| As the Israelites wait for word to conquer Canaan, Moses takes a second military census. He finds that all adult members of the Exodus generation except Caleb and Joshua have died, and that the new generation can field nearly as many fighting men as the old (26:1–65). There has been no loss in numbers, and an immeasurable growth in morale! While still waiting, five daughters of a man named Zelophehad raise an important question about the inheritance rights of women (27:1–11). The way this question is resolved suggests how much of Old Testament case law developed. Finally, God tells Moses that he will soon die, and has him appoint Joshua the leader of Israel in his place (vv. 12–23). Key verse. 26:51: We lose nothing through waiting. Personal application. Every Christian is counted with this second, faithful generation—or the first, untrusting one. |
Census results. Num. reports two censuses, taken 40 years apart. The total count is quite close, some 603,550 in the first Exodus generation compared to 601,730 in the second. However, larger population shifts are shown within tribes, very likely reflecting which tribes’ members were more faithful during the journey from Sinai to Canaan.
| Tribe | First Census | Second Census |
| Reuben | 46,500 | 43,730 |
| Simeon | 59,300 | 22,200 |
| Gad | 45,650 | 40,500 |
| Judah | 74,600 | 76,500 |
| Issachar | 54,400 | 64,300 |
| Zebulun | 57,400 | 60,500 |
| Ephraim | 40,500 | 32,500 |
| Manasseh | 32,200 | 52,700 |
| Benjamin | 35,400 | 45,600 |
| Dan | 62,700 | 64,400 |
| Asher | 41,500 | 53,400 |
| Naphtali | 53,400 | 45,400 |
| Levi | 22,000 | 23,000 |
Each tribe’s allotment of land depended on the numbers established in this census. You and I may be unfaithful in our relationship with God, and it will not diminish the strength of His army. But it will diminish the size of our inheritance.
Zelophehad’s daughters (27:1–4). Normally daughters received their share of the family estate in the form of a dowry given them when they married. Sons later divided the estate on the death of the father. Because of the dowry, O.T. inheritance laws did not actually discriminate against women. They were given their share of the father’s estate when they left home, and after marriage became members of the husband’s family.
Making law. The story of Zelophehad’s daughters illustrates how O.T. law was made. Here was a case where no precedent existed. The problem was taken to Moses, who inquired of God for a ruling. The ruling given by the Lord then served as a precedent for judges to use in settling other, similar cases. For other examples of this process, see Num. 15:32–36; Lev. 24:10–23.
“Joshua” (27:12–23). Joshua will succeed Moses, but not replace him! Joshua has been Moses’ assistant from the beginning (cf. Ex. 17:9; 24:13; 32:17; Num. 11:28). Now God tells Moses to appoint Joshua as his successor and “give him some of your authority” (27:20). That “some” is important. God spoke to Moses face–to–face, and granted him the power to work miracles. Joshua will seek God’s will by going to the high priest, and using the Urim and Thummim (cf. Ex. 28:30). He will be guided by the sacred lot, not face–to–face communication. And though Joshua will see Jericho’s walls fall down, he will perform no personal miracles as Moses did. Yet Joshua, not Moses, will lead the Israelites to victory in Canaan.
We can rejoice in any leadership role we may be given. We need not envy others with greater prominence or authority. All we need to do is be available to God, and let Him use us as He will. Richards, L. O. (1991; Published in electronic form by Logos Research Systems, 1996). The Bible readers companion (electronic ed.) (109). Wheaton: Victor Books.
This is astonishing...I have to confess as I am reading Numbers this morning I found it laborious, I had to start over a few times and ask God to help me, I had to stop and pray...still nothing. I had to go ahead and read all of chapter 26 and found it interesting that the inheritance in the land was based on the number of names. I checked out a few commentaries and found the information above. Then I had to repent and acknowledge to our heavenly Father that "every Word that proceeds from" HIS mouth is GOOD food for my soul.
I don't know who said it first, but it is a great statement..."life is short, eternity is long, what you do in this life dictates your eternity." I had to paraphrase, sorry. Eternity is a long time to regret a wasted life and wasted opportunities. The life we live impacts our eternity with God, there are rewards, there are treasures in heaven...there is JOY UNSPEAKABLE!
2 Cor 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each may be repaid for what he has done in the body, whether good or bad.
Mt 16:27 For the Son of Man is going to come with His angels in the glory of His Father, and then He will reward each according to what he has done.
Ac 10:42 He commanded us to preach to the people, and to solemnly testify that He is the One appointed by God to be the Judge of the living and the dead.
Ro 2:16 on the day when God judges what people have kept secret, according to my gospel through Christ Jesus.
Ro 14:10 But you, why do you criticize your brother? Or you, why do you look down on your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
Ro 14:12 So then, each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Eph 6:8 knowing that whatever good each one does, slave or free, he will receive this back from the Lord.
NOW, what I am about to say may surprise you...the fear of God is a great motivator for me, but it's not enough! You may now be thinking OK Mark now I know that you have lost it...this guy is going to drop dead any moment...let me finish!
I love the way that John Piper articulates this in his little book, The Dangerous Duty of Delight. Below I have injected some of his thoughts.
Consider what Moses said, who wrote the first books of the Bible and warned of horrific things if we would not be happy: “Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joy and a glad heart … you shall serve your enemies” (Deuteronomy 28:47–48). If you want to be terrified read all of Deuteronomy 28, just don't read it at night alone!
Consider king David, who called God his “exceeding joy” (Psalm 43:4); and said, “Serve the Lord with gladness” (Psalm 100:2); and “Delight yourself in the Lord” (Psalm 37:4); and who prayed, “Satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days” (Psalm 90:14); and “In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever” (Psalm 16:11).
Jesus, who said, "I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full” (John 15:11); and who endured the Cross “for the joy set before Him” (Hebrews 12:2); and who promised that, in the end, faithful servants would hear the words, “Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21).
How did Paul say it, who was “sorrowful yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10); and who described the ministry of his team as being “workers with you for your joy” (2 Corinthians 1:24); and who commanded Christians to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4); and even to “exult in … tribulations” (Romans 5:3).
I deeply appreciate Saint Augustine, who, in the year 386, found his freedom from lust in the superior pleasures of God. “How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose!… You drove them from me, you who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them from me and took their place, you who are sweeter than all pleasure.”
The Puritans whose aim was to know God so well that “delighting in him, may be the work of our lives,” because they knew that this joy would “arm us against the assaults of our spiritual enemies and put our mouths out of taste for those pleasures with which the tempter baits his hooks.” Piper, J. (2001). The dangerous duty of delight. "Condensed version of Desiring God : meditations of a Christian Hedonist, from Multnomah Publishers, 1996"--P. 90. (10). Sisters, Or.: Multnomah Publishers.
Do you see what all of these understood...in the gospel God offers HIMSELF, HE is our exceeding joy, HE is the pleasures forever more, in HIM and HIM alone will our joy be made full...I'm not sure what the joy of the Master will be like but I KNOW THAT IT WILL BE UNSPEAKABLE AND FULL OF GLORY...IT WILL BE GOOOOOOD! So like Paul let's be workers with each other for their joy in HIM. Let's encourage each other to pursue the superior pleasures of God...let this be the work of our lives so that we will be armed against the baits used by the tempter and the accuser of the brethren.
THERE IS A JOY IN THE JOURNEY. Michael Card