Numbers 26 -The Second Census of Israel's Warriors |Bible Podcast,David Alley,Peace Christian Church

In this video listen to Numbers 26 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.In Numbers 26 we find the second census. The first was taken about one year into the wilderness time in the early chapters of Numbers, and the second at the end of 40 years. This provides the opportunity for comparison.Reuben: Down 2,270 (-6%)Simeon: Down 37,100 (-63%)Gad: Down 5,150 (-11%)Judah: Up 1,900 (+2.5%)Issachar: Up 9,900 (+18%)Zebulun: Up 2,100 (+5.5%)Ephraim: Down 8,000 (-20%)Manasseh: Up 20,500 (+63%)Benjamin: Up 10,200 (+29%)Dan: Up 1,700 (+2.5%)Asher: Up 11,900 (+28%)Naphtali: Down 8,000 (-15%)--------------------------------TOTAL: Down 1820 (less than -1%)Firstly we note that the grand total is roughly the same, slightly less. Usually one would expect modest growth over a forty year period, of at least 2-3%. However in this case, given the plagues in the wilderness, the judgements of God, and the harsh terrain, its actually remarkable that it didn’t decline more. Interestingly, inheritance is based on fruitfulness.Those tribes which obeyed the Lord had greater populations and were more fruitful. Certain tribes which complained and rebelled, such as Simeon which was key in the Baal-peor problem, had less people.They were thus allocated less inheritance. Levi is counted separately and the males (1 month+) grew by 1000.