![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoNtijklc74qKnh5nTksUlyVGz7_ZxX2s251WrUdNXNinfGQx436GgarGWVbMnhUEBgBUsQTVjAh1wgQHXY_6d3ERVvJhFE42Cc1ax1nhKDx9AmNFt94TCclVTfn7uSWzf36TNLeOVaQGw/s320/abacus.jpg)
Introduction
![]() |
Photocredit: FreeImages.com/John Evans |
Top
Taking Another Census
Tribe | 1st Census | 2nd Census | Change |
---|---|---|---|
Asher | 41,500 | 53,400 | 11,900 |
Benjamin | 35,400 | 45,600 | 10,200 |
Dan | 62,700 | 64,400 | 1,700 |
Ephraim | 40,500 | 32,500 | -8,000 |
Gad | 45,650 | 40,500 | -5,150 |
Issachar | 54,400 | 64,300 | 9,900 |
Judah | 74,600 | 76,500 | 1,900 |
Manasseh | 32,200 | 52,700 | 20,500 |
Naphtali | 53,400 | 45,400 | -8,000 |
Reuben | 46,500 | 43,730 | -2,770 |
Simeon | 59,300 | 22,200 | -37,100 |
Zebulun | 57,400 | 60,500 | 3,100 |
Total | 603,550 | 601,730 | -1,820 |
Levi | 22,000 | 23,000 | 1,000 |
From this comparison, we learn that the tribe of Simeon (the tribe of the man Phineas killed for idolatry in the previous chapter) lost the most people. This tribe shrinks by 37,100 men, which means if these deaths were spread out evenly over the 40 years, on average 2-3 men died each day. However, we know that large groups of men probably died all at once during plagues or other punishments from God. In contrast, the tribe with the most growth is the tribe of Manasseh with 20,500 men joining their ranks.
Since everyone from the original group of Israelites dies before they enter the promised land, the men in this census must be the sons (or grandsons) of those in the first census. The censuses occur approximately 38 years apart, so the youngest men in the 1st census might have had sons not old enough for the 2nd census, considering during that time period it wasn't unlikely for men to start having children after 40 (like Moses). However, most sons of the men from the 1st census should have been old enough to be included.
An interesting study of the increase and decrease amongst tribes can be found in Jonathan Rosenberg's article "The Numbers in Numbers."
Inheritance
Before rushing into the promised land, the Israelites needed to determine who would get what land. Naturally, this is done by tribe and then, families within a tribe. One of Manasseh's descendants—Zelophehad—only has daughters, thus stood to inherit nothing. His daughters request to to receive his share of the tribe's inheritance to avoid having his name erased in the future. Moses takes up this matter with God, who agrees with the women. Thus, they are granted Zelophehad's inheritance. God further elaborates as to how land should be passed on. A man with no sons or daughters would pass land to his brothers. If there were no brothers, the land went to his father's brothers (his uncles), and if he had no uncles, the land would go to his kinsmen. The process allowed land to stay within a tribe and within a family for as long as possible. Later during the journey, the men of Manasseh will realize that if the daughters married outside of the tribe, they would lose land and the law is amended to specify that women who inherit land must marry within the tribe.Top
A New Leader
At this point, Moses was probably the only person left from the initial group of Israelites that had left Egypt, and he knew that he would die soon. Now was the time for God to appoint a new leader. Before doing so, God allows Moses to view the land from Mount Abarim. Joshua, son of Nun and servant of Moses, is chosen by God to succeed Moses. God tells Moses to take Joshua before Eleazar and declare him leader. Moses was also asked to pass some of his honor to Joshua. After Moses died, Joshua would become the new leader and the person people went to for counsel.Top
No comments
Post a Comment