Numbers 26:34 is part of a census taken of the Israelites in the plains of Moab, after the rebellion and wandering in the wilderness. Let's break down what it means:
"These are the families of Manasseh": This refers to the descendants of Manasseh, one of the two sons of Joseph (the other being Ephraim). Manasseh and Ephraim were adopted by Jacob (Israel) and became heads of their own tribes, each receiving a portion of land in the Promised Land.
"Those who were counted of them": This indicates that a census was conducted among the descendants of Manasseh to count all the men of fighting age (generally 20 years old and older).
"were fifty-two thousand seven hundred": This is the total number of men from the tribe of Manasseh who were counted in the census and deemed fit for military service.
In essence, the verse states that the tribe of Manasseh had 52,700 men of fighting age at the time of this census.
Significance and Context:
Military Strength: The census was primarily for determining the military strength of each tribe, as they were about to enter and conquer the land of Canaan.
Land Allocation: The size of each tribe was a factor in determining the amount of land they would receive in the Promised Land. Larger tribes generally received larger territories.
God's Promise: The growth in population, as demonstrated by the census numbers, was seen as a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham to make his descendants numerous.
Comparison to Previous Census: It's interesting to compare this number to the census taken in Numbers 1 and 2, nearly 40 years earlier. It showed how much the population had changed, reflecting the impact of events like the rebellion and the plague.
Therefore, Numbers 26:34 is a simple statement of fact, but it holds significance within the larger narrative of the Israelites' journey, their preparation for entering the Promised Land, and the fulfillment of God's promises to them.
Numbers 26:34 is part of a census taken of the Israelites in the plains of Moab, after the rebellion and wandering in the wilderness. Let's break down what it means:
"These are the families of Manasseh": This refers to the descendants of Manasseh, one of the two sons of Joseph (the other being Ephraim). Manasseh and Ephraim were adopted by Jacob (Israel) and became heads of their own tribes, each receiving a portion of land in the Promised Land.
"Those who were counted of them": This indicates that a census was conducted among the descendants of Manasseh to count all the men of fighting age (generally 20 years old and older).
"were fifty-two thousand seven hundred": This is the total number of men from the tribe of Manasseh who were counted in the census and deemed fit for military service.
In essence, the verse states that the tribe of Manasseh had 52,700 men of fighting age at the time of this census.
Significance and Context:
Military Strength: The census was primarily for determining the military strength of each tribe, as they were about to enter and conquer the land of Canaan.
Land Allocation: The size of each tribe was a factor in determining the amount of land they would receive in the Promised Land. Larger tribes generally received larger territories.
God's Promise: The growth in population, as demonstrated by the census numbers, was seen as a fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham to make his descendants numerous.
Comparison to Previous Census: It's interesting to compare this number to the census taken in Numbers 1 and 2, nearly 40 years earlier. It showed how much the population had changed, reflecting the impact of events like the rebellion and the plague.
Therefore, Numbers 26:34 is a simple statement of fact, but it holds significance within the larger narrative of the Israelites' journey, their preparation for entering the Promised Land, and the fulfillment of God's promises to them.
