Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
Numbers 26:51
Verse Numbers 26:51. These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.] The following comparative statement will show how much some of the tribes had increased, and others had diminished, since the enumeration in Numbers 1:2, c.
| | Now | Before | | |
| Reuben | 43,730 | 46,500 | 2,770 | decrease |
| Simeon | 22,200 | 59,300 | 37,100 | decrease |
| Gad | 40,500 | 45,650 | 5,150 | decrease |
| Judah | 76,500 | 74,600 | 1,900 | increase |
| Issachar | 64,300 | 54,400 | 9,900 | increase |
| Zebulun | 60,500 | 57,400 | 3,100 | increase |
| Manasseh | 52,700 | 32,200 | 20,500 | increase |
| Ephraim | 32,500 | 40,500 | 8,000 | decrease |
| Benjamin | 45,600 | 35,400 | 10,200 | increase |
| Dan | 64,400 | 62,700 | 1,700 | increase |
| Asher | 53,400 | 41,500 | 11,900 | increase |
| Naphtali | 45,400 | 53,400 | 8,000 | decrease |
| Total | 601,730 | 603,550 | 1,820 | decrease on the whole, in 38 years. |
| Decrease in all, 61,020. | Increase in all, 59,200. | |||
Let it be observed,
1. That among these there was not a man of the former census, save Joshua and Caleb, see Numbers 26:64-4.
2. That though there was an increase in seven tribes of not less than 74,800 men, yet so great was the decrease in the other five tribes, that the balance against the present censusis 1,820, as appears above: thus we find that there was an in crease of 601,728 from 603,550 in the space of thirty-eight years.
Notwithstanding the amazing increase in some and decrease in other tribes, the same sort of proportion is preserved in the east, west, north, and south divisions, as before so as to keep the division of Judah, which was always in the front or van, the largest; and the division of Dan, which was always in the rear, the next in number. But it is worthy of remark that as they are now, properly speaking, to commence their grand military operations, so their front, or advanced division, is increased from 186,400 to 201,300; and their rear from 157,600 to 163,200. The first division is strengthened 14,900 men, and the last division 5,600 men. The reasons for this are sufficiently obvious.
Mr. Ainsworth has a curious remark on the number of families in the 12 tribes. "Here are families
| | | ||
| 1. Of Manasseh | 8 | 7. Of Reuben | 4 |
| 2. Of Benjamin | 7 | 8. Of Issachar | 4 |
| 3. Of Gad | 7 | 9. Of Ephraim | 4 |
| 4. Of Simeon | 5 | 10. Of Naphtali | 4 |
| 5. Of Judah | 5 | 11. Of Zebulun | 3 |
| 6. Of Asher | 5 | 12. Of Dan | 1 |
"In all 57; to whom if we add the 12 patriarchs, and Jacob their father, the whole number is 70, the exact number of the souls in Jacob's house that went down to Egypt, Genesis 46:27." In a variety of things in this ancient economy there is a most surprising proportion kept up, which never could have been a fortuitous effect of general causes. But proportion, harmony, and order distinguish all the works of God, both in the natural and moral world.