Numbers 26:55
in Numbers 26Indeed, the land must be divided by lot; they shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Notwithstanding, the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.
KJV
Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.
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This verse in Numbers 26
Commentary
8 notes on this verseThe land shall be divided by lot - The word גורל goral, translated lot, is supposed by some to signify the stone or pebble formerly used for the purpose of what we term casting lots.
This site's exposition
And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying
on Numbers 26:52-56
Here the chapter says what the counting was for. The land is divided according to the number of names, more to the many and less to the few, and it is also divided by lot. Two rules govern one act, the size of a tribe fixing how much ground it holds and the lot fixing which ground. Joshua 14 to 19 is where this is carried out, and Proverbs 16:33 gives the ground the lot stands on.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
A commentator
Procopius of GazaCATENA ON THE OCTATEUCH, ON NUMBERS 26:55 · Written before 528.
proposed
A lottery takes place to avoid contention and to assure greater certitude and clarity. The source of this rule is the counsel of God. Devout men do not entrust their affairs to blind chance. This is what Paul means when he says, "We have been …
A commentator
Procopius of GazaCATENA ON THE OCTATEUCH, ON NUMBERS 26:55 · Written before 528.
proposed
These words seem to say something about the blessedness of Christ, by the fact that they decree rewