Numbers 26:38-41 Tribe of Benjamin

 The Tribe of Benjamin

38These were the clans descended from the sons of Benjamin:

The Belaite clan, named after their ancestor Bela.

The Ashbelite clan, named after their ancestor Ashbel.

The Ahiramite clan, named after their ancestor Ahiram.

39The Shuphamite clan, named after their ancestor Shupham.g

The Huphamite clan, named after their ancestor Hupham.

40These were the subclans descended from the Belaites:

The Ardites, named after their ancestor Ard.h

The Naamites, named after their ancestor Naaman.

41These were the clans of Benjamin. Their registered troops numbered 45,600.

“In the first census, the tribe of Benjamin counted 35,400 men ready for war; 38 years later, they counted 45,600. This was a gain of 10,200 men (29%).” (Guzik)

Blessings 

Numbers 26:35-37 Sons of Ephraim

 35These are the sons of Ephraim according to their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites; of [k]Becher, the family of the Bachrites; of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites. 36And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites. 37These are the families of the sons of Ephraim according to those who were numbered of them: thirty-two thousand five hundred.

“In the first census, the tribe of Ephraim counted 40,500 ready for war; 38 years later, they counted 32,500. This was a loss of 8,000 men (20%).” (Guzik)

Blessings 

Numbers 26:28-34 Remarkable Gains

 28The sons of Joseph according to their families, by Manasseh and Ephraim, were: 29The sons of Manasseh: of Machir, the family of the Machirites; and Machir begot Gilead; of Gilead, the family of the Gileadites. 30These are the sons of Gilead: of [j]Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites; of Helek, the family of the Helekites; 31of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites; 32of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites. 33Now Zelophehad the son of Hepher had no sons, but daughters; and the names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. 34These are the families of Manasseh; and those who were numbered of them were fifty-two thousand seven hundred.

Remarkable Gains

“In the first census, the tribe of Manasseh counted 32,200 ready for war; 38 years later, they counted 52,700. This was a remarkable gain of 20,500 (64%).” (Guzik)

The Tribe of Manasseh had the largest gain of all the tribes!

Why? Only the Lord knows why, but maybe He was blessing Joseph’s descendants?

Blessings 

Numbers 26:26-27 Tribe of Zebulun

26These were the descendants of Zebulun by their clans:

The Seredite clan from Sered,

the Elonite clan from Elon,

and the Jahleelite clan from Jahleel.

27These were the clans of Zebulun, and their registration numbered 60,500.

“In the first census, the tribe of Zebulun counted 57,400 men ready for war; 38 years later, they counted 60,500. This was a gain of 3,100 (5%).” (Guzik)

The tribe of Zebulun was blessed with a 5% increase.

Sorry for the missing days this week as we are celebrating our anniversary and there’s no cell service.

The Lord has blessed our time away this week.

Have you counted your blessings?

Blessings 

Numbers 26:23-25 Tribe of Issachar

 23The sons of Issachar according to their families were: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of [g]Puah, the family of the [h]Punites; 24of [i]Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites. 25These are the families of Issachar according to those who were numbered of them: sixty-four thousand three hundred.

Tribe of Issachar

“In the first census, the tribe of Issachar counted 54,400 men ready for war; 38 years later, they counted 64,300. This was a gain of 9,900 (18%).” (Guzik)

Some Christians view the Old Testament as irrelevant but as Christians mature in Christ and eat more solid food we see Him throughout it!

Blessings 

Numbers 26:19-22 Tribe of Judah

 19The sons of Judah were Er and Onan; and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. 20And the sons of Judah according to their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Parzites; ofZerah, the family of the Zarhites. 21And the sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; ofHamul, the family of the Hamulites. 22These are the families of Judah according to those who were numbered of them: seventy-six thousand five hundred.

Tribe of Judah

In the first census, the tribe of Judah counted 74,600 men ready for war; 38 years later, they counted 76,500. This was a gain of 1,900 (3%). (Guzik)

Blessings 

Numbers 26:15-18 Sons of Gad

 15The sons of Gad according to their families were: of [d]Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the family of the Haggites; of Shuni, the family of the Shunites; 16of [e]Ozni, the family of the Oznites; of Eri, the family of the Erites; 17of [f]Arod, the family of the Arodites; of Areli, the family of the Arelites. 18These are the families of the sons of Gad according to those who were numbered of them: forty thousand five hundred.

“In the first census, the tribe of Gad counted 45,650 men ready for war; 38 years later, they count 40,500. This was a loss of 5,150 fighting men (11%).” (Guzik)

Some Bible scholars say of the loss, of the 1st generation that died off in the wilderness: they had less children, there are some that succumbed to the plagues, and some fell because of Ba'al Peor.

But didn’t the Lord say, Genesis 22: 17blessing I will bless you, and multiplying I will multiply your descendants as the stars of the heaven and as the sand which is on the seashore; and your descendants shall possess the gate of their enemies.

The loss of 11% may not seem significant to some but to me it’s much more because of their many sins in the wilderness! If they kept their trust in the Lord they would have already possessed the promised land and multiplied much more!

But look at the sons of Gad that joined David!

Blessings

Numbers 26:12-14 Sin and Anger

 12The descendants of Simeon by their clans were:

through Nemuel, the Nemuelite clan;

through Jamin, the Jaminite clan;

through Jakin, the Jakinite clan;

13through Zerah, the Zerahite clan;

through Shaul, the Shaulite clan.

14These were the clans of Simeon; those numbered were 22,200.

“In the first census, the tribe of Simeon counted 59,300 men ready for war; 38 years later, they counted 22,000. This was staggering loss of 37,100 men for this once-great tribe (a loss of 63%).” (Guzik)

The consequence for rebelling was that all who were counted in the first census would die:

Numbers 14:28 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. 

But how many descendants of Simeon died from the plague and Ba'al Peor?

We just don’t know because the Bible doesn’t tell us.

The tribe of Simeon had a sin and anger problem.

Do you?

Blessings 

https://www.gotquestions.org/tribe-of-Simeon.html

Numbers 26:8-11 A Warning Sign

 8The son of Pallu was Eliab, 9and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. The same Dathan and Abiram were the community officials who rebelled against Moses and Aaron and were among Korah’s followers when they rebelled against the Lord. 10The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire devoured the 250 men. And they served as a warning sign. 11The line of Korah, however, did not die out.

“Notable in the tribe of Reuben were Dathan and Abiram, who were co-leaders with Korah in the rebellion against the LORD and Moses described in Numbers 16. Perhaps one reason Dathan and Abiram resented Moses’ leadership was because they were from the tribe of Israel’s firstborn son (Reuben); yet Moses, descended from Levi (a younger son) was the leader of the nation.” (Guzik)

A Warning Sign

The Lords judgement on Dathan, Abriam, Koran and their followers surly served as a warning sign both to the generation in the wilderness and beyond.

Jesus gives us warning signs.

Matthew 24: 4Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 5For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many. 6You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8All these are the beginning of birth pains.

9“Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me. 10At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, 11and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. 12Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, 13but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. 14And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Sound familiar? 

Will you take heed to God’s warning signs?

Blessings 

Numbers 26:5-7 Reuben Clan

 5The descendants of Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel, were:

through Hanok, the Hanokite clan;

through Pallu, the Palluite clan;

6through Hezron, the Hezronite clan;

through Karmi, the Karmite clan.

7These were the clans of Reuben; those numbered were 43,730.

The Lord gives us the clans and census numbers for a reason.

43,730 were men of war in the Reuben clan.

Blessings 

Numbers 26:1-4 As the Lord Commanded

1After the plague the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, 2“Take a census of the whole Israelite community by families—all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army of Israel.” 3So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them and said, 4“Take a census of the men twenty years old or more, as the Lord commanded Moses.”

As the Lord commanded

“The purpose of the second census was also made clear. They were to count those able to fight on behalf of Israel. This accounting, 38 years later, was again for military organization.” (Guzik)

Jesus gives us a command also!

Blessings 

Numbers 25:14-18 No Tolerance

 14The name of the Israelite who was killed with the Midianite woman was Zimri son of Salu, the leader of a Simeonite family. 15And the name of the Midianite woman who was put to death was Kozbi daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family.

16The Lord said to Moses, 17“Treat the Midianites as enemies and kill them. 18They treated you as enemies when they deceived you in the Peor incident involving their sister Kozbi, the daughter of a Midianite leader, the woman who was killed when the plague came as a result of that incident.”

No Tolerance 

“They were to show no tolerance towards that which brought the sin in their midst and turned their hearts away from God. They were to battle against the Midianites every opportunity they had.” (Guzik)

We are to do the same, show no tolerance towards sin in us because it turns our hearts ♥️ away from God!

Blessings 

Numbers 25:10-13 Zeal

 10Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 11“Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned back My wrath from the children of Israel, because he was zealous with My zeal among them, so that I did not consume the children of Israel in My zeal. 12Therefore say, ‘Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace; 13and it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood, because he was zealous for his God, and made [b]atonement for the children of Israel.’ ”

Zeal

“because he was zealous with My zeal among them”

And because of his zeal, “‘Behold, I give to him My covenant of peace;”

“it shall be to him and his descendants after him a covenant of an everlasting priesthood”…

When we have zeal for the Lord He gives us His covenant of peace, a spiritual peace that no man can take away and He gives us a covenant of everlasting life through Jesus Christ!

Do you have zeal for the Lord?

Blessings 

One trouble with being an atheist is that you have nobody to talk to when you are alone. Anonymous

Numbers 25:6-9 Immorality

 6And indeed, one of the children of Israel came and presented to his brethren a Midianite woman in the sight of Moses and in the sight of all the congregation of the children of Israel, who were weeping at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. 7Now when Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose from among the congregation and took a javelin in his hand; 8and he went after the man of Israel into the tent and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her body. So the plague was stopped among the children of Israel. 9And those who died in the plague were twenty-four thousand.

Immorality 

Phinehas brought God’s judgment by thrusting through an Israelite man and a Midianite woman with a spear - seemingly, as they were in the midst of immorality.

“Allen believes this man was having sex with the Midianite woman right in front of the tabernacle, and the text deliberately obscures this, because it is so offensive. (Guzik)

Men and women have murdered for it, families have been broken up because of it and in this text we see the punishment for the immorality of it, to the sum of twenty-four thousand!

Unfortunately we’ve all been immoral in one way or another!

Blessings 

Numbers 25:4-5 Open Sins

 4Then the LORD said to Moses, “Take all the leaders of the people and execute them in broad daylight before the LORD, so that His fierce anger may turn away from Israel.”

5So Moses told the judges of Israel, “Each of you must kill all of his men who have joined in worshiping Baal of Peor.”

Open Sins

“God thought it important that the offenders be judged openly; this was not sin to keep hidden. Open sin had to be dealt with openly.” (Guzik)

Do you have any open sins that need to be dealt with openly?

Blessings 

Numbers 25:1-3 Rebellion Against the Lord

 1While Israel was staying in Shittim, the men began to indulge in sexual immorality with the daughters of Moab, 2who also invited them to the sacrifices for their gods. And the people ate and bowed down to these gods. 3So Israel joined in worshiping Baal of Peor, and the anger of the LORD burned against them.

Rebellion Against the Lord

“The sword of no stranger, the curse of no stranger had the power to damage Israel. Only it itself could bring misfortune, by seceding from God and his Law.” (Rabbi Hirsch, cited in Allen).

“The Moabites being now neighbours to the Israelites, and finding themselves unable to effect their design against Israel by war and witchcraft, they now fell another way to work.” (Poole)

“The same principle works among the people of God today. The mightiest attack of Satan against us can never do as much damage as our own sin and rebellion against the LORD.” (Guzik)

Examine yourself, what is your god, your sin, your rebellion against the Lord?

Blessings 

Numbers 24:20-25 Spiritual Strength

 20Then Balaam saw Amalek and lifted up an oracle, saying:

“Amalek was first among the nations,

but his end is destruction.”

21Next he saw the Kenites and lifted up an oracle, saying:

“Your dwelling place is secure,

and your nest is set in a cliff.

22Yet Kain will be destroyed

when Asshurd takes you captive.”

23Once more Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying:

“Ah, who can live

unless God has ordained it?

24Ships will come from the coasts of Cyprus;e

they will subdue Asshur and Eber,

but they too will perish forever.”

25Then Balaam arose and returned to his homeland, and Balak also went on his way.

Spiritual Strength 

“We must credit Balak for one thing; he knew where the strength of Israel was. He did not seek to defeat Israel through military strategy or new weapons. He knew it was a spiritual battle, and if Israel won the spiritual battle, they would certainly win the military battle.” (Guzik)

“We should walk in the same awareness. If we did, we would give more time and attention to building our spiritual strength, in having a close walk with Jesus. We should not allow Balak to be more perceptive about spiritual things than we are.” (Guzik)

Are you building your spiritual strength?

Blessings 

Numbers 24:14-19 Beautiful Prophecy

 14And now, look, I am going to my people; come, I will advise you as to what this people [Israel] will do to your people [Moab] in the days to come.”

15He took up his [fourth] discourse (oracle) and said:

“The oracle of Balaam the son of Beor,

The oracle of the man whose eye is opened,

16The oracle of him who hears the words of God

And knows the knowledge of the [c]Most High,

Who sees the vision of the [d]Almighty,

Falling down, but having his eyes open and uncovered:

17I see Him, but not now;

I behold Him, but not near.

A star shall come forth from [the descendants of] Jacob,

A scepter shall rise out of [the descendants of] Israel

And shall crush the forehead of Moab

And destroy all the sons of Sheth.

18“Edom shall be [taken as] a possession,

[Mount] Seir, Israel’s enemies, also will be a possession,

While Israel performs valiantly.

19“One from [the descendants of] Jacob shall have dominion

And will destroy the remnant from the city.”

Beautiful Prophecy 
Balaam wasn’t going to be paid and he spoke a beautiful prophecy of the coming Messiah.

“Jesus is here prophetically called a Star and a Scepter; He is glorious like a star, and has all authority to rule, as pictured by a scepter.” (Guzik)

“The Messiah will eventually rule over all nations that surround Israel. Here God spoke about the neighboring nations of Israel (Moab, Edom, Amalek, and the Kenites) and their future through Balaam.” (Guzik)

Blessings 

Numbers 24:10-13 Balak’s anger, Balaam’s excuse!

 10Then Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together; and Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, but behold, you have done nothing but bless them these three times. 11Therefore now flee to your place! I had intended to honor you greatly, but behold, the LORD has held you back from honor.” 12Balaam said to Balak, “Did I not tell your messengers whom you had sent to me, 13‘Even if Balak would give me his house full of silver and gold, I could not go beyond the command of the LORD, to do either good or bad of my own accord. What the LORD speaks, that I will speak?’ 

Balak’s anger, Balaam’s excuse!

Balaam realizes he’s not going to get paid and blames the blessings on the Lord!

“Perhaps at that moment Balaam saw the greater wisdom of God in telling him not to go, because now it seemed the whole trip was a big waste, and Balaam would not get his money.” (Guzik)

Just because you have knowledge doesn’t mean you have wisdom.

Did Balaam have 20/20 hindsight?

Blessings 

Numbers 24:1-9 Blessed and Cursed!

 Balaam’s Third Oracle

1And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he did not resort to sorcery as on previous occasions, but he turned his face toward the wilderness. 2When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him, 3and he lifted up an oracle, saying:

“This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor,

the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open,

4the prophecy of one who hears the words of God,

who sees a vision from the Almighty,

who bows down with eyes wide open:

5How lovely are your tents, O Jacob,

your dwellings, O Israel!

6They spread out like palm groves,

like gardens beside a stream,

like aloes the LORD has planted,

like cedars beside the waters.

7Water will flow from his buckets,

and his seed will have abundant water.

His king will be greater than Agag,

and his kingdom will be exalted.

8God brought him out of Egypt

with strength like a wild ox,

to devour hostile nations and crush their bones,

to pierce them with arrows.

9He crouches, he lies down like a lion;

like a lioness, who dares to rouse him?

Blessed are those who bless you

and cursed are those who curse you.”

Blessed and Cursed!

“Blessed are those who bless you

and cursed are those who curse you.” Poor Balak!

“Each of the first three prophecies, it has gotten worse for Balak. In the first one, Balaam fails to curse Israel; in the second, he blesses Israel, and in the third, he curses Balak! How much worse can it get for the king of Moab?” (Guzik)

Blessings