The Numberings of Men

• In Numbers 1:1-3 a census is commanded to be taken of all the congregation of the children of Israel, after their families, by the house of their fathers, with the number of their names, every male by their polls; ³ From twenty years old and upward, all that are able to go forth to war in Israel: thou and Aaron shall number them by their armies.
  • Please note the counting was to be done by the house of their fathers.

• In Numbers 26:1-2 a second census is taken after a plague. Again, it is commanded to be taken of all the congregation of the children of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, throughout their fathers’ house, all that are able to go to war in Israel.
• Verses 53-56 explain unto these men the land to which they were heading was to be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names. ⁵⁴ To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him. ⁵⁵ Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. ⁵⁶ According to the lot shall the possession thereof be divided between many and few.
  • Again, this counting was to be done according to the names of the tribes of their fathers, referring to the 12 tribes of Israel. (Manassah & Ephraim are counted in lieu of Joseph, and Levi is omitted as heirs to a particular portion of land.)
  • Note it is the men who are counted as heirs of the land.

Zelophehad’s Daughters

In Numbers 27 we read about Zelophehad’s daughters (who are fatherless and brotherless at the time of the above census). Instructions are given to assure they receive possession of an inheritance among their father’s brethren; and how to handle situations common to this in the future.

It is my understanding that a daughter of any tribe, who is not a land heiress, is free to marry a man from any tribe. Then, the children she conceives and brings forth for her husband is counted as being of that man’s tribe.

(According to Numbers 36:1-13 a land heiress must marry within her tribe.)