Numbers 26:25

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

These are the families {H4940} of Issachar {H3485} according to those that were numbered {H6485} of them, threescore {H8346} and four {H702} thousand {H505} and three {H7969} hundred {H3967}.

These were the families of Yissakhar, according to those counted of them, 64,300.

These were the clans of Issachar, and their registration numbered 64,300.

These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred.

Commentary

Numbers 26:25 records the specific count for the tribe of Issachar during the second census of Israel. This verse, though seemingly a simple numerical entry, is rich with theological and historical significance within the broader narrative of the book of Numbers.

Context

This verse is part of a crucial census detailed in Numbers chapter 26. This was the second major numbering of the Israelite tribes, conducted on the plains of Moab, just before they were to enter the Promised Land. The first census, recorded in Numbers 1, took place at Mount Sinai at the beginning of their wilderness journey. The purpose of this second census was twofold: to determine the fighting men ready for conquest and to prepare for the equitable distribution of the land of Canaan, with larger tribes receiving larger portions (as stated in Numbers 26:54). For the tribe of Issachar, their number here is sixty-four thousand and three hundred, showing a slight increase from their count in the first census (Numbers 1:29).

Key Themes

  • Divine Order and Providence: The meticulous numbering of each tribe underscores God's precise and orderly nature. He knows His people individually and collectively, and He has a detailed plan for their future, particularly their settlement in the Promised Land.
  • God's Faithfulness to His Covenant: Despite the disobedience and death of the previous generation in the wilderness, the continued existence and growth of the Israelite population, as evidenced by these census figures, demonstrates God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promise to Abraham to multiply his descendants into a great nation.
  • Preparation for Inheritance: The census was not merely an administrative task but a preparatory step for the fulfillment of God's promise of land. Each tribe's size directly influenced the size of its allocated territory in Canaan, highlighting the practical implications of divine foresight.

Practical Application

While a census record might seem dry, Numbers 26:25 offers valuable insights for today:

  • God's Attention to Detail: It reminds us that God is intimately involved in the details of our lives and the life of His church. Nothing is too small or insignificant for His notice.
  • Continuity of God's Plan: Even when human failure occurs, God's overarching plan and promises endure. This new generation of Israelites was given the opportunity to enter the land, a testament to God's grace and persistent purpose.
  • Value of Each Individual: Every person counted contributed to the whole. Similarly, in God's kingdom, every individual plays a vital role in the collective body of believers.
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Cross-References

  • Numbers 1:28 (2 votes)

    Of the children of Issachar, by their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;

  • Numbers 1:29 (2 votes)

    Those that were numbered of them, [even] of the tribe of Issachar, [were] fifty and four thousand and four hundred.

  • Numbers 2:5 (2 votes)

    And those that do pitch next unto him [shall be] the tribe of Issachar: and Nethaneel the son of Zuar [shall be] captain of the children of Issachar.

  • Numbers 2:6 (2 votes)

    And his host, and those that were numbered thereof, [were] fifty and four thousand and four hundred.