---
title: "Bullinger"
description: "after the plague. Compare Numbers 25:9 .  the LORD. Hebrew.  Jehovah. App-4 .  spake. See note on Numbers 1:1 .  Take the sum. For the order of the tribe"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/bullingers-companion-bible-notes/numbers/26"
---

**after the plague.** Compare [Numbers 25:9](../../../kjv/numbers/25/9) .
**the LORD.** Hebrew. *Jehovah.* App-4 .
**spake.** See note on [Numbers 1:1](../../../kjv/numbers/1/1) .

**Take the sum.** For the order of the tribes see App-45 . Moses received them by number, [Exodus 38:26](../../../kjv/exodus/38/26) ; so now, when preparing to die, he delivers them over by number. This was the third numbering.
**children** = sons.
**their fathers' house:** i.e. the families. These shown here to be fortyseven. In [Genesis 46](../../../kjv/genesis/46) they are fifty-two; so five are extinct (one of Simeon, one of Asher, and three of Benjamin).

**Take the sum of the people.** This correctly supplies the Ellipsis from [Numbers 26:2](../../../kjv/numbers/26/2) . See Figure of speech *Ellipsis,* App-6 .
**as** = according to what.

**Reuben.** Compare [Genesis 46:8](../../../kjv/genesis/46/8) . [Exodus 6:14](../../../kjv/exodus/6/14) . The order is the same as in [Numbers 1:20](../../../kjv/numbers/1/20) , except that Ephraim and Manasseh are reversed. See App-45 .
**family.** See note on "house", [Numbers 26:2](../../../kjv/numbers/26/2) , and throughout the chapter.

**Of Hezron** = To Hezron [pertained], and so throughout. Compare verses: [Numbers 26:12](../../../kjv/numbers/26/12) , [Numbers 26:13](../../../kjv/numbers/26/13) , [Numbers 26:15](../../../kjv/numbers/26/15) , [Numbers 12:16](../../../kjv/numbers/12/16) , Num 12:17 , Num 12:20 , Num 12:21 , Num 12:23 , Num 12:24 , Num 12:26 , Num 12:28 , Num 12:29 , Num 12:30 , Num 12:31-32 .

**forty and three, &c.** = 43,730 In = Num 1:2146 ; Num 1:500 , decrease of 2,770. This is an undesigned evidence of accuracy: an uninspired writer would have made an increase.

**sons.** A special reading of MS. called *Sevir* reads "son". See App-34 .

**which were famous, &c.** Hebrew "the called of the congregation". No Ellipsis.
**strove** = struggled. Hebrew. *nazah.* Compare [Exodus 2:13](../../../kjv/exodus/2/13) . Lev 24:10 . [2 Samuel 14:6](../../../kjv/2-samuel/14/6) . Compare [Numbers 16:2](../../../kjv/numbers/16/2) , [Numbers 16:3](../../../kjv/numbers/16/3) .

**And the earth.** This tenth verse is *a Parenthesis.* See App-6 .
**sign:** i.e. a warning.

**the children of Korah died not.** Compare [Numbers 16:32](../../../kjv/numbers/16/32) , [Numbers 16:35](../../../kjv/numbers/16/35) . They were Assir, Elkanah, and Abiasaph ([Exodus 6:24](../../../kjv/exodus/6/24) ). Their descendants were prominent in the Temple-worship ([1 Chronicles 6:22-38](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/6/22-38) ). Of them came Samuel (compare [1 Chronicles 6:33](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/6/33) , [1 Chronicles 6:4](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/6/4) with [1 Samuel 1:20](../../../kjv/1-samuel/1/20) ) and Heman (compare [1 Chronicles 6:33](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/6/33) with [1 Chronicles 25:4](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/25/4) , [1 Chronicles 25:6](../../../kjv/1-chronicles/25/6) ). Two groups of Psalms are associated with them (42-49 and 84-88).

**Of.** This word is not needed.
**of Tola** . Should be "to Tola [pertained]", as in [Numbers 26:6](../../../kjv/numbers/26/6) . The word "to" or "unto" is read in some codices with Samaritan Pentateuch and Septuagint.

Manasseh comes before Ephraim here, because the tribe had increased. In [Numbers 2:18](../../../kjv/numbers/2/18) , [Numbers 2:20](../../../kjv/numbers/2/20) Ephraim comes first, because he was the standard-bearer, and because of the blessing ([Genesis 48:14](../../../kjv/genesis/48/14) ).

**Jeezer.** In [Joshua 17:2](../../../kjv/joshua/17/2) , Abiezer. Only this tribe, and Judah ([Numbers 26:21](../../../kjv/numbers/26/21) ) had great-grandsons as "heads". Compare [Genesis 50:23](../../../kjv/genesis/50/23) .

**And** = Now.
**daughters.** Compare [Numbers 27:1](../../../kjv/numbers/27/1) ; [Numbers 36:1-12](../../../kjv/numbers/36/1-12) ; and [Joshua 17:3](../../../kjv/joshua/17/3) , [Joshua 17:4](../../../kjv/joshua/17/4) . Their names are written Mahlah, Noah, Hoglab, Milcah (some codices, with Septuagint, Syriac, and Vulgate, read "and Milcah"), and Tirzah.

**And.** Some codices, with Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel and Septuagint, omit "And".

**of Ard.** Ellipsis should be supplied thus: "[to Ard] pertiained".

**forty and five, &c.** = 45,600. In = Num 2:2335 ; Num 2:400 , increase 10,200.

**threescore and four, &c.** = 64,400. In = Num 2:2662 ; Num 2:700 . Decrease = 1,700.

**children** = sons.

**fifty and three, &c.** = 63,400. In Num 2:28-41 ; Num 2:500 , increase 11,900.

**forty and five, &c.** = 45,400. In Num 2:30-53 ; Num 2:400 , decrease 8,000.

The total number, accomplishing the command, [Numbers 26:2](../../../kjv/numbers/26/2) .
**six hundred, &c.** = 601,730. In = Num 2:32603 ; Num 2:550 , total decrease 1,820. In Egypt they increased like fishes, [Exodus 1:7](../../../kjv/exodus/1/7) , now they decrease.
Compare [Psalms 78:17-33](../../../kjv/psalms/78/17-33) . Seven tribes increased (Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Manasseh, Benjamin, Dan, Asher), total 59,200, beside the 1,000 Levites. Five tribes decreased (Reuben, Simeon, Gad, Ephraim, and Naphtali), total 61,020.
LEAH, increase: in Judah 1900, Issachar 9,900, Zebulun 3,100, [Leviticus 1](../../../kjv/leviticus/1) ; and decrease in Reuben 2,770, Simeon 37,100. Total decrease 23,970. RACHEL, increase: in Manasseh 20,500, Benjamin 10,200; and decrease in Ephraim 8,000; total increase 22,700. ZILPAH, increase: in Asher 11,900; and decrease in Gad 5,150; total increase 6,750. BILHAH, increase: in Dan 1,700; and decrease in Naphtali 8,000; total decrease 6,300.
So, in the four camps: East camp, all increased; South camp, all decreased; West camp, Benjamin and Manasseh increased, Ephraim decreased; North camp, Dan and Asher increased, Naphtali decreased. On the whole, compare [Job 12:9](../../../kjv/job/12/9) , [Job 12:10](../../../kjv/job/12/10) , [Job 12:14](../../../kjv/job/12/14) , [Job 12:23](../../../kjv/job/12/23) .

**many** = the greater number.
**few** = the smaller number.

**by** = "upon": i.e. "contingently upon" (see [Numbers 26:56](../../../kjv/numbers/26/56) ). By Eleazar ([Numbers 34:17](../../../kjv/numbers/34/17) ), because, as high priest, he had the Urim and Thummim, which were the lots cast. The high priest must be present for the lot to speak, and give Jehovah's decision ([Joshua 17:4](../../../kjv/joshua/17/4) ). Compare [Ezra 2:61-63](../../../kjv/ezra/2/61-63) .[Nehemiah 7:63-65](../../../kjv/nehemiah/7/63-65) . The lot "came up" ([Joshua 18:11](../../../kjv/joshua/18/11) ); "came forth" ([Joshua 19:1](../../../kjv/joshua/19/1) ); "came out" ([Joshua 19:17](../../../kjv/joshua/19/17) ) of the bag (containing the Urim and Thummin) which was in or behind the breastplate. See note on [Exodus 28:30](../../../kjv/exodus/28/30) , and compare [Proverbs 16:33](../../../kjv/proverbs/16/33) ; [Proverbs 18:18](../../../kjv/proverbs/18/18) .

**the lot** = Hebrew "the mouth of the lot", as though the "lot" spoke and was personified, by the Figure of speech *Prosopopoeia* ( App-6 ).

**Jochebed.** Compare [Exodus 2:1](../../../kjv/exodus/2/1) with [Exodus 6:20](../../../kjv/exodus/6/20) .
**bare to Levi in Egypt.** This explains apparent discrepancy between her age and that of Amram. See App-60 .

**said.** Forty years before. Compare Ch. [Numbers 14:28-33](../../../kjv/numbers/14/28-33) .
**shall surely die.** Hebrew "a dying they will die". Figure of speech *Polyptoton* ( App-6 ). See note on [Genesis 2:17](../../../kjv/genesis/2/17) ; [Genesis 26:28](../../../kjv/genesis/26/28) .
**save Caleb, &c.** Compare [Numbers 14:24](../../../kjv/numbers/14/24) , [Numbers 14:30](../../../kjv/numbers/14/30) , [Numbers 14:38](../../../kjv/numbers/14/38) . The whole congregation therefore composed of men over twenty, and none older than sixty.

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