Numbers 26:5

ยถ Reuben, the eldest son of Israel: the children of Reuben; Hanoch, [of whom cometh] the family of the Hanochites: of Pallu, the family of the Palluites:

Reuben {H7205}, the eldest {H1060} son of Israel {H3478}: the children {H1121} of Reuben {H7205}; Hanoch {H2585}, of whom cometh the family {H4940} of the Hanochites {H2599}: of Pallu {H6396}, the family {H4940} of the Palluites {H6384}:

[The census results begin with] Re'uven, the firstborn of Isra'el. The descendants of Re'uven were: of Hanokh, the family of the Hanokhi; of Pallu, the family of the Pallu'i;

Reuben was the firstborn of Israel. These were the descendants of Reuben: The Hanochite clan from Hanoch, the Palluite clan from Pallu,

Reuben, the first-born of Israel; the sons of Reuben: of Hanoch, the family of the Hanochites; of Pallu, the family of the Palluites;

Commentary

Numbers 26:5 initiates the detailed family record of the tribe of Reuben, who was the eldest son of Jacob, also known as Israel. This verse specifically lists Hanoch and Pallu as two of Reuben's sons, from whom the significant families of the Hanochites and the Palluites descended.

Context

This verse opens the comprehensive census detailed in Numbers chapter 26. This was the second major numbering of the Israelite men twenty years old and upward who were able to go to war, the first being recorded in Numbers 1. Taken in the plains of Moab, this second census was crucial for preparing the tribes for the impending division of the land of Canaan, ensuring an orderly inheritance based on each tribe's and family's size. It also served as a powerful testimony to God's faithfulness in preserving and multiplying His people, despite the forty years of wilderness wanderings and the judgment upon the rebellious generation, particularly after the plague associated with the incident at Baal-peor.

Key Themes

  • Divine Order and Organization: The meticulous listing of families and their heads underscores God's desire for order and structure within His people. This careful enumeration was vital for military organization and for the equitable distribution of land once they entered the Promised Land.
  • Tribal Identity and Continuity: Despite the significant loss of life during the wilderness journey, the tribal and familial structures of Israel remained intact. This verse specifically highlights the direct descendants of Reuben, linking the current generation back to their patriarchal father, Jacob. Reuben's birth and significance as the firstborn are recorded in Genesis 29:32.
  • God's Faithfulness to His Covenant: The very existence and growth of these families, even after immense challenges and divine judgment, testify to God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, that their descendants would become a great nation.

Linguistic Insights

The names "Hanoch" (ื—ื ื•ืš, Chanokh) and "Pallu" (ืคึทึผืœึผื•ึผื, Pallu) represent direct lineage from Reuben. The Hebrew term for "family" (ืžึดืฉึฐืืคึธึผื—ึธื”, mishpachah) refers to a clan or sub-tribe, emphasizing the hierarchical structure of Israelite society where larger tribes were composed of distinct family units. This precise naming and categorization ensured that each family's lineage and their legitimate claim to future inheritance were clearly established and recognized within the larger tribal framework.

Significance and Application

While a genealogical list might appear to be merely a historical record, Numbers 26:5 and the subsequent verses carry profound theological and practical significance. It reminds us that God is a God of detail and order, who cares for every individual and family within His larger redemptive plan. It highlights the importance of identity and lineage, not just for historical accuracy, but for understanding one's place within God's unfolding story. For believers today, it underscores that God's promises are secure and that His plans for His people endure through generations, even through periods of hardship and transition. Just as He meticulously prepared the Israelites for their earthly inheritance, He prepares believers for their spiritual inheritance in Christ, as discussed in Ephesians 1:11.

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Cross-References

  • 1 Chronicles 5:3 (4 votes)

    The sons, [I say], of Reuben the firstborn of Israel [were], Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

  • Genesis 46:8 (3 votes)

    And these [are] the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: Reuben, Jacob's firstborn.

  • Genesis 46:9 (3 votes)

    And the sons of Reuben; Hanoch, and Phallu, and Hezron, and Carmi.

  • Exodus 6:14 (3 votes)

    ยถ These [be] the heads of their fathers' houses: The sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel; Hanoch, and Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi: these [be] the families of Reuben.

  • 1 Chronicles 5:1 (3 votes)

    ยถ Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel, (for he [was] the firstborn; but, forasmuch as he defiled his father's bed, his birthright was given unto the sons of Joseph the son of Israel: and the genealogy is not to be reckoned after the birthright.

  • Genesis 49:2 (2 votes)

    Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.

  • Genesis 49:3 (2 votes)

    Reuben, thou [art] my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: