Numbers 26; Conquest Generation~ 20260802 ~ Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org
2026.08.02 Numbers 26; The Conquest Generation; Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20260802_numbers-26.mp3
A Tale of Two Generations
God led his people out of slavery, out of Egypt. He brought them to the mountain where he entered into a covenant relationship with them, he took them to be his people, and gave himself to them to be their God. They built him a tent to dwell with them, in the middle of the camp. He led them to his promised land, protecting and providing for them all the way. But they rejected him, his love, his land, his leaders. They broke their covenant with God, so they would die in the wilderness, but God promised that their children, the next generation would enter the land. The book of Numbers began this way:
Numbers 1:1 The LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they had come out of the land of Egypt, saying, 2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by clans, by fathers' houses, according to the number of names, every male, head by head. 3 From twenty years old and upward, all in Israel who are able to go to war, you and Aaron shall list them, company by company. 4 And there shall be with you a man from each tribe, each man being the head of the house of his fathers.
Now here we are, 40 years after leaving Egypt, again on the borders of the land, having been protected by God from spiritual warfare waged against them from the mountains of Moab, having egregiously sinned against God by engaging in immorality with women who led them break the first command of their covenant and go after other gods, after 24,000 of them died in a plague, in Numbers 26 we read:
Numbers 26:1 After the plague, the LORD said to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron, the priest, 2 “Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers' houses, all in Israel who are able to go to war.” 3 And Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, saying, 4 “Take a census of the people, from twenty years old and upward,” as the LORD commanded Moses. The people of Israel who came out of the land of Egypt were:
Miriam is dead. Aaron the high priest is dead, his son Eleazar now taking his place. Moses is soon to die. This is a census of the next generation; those military age men who under Joshua’s leadership will conquer the land, enter in and posses it. God promised to give them the land, but not without a fight. Already they have defeated the Amorites, Sihon and Og, and possessed their land from the Arnon to the Jabbok, as far as Mount Hermon (Dt.3:8).
The Census; Tribes, Clans and Warnings
In Numbers 1, the head of each tribe was listed, the would-be heroes of Israel, who fell in the wilderness. In that chapter each tribe was numbered with this repetitive formula: ‘...Of the people of [tribe], their generations, by their clans, by their fathers' houses, those of them who were listed, according to the number of names, head by head, every male from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go to war: those listed of the tribe of [tribe] were [number].’
Chapter 26 gives us more detail, listing the families by their clans; the formula here is ‘The sons of [tribe] according to their clans: of [son’s name], the clan of the [son’s name]ites; [each clan is listed] ...These are the clans of the [tribe]ites, [total number].
Numbers 26 is a review of history; it is a reminder of the failures of the fathers, a warning not to follow in their footsteps. The chapter begins ‘after the plague’, a warning from chapter 25 to flee sexual immorality, to ‘have no other god before me’, a reminder of the 24,000 who died in the plague.
Eleazar the priest is mentioned as son of Aaron, a reminder of Aaron and Moses’ anger and pride in chapter 20, where they forfeited entering the land because of unbelief and a failure to uphold YHWH as holy (Nu.20:12).
The Census
5-11 this census begins with Reuben the firstborn and his sons; Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi; with a focus on Pallu’s son Eliab, and his sons Nemuel, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram (Nu.16) provide another warning as prominent men,
Numbers 26:9 ...chosen from the congregation, who contended against Moses and Aaron in the company of Korah, when they contended against the LORD 10 and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them up together with Korah, when that company died, when the fire devoured 250 men, and they became a warning. 11 But the sons of Korah did not die.
They rebelled against the God-appointed leadership of Moses and Aaron. Having been entrusted with authority and responsibility, they were not satisfied, but jealous; they wanted more. Korah, a Levite, is listed here because of his association with this rebellion. But sons don’t have to fail the same way their fathers failed. The sons of Korah did not follow in their fathers footsteps, and instead went on to author some of the Psalms we now enjoy.
12-14 Simeon is listed next, with his sons Nemuel, Jamin, Jachin, Zerah, and Shaul.
15-18 Gad is listed with his sons Zephon, Haggi, Shuni, Ozni, Eri, Arod, and Areli
19-22 Judah fathered Er and Onan, who became a warning against wickedness and selfishness toward inheritance rights (Ge.38). We aren’t told what Er did, but he was wicked in the sight of the Lord; what other opinion matters? Er, Onan and Shelah were born of the daughter of Shua a Canaanite. Perez and Zerah were born of his daughter-in-law whom he thought was a prostitute, but all this is overlooked. Perez’ line is traced through Hezron and Hamul. We find out in Ruth that Hezron became the ancestor of David; Matthew (1) and Luke (3) trace the genealogy of Jesus through Judah, Perez, and Hezron.
23-25 lists Issachar as the father of Tola, Puvah, Jashub, and Shimron.
26-27 records Zebulon as father of Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.
28-37 follows the birth order of Joseph’s sons, listing Manasseh first, although Numbers 1 listed Ephraim first according to the Jacob’s blessing in Genesis 48. Manasseh’s lineage is traced through his son Machir, who fathered Gilead, who fathered Iezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Shemida, and Hepher. Hepher fathered Zelophehad, who had no sons but only daughters; Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. These five daughters of Zelophehad, unusual in a list of male descendants, also unique in that they constitute the fifth generation, take center stage in chapters 27 and 36 as they petition Moses for inheritance rights.
35-37 lists Ephraim as the father of Shuthelah, Becher, and Tahan; Shuthelah fathered Eran.
38-41 trace the descendants of Benjamin, Bela, Ashbel, Ahiram, Shephupham, and Hupham; Bela fathered Ard and Naaman.
42-43 tell us that Dan had only one son Shuham, through whom his large tribe descended.
44-47 Asher fathered Imnah, Ishvi, Beriah; Beriah fathered Heber and Malchiel, Asher’s daughter Serah is also mentioned.
48-50 Naphtali concludes the list with his clans Jahzeel, Guni. Jezer, and Shillem.
Here’s a comparison list (slide) to show the changes in the numbers of each tribes; some increased, some decreased (Simeon significantly, possibly because of his part in the Baal-Peor plague in chapter 25).
Numbers 26:51 This was the list of the people of Israel, 601,730.
What is amazing is that in spite of grumbling, disobedience, unfaithfulness, and God’s judgments, including the plague killing 24,000 at Baal-Peor, the overall number of Israelite males dropped by less than 2,000.
Military Men and Inheritance Allotment
The census includes only militarily eligible men age 20 and up, those who could go to war. Life is war, and God was giving Israel a promised land to conquer. The roster of the military would be essential as they began to occupy hostile land.
But this census had another purpose;
Numbers 26:52 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 53 “Among these the land shall be divided for inheritance according to the number of names. 54 To a large tribe you shall give a large inheritance, and to a small tribe you shall give a small inheritance; every tribe shall be given its inheritance in proportion to its list. 55 But the land shall be divided by lot. According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. 56 Their inheritance shall be divided according to lot between the larger and the smaller.”
The census gave them the information they needed divide the land equitably to accommodate the different sized tribes. The division of the land was ultimately to be done by lot, a way to take it out of the manipulative hands of men and allow God to apportion the land as he willed. Numbers 34 specifies the boundaries of the land, which would be divided in Joshua 13-19.
Levites and the Lord their Inheritance
The tribe of Levi was not to be numbered among the military, as they were assigned a different battle; guarding the sanctity of God’s tent and God’s people. In Numbers 3-4 they were numbered as a substitute for every firstborn male of the other tribes and they were organized around God’s tent and assigned different responsibilities for transporting God’s tent according to their divisions. But the promised land would provide a more permanent home for God’s tent, and eventually the temple, so their duties would be different. They would not inherit land (the Lord was their inheritance); they were to be given cities scattered among the other tribes (48 cities assigned in Joshua 21) to continue to guard the sanctity of God and his people.
The three sons of Levi were Gershon, Kohath and Merari; Gershon fathered the Libnites; Kohath the Hebronites and Korahites; Merari the Mahlites and Mushites.
Numbers 26:58 ...And Kohath was the father of Amram. 59 The name of Amram's wife was Jochebed the daughter of Levi, who was born to Levi in Egypt. And she bore to Amram Aaron and Moses and Miriam their sister. 60 And to Aaron were born Nadab, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. 61 But Nadab and Abihu died when they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD.
