Num 26:1-4 | KingComments | STEP | Moses numbers the people by command of the LORD. It is as it is in Numbers 1. It is a sin to number the people without explicit command of God. In this sin David is caught ( ). He wanted to know the power of his people, as if God is not his power. The command to number is given “after the plague”. The plague of the previous chapter is the last great plague that struck the people as ‘wilderness people’. The wilderness journey is over. They are about to enter the land. The unfaithfulness of the previous chapter has shown that all wilderness experiences have not changed the heart of man. Nor has God’s righteousness changed, as He has shown through the plague. Yet He has not destroyed all of them, but in grace has kept them alive. They can be numbered. But a new generation is numbered. At the same time, however, the new generation is linked to the generation that “came out of the land of Egypt”. Other persons make up the people, but they remain the same people. The expression “after the plague” marks a turning point in the history of the book of Numbers. As said, a new generation is numbered. The great question that arises from this is: Will this new people serve God more faithfully than the people who died in the wilderness? At the beginning of the journey the people are numbered ( ). It is a great encouragement to know that, before we begin our ‘wilderness journey’, God numbered us head by head. God knows every member of His people by name. In the wilderness each member has his own exercises, but each member may know that God will take care during the whole journey. The census here is the census at the end of the journey. None of those numbered in Numbers 1 is alive here, except Caleb and Joshua ( ). This means that a totally different people are numbered than in Numbers 1. They are numbered because the land will be given to them ( ). The big difference between the two censuses is that the census of Numbers 1 is done in view of the upcoming wilderness journey, while the census here is done in view of the upcoming entry into the promised land to take possession of the heritage. Because there will be a battle to take possession of the inheritance, again “whoever is able to go out to war in Israel” is numbered. In both cases, the census is a great encouragement. During the census, everyone personally stands before God. This gives each member the impression that God has personal attention for him. This awareness gives strength to the task ahead, both for the wilderness and for the land. The census does not only take place for all those who are able to go out to war, but also “by their fathers’ households”, the latter being the most important one because this is mentioned first. In the wilderness, battle is necessary to survive. In the land, battle is needed to conquer the inheritance. Once that inheritance has been taken, God’s intention is that every family should enjoy the inheritance. The blessings of the land are particularly enjoyed as a family of God, that is, together with our brothers and sisters, on occasions that are given for it. God’s family consists of fathers, young men and little children ( ). We may enjoy when we do personal Bible study, we may also enjoy as elderly or young people among each other. But according to God’s purpose, the most is enjoyed when the whole family comes together. The fact that the emphasis in the census is more on the families than on the militant men is also evident, for example, from , which also mentions women.

‏ Numbers 26:1-4

Command to Take a Census

Moses numbers the people by command of the LORD. It is as it is in Numbers 1. It is a sin to number the people without explicit command of God. In this sin David is caught (1Chr 21:1-7). He wanted to know the power of his people, as if God is not his power.

The command to number is given “after the plague”. The plague of the previous chapter is the last great plague that struck the people as ‘wilderness people’. The wilderness journey is over. They are about to enter the land. The unfaithfulness of the previous chapter has shown that all wilderness experiences have not changed the heart of man. Nor has God’s righteousness changed, as He has shown through the plague.

Yet He has not destroyed all of them, but in grace has kept them alive. They can be numbered. But a new generation is numbered. At the same time, however, the new generation is linked to the generation that “came out of the land of Egypt”. Other persons make up the people, but they remain the same people.

The expression “after the plague” marks a turning point in the history of the book of Numbers. As said, a new generation is numbered. The great question that arises from this is: Will this new people serve God more faithfully than the people who died in the wilderness?

At the beginning of the journey the people are numbered (Num 1:1-5). It is a great encouragement to know that, before we begin our ‘wilderness journey’, God numbered us head by head. God knows every member of His people by name. In the wilderness each member has his own exercises, but each member may know that God will take care during the whole journey. The census here is the census at the end of the journey. None of those numbered in Numbers 1 is alive here, except Caleb and Joshua (Num 26:65). This means that a totally different people are numbered than in Numbers 1.

They are numbered because the land will be given to them (Num 26:53). The big difference between the two censuses is that the census of Numbers 1 is done in view of the upcoming wilderness journey, while the census here is done in view of the upcoming entry into the promised land to take possession of the heritage. Because there will be a battle to take possession of the inheritance, again “whoever is able to go out to war in Israel” is numbered.

In both cases, the census is a great encouragement. During the census, everyone personally stands before God. This gives each member the impression that God has personal attention for him. This awareness gives strength to the task ahead, both for the wilderness and for the land.

The census does not only take place for all those who are able to go out to war, but also “by their fathers’ households”, the latter being the most important one because this is mentioned first. In the wilderness, battle is necessary to survive. In the land, battle is needed to conquer the inheritance. Once that inheritance has been taken, God’s intention is that every family should enjoy the inheritance. The blessings of the land are particularly enjoyed as a family of God, that is, together with our brothers and sisters, on occasions that are given for it. God’s family consists of fathers, young men and little children (1Jn 2:12-18).

We may enjoy when we do personal Bible study, we may also enjoy as elderly or young people among each other. But according to God’s purpose, the most is enjoyed when the whole family comes together. The fact that the emphasis in the census is more on the families than on the militant men is also evident, for example, from Num 26:33, which also mentions women.