Numbers 26:51 simply states the total number of men of military age (20 years and older) from the tribes of Israel who were counted in a census taken after a plague. This census was ordered by God to prepare for the division of the Promised Land among the tribes.
Let's break it down:
"These are those who were counted...": This refers back to the individual tribal counts listed earlier in Numbers chapter 26.
"...of the children of Israel...": This means the descendants of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel.
"...six hundred one thousand seven hundred thirty.": This is the grand total of all the men aged 20 and up across all the tribes of Israel as determined by the census. This number represents the total fighting force available to the nation.
In essence, the verse is a summary statement providing the overall population count of the eligible men in Israel at that specific time.
Significance:
Population Size: It shows the significant size of the Israelite nation after their years in the wilderness.
Preparation for Land Division: This census was crucial for allocating land to each tribe proportionally to its population size in the Promised Land.
Fulfillment of Promise: The large number of Israelites highlights the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham to make his descendants numerous.
So, it's a straightforward population statistic with important implications for the subsequent events in the book of Numbers, particularly the conquest and division of Canaan.
Numbers 26:51 simply states the total number of men of military age (20 years and older) from the tribes of Israel who were counted in a census taken after a plague. This census was ordered by God to prepare for the division of the Promised Land among the tribes.
Let's break it down:
"These are those who were counted...": This refers back to the individual tribal counts listed earlier in Numbers chapter 26.
"...of the children of Israel...": This means the descendants of Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel.
"...six hundred one thousand seven hundred thirty.": This is the grand total of all the men aged 20 and up across all the tribes of Israel as determined by the census. This number represents the total fighting force available to the nation.
In essence, the verse is a summary statement providing the overall population count of the eligible men in Israel at that specific time.
Significance:
Population Size: It shows the significant size of the Israelite nation after their years in the wilderness.
Preparation for Land Division: This census was crucial for allocating land to each tribe proportionally to its population size in the Promised Land.
Fulfillment of Promise: The large number of Israelites highlights the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham to make his descendants numerous.
So, it's a straightforward population statistic with important implications for the subsequent events in the book of Numbers, particularly the conquest and division of Canaan.