There is a focus here on Amram, another son of Kohath, through whom came Aaron, Moses and Miriam, leaders of Israel. And here is another warning; Aaron had four sons. After the climax of Leviticus 9, when the tabernacle was complete and the priests were set apart for service, and the appropriate offerings were presented, God’s glory filled the tabernacle and fire came out from the Lord and consumed the burnt offering. Caught up in the moment, (Lev.10) Nadab and Abihu took each his censer and offered incense before the Lord. But they violated God’s clear instructions; they worshiped in a way that seemed right to them (Prov.14:12; 16:25), they presented their own fire, and fire came out from the Lord and consumed them. We are not free to approach God in any way we see fit. There are not many paths to God. Jesus said the way is wide to destruction; few find the narrow path to life (Mt.7:13-14).
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Access to God is exclusively through our Lord Jesus. We cannot clean ourselves up; we must be washed in his blood. We cannot come with our own righteousness; we must come clothed in his.
An Entire Generation Dead by Unbelief
The concluding statement also includes a warning.
Numbers 26:63 These were those listed by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who listed the people of Israel in the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho. 64 But among these there was not one of those listed by Moses and Aaron the priest, who had listed the people of Israel in the wilderness of Sinai. 65 For the LORD had said of them, “They shall die in the wilderness.” Not one of them was left, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun.
A son born to parents some 20 years after they left Egypt would now be 20, eligible to be numbered in this census. A 19 year old who was not numbered in the first census would now, 38 years later, be 57. The only men over 57 that remained were Moses, Caleb, and Joshua, and Moses would die before they entered the land. God is faithful to his promises.
Numbers 14:21 But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD, 22 none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, 23 shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. 24 But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.
28 Say to them, ‘As I live, declares the LORD, what you have said in my hearing I will do to you: 29 your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness, and of all your number, listed in the census from twenty years old and upward, who have grumbled against me, 30 not one shall come into the land where I swore that I would make you dwell, except Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun. 31 But your little ones, who you said would become a prey, I will bring in, and they shall know the land that you have rejected. 32 But as for you, your dead bodies shall fall in this wilderness. 33 And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness forty years and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness. 34 According to the number of the days in which you spied out the land, forty days, a year for each day, you shall bear your iniquity forty years, and you shall know my displeasure.’ 35 I, the LORD, have spoken. Surely this will I do to all this wicked congregation who are gathered together against me: in this wilderness they shall come to a full end, and there they shall die.”
God is faithful to his promises both in judgment on the faithless and in his gracious promises to those who trust him
Conclusion:
God is faithful to all his promises. But he is just and demands holiness of his followers. Flee sexual immorality and idolatry; love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind and strength. Beware anger and pride; always treat the Lord as holy. Be on guard against jealousy, wickedness, selfishness. Approach God in the one and only way he has authorized, through the blood of Jesus Christ his only Son. Enter through the narrow way, the way of utter dependence on the finished work of another.
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2026.08.02 Sermon Notes
Numbers 26; The Conquest Generation
A tale of two generations
Numbers 1:1-4; 26:1-4
Warning (the plague): flee sexual immorality; have no other god before me
Numbers 26:1; Numbers 25; 1 Corinthians 6:18; Exodus 20:2-6
Warning (Aaron the priest): beware anger, pride, failing to treat YHWH as holy
Numbers 26:1; Numbers 20:12
Warning (Dathan and Abiram; Korah): beware jealousy, seeking top leadership positions
Numbers 26:9-11; Numbers 16
Warning (Er and Onan): wicked in the sight of the Lord
Numbers 26:19; Genesis 38
...but Judah became ancestor to David and to Jesus
Numbers 26:20-21; Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:1-3; Luke 3:33
The daughters of Zelophehad; fierce faith
Numbers 26:33; Numbers 27; 36
Census for conquest and for land inheritance
Numbers 26:52-56; Numbers 34; Joshua 13-19
Levites; I am your inheritance
Numbers 26:62; Numbers 18:20
Warning (Nadab and Abihu): we may not approach God however we choose
Numbers 26:61; Leviticus 9-10; Proverbs 14:12; 16:25; Matthew 7:13-14; John 14:6
Warning; an entire generation died due to unbelief
Numbers 26:64-65; Numbers 14:21-35
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Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org