](/numbers/1-46 "Numbers 1:46 - First Census Total")). This minor decrease, despite the passage of a generation, is significant. It underscores the severity of God's judgment on the disobedient generation who perished in the wilderness, yet simultaneously highlights God's miraculous preservation and unwavering faithfulness in sustaining a vast multitude of His people.

**What is the significance of the phrase "numbered of the children of Israel"?**

Answer: The phrase "numbered of the children of Israel" emphasizes that this census was not merely a human administrative task but a divine act of oversight and accountability. The Hebrew word `paqad` ("numbered") carries profound connotations of God's visitation, attention, and reckoning. It signifies that God was actively involved in taking stock of His covenant people, the "children of Israel," recognizing each individual and preparing them for their specific roles and their destined inheritance. It highlights God's intimate knowledge and sovereign control over His people's journey and destiny.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Numbers 26:51, with its meticulous enumeration of Israel poised for inheritance, finds its ultimate Christ-centered fulfillment in the spiritual numbering of God's people in the New Covenant. The "children of Israel" now encompass all who are in Christ, for through faith, we become Abraham's offspring and heirs according to the promise ([Galatians 3:29](/galatians/3-29 "Galatians 3:29 - Heirs According to the Promise")). The census of a physical nation preparing for an earthly inheritance foreshadows the spiritual census of God's redeemed people, whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life ([Revelation 20:15](/revelation/20-15 "Revelation 20:15 - The Book of Life")). Just as God preserved a remnant to enter Canaan, Christ, the faithful Joshua, leads His people into a greater, eternal inheritance—the heavenly Canaan, a spiritual rest that remains for the people of God ([Hebrews 4:8-10](/hebrews/4-8 "Hebrews 4:8-10 - The True Rest in Christ")). The precise counting speaks to God's intimate knowledge of His own, not one of whom is lost, and His divine purpose to bring all His chosen ones into their glorious, incorruptible inheritance through the finished work of the Lamb of God ([1 Peter 1:3-5](/1_peter/1-3 "1 Peter 1:3-5 - A Living Hope and Incorruptible Inheritance")).

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.

Cross-References

Numbers 1:46

Even all they that were numbered were six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

Job 12:9

Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?

Job 12:10

In whose hand [is] the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.

Numbers 11:21

And Moses said, The people, among whom I [am, are] six hundred thousand footmen; and thou hast said, I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month.

Numbers 2:32

These [are] those which were numbered of the children of Israel by the house of their fathers: all those that were numbered of the camps throughout their hosts [were] six hundred thousand and three thousand and five hundred and fifty.

Job 12:20

He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.

Job 12:23

He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them [again].