Numbers 26:55

Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.

Notwithstanding the land {H776} shall be divided {H2505} by lot {H1486}: according to the names {H8034} of the tribes {H4294} of their fathers {H1} they shall inherit {H5157}.

However, the land is to be awarded by lot. They will inherit according to the names of the tribes of their ancestors,

Indeed, the land must be divided by lot; they shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.

Notwithstanding, the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.

Commentary

Numbers 26:55 is a pivotal verse in the Book of Numbers, outlining the method by which the Promised Land of Canaan would be distributed among the Israelite tribes after their wilderness wanderings.

Context

This verse follows the second census of the Israelites, detailed in Numbers chapter 26. This census was crucial, not only to count the new generation of fighting men ready to enter Canaan but also to establish the framework for land allocation. The first generation, having rebelled against God, had largely perished in the wilderness, as recorded in Numbers 14:29. With the conquest of Canaan imminent, the method of inheritance was paramount for establishing the new nation's order and fulfilling God's ancient covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob regarding the land.

Key Themes

  • Divine Sovereignty in Inheritance: The phrase "divided by lot" (Hebrew: goral, ื’ึผื•ึนืจึธืœ) signifies that the land distribution was not left to human negotiation or military might alone. Instead, it was a process believed to be guided by God, removing human bias and ensuring divine fairness. This reflects the principle found in Proverbs 16:33, "The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD."
  • Fulfillment of God's Promise: This decree was a direct step towards fulfilling the covenant promises God made to the patriarchs, particularly Abraham, concerning the land of Canaan. The inheritance of the land was a tangible manifestation of God's faithfulness to His word across generations.
  • Tribal Identity and Order: The land was to be divided "according to the names of the tribes of their fathers," reinforcing the distinct identity and lineage of each Israelite tribe. This established a structured societal order, ensuring each tribal family had its designated place and inheritance within the Promised Land. The actual division would later be overseen by Eleazar the priest and Joshua, as recorded in Joshua 14:1-2.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew term for "lot" (goral, ื’ึผื•ึนืจึธืœ) refers to a small stone or object used in ancient times for making decisions or determining shares. While seemingly random, the Israelites understood this method, when employed in a sacred context, as a means by which God revealed His will and ensured an impartial outcome. It underscored the belief that God was actively involved in the details of their national life and destiny.

Practical Application

Numbers 26:55 offers timeless lessons for believers today. It reminds us of God's unwavering faithfulness to His promises, even when their fulfillment takes generations. It encourages us to trust in God's sovereign plan for our lives, understanding that He guides our "inheritances" and circumstances, even those that seem arbitrary. Just as the tribes relied on divine direction for their land, we are called to seek and trust God's guidance in our own paths, knowing that His hand is ultimately in control of our lot.

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Cross-References

  • Numbers 34:13 (4 votes)

    And Moses commanded the children of Israel, saying, This [is] the land which ye shall inherit by lot, which the LORD commanded to give unto the nine tribes, and to the half tribe:

  • Numbers 33:54 (4 votes)

    And ye shall divide the land by lot for an inheritance among your families: [and] to the more ye shall give the more inheritance, and to the fewer ye shall give the less inheritance: every man's [inheritance] shall be in the place where his lot falleth; according to the tribes of your fathers ye shall inherit.

  • Joshua 11:23 (3 votes)

    So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that the LORD said unto Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance unto Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. And the land rested from war.

  • Joshua 14:2 (3 votes)

    By lot [was] their inheritance, as the LORD commanded by the hand of Moses, for the nine tribes, and [for] the half tribe.

  • Acts 1:26 (2 votes)

    And they gave forth their lots; and the lot fell upon Matthias; and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

  • Joshua 18:10 (2 votes)

    And Joshua cast lots for them in Shiloh before the LORD: and there Joshua divided the land unto the children of Israel according to their divisions.

  • Joshua 18:11 (2 votes)

    ยถ And the lot of the tribe of the children of Benjamin came up according to their families: and the coast of their lot came forth between the children of Judah and the children of Joseph.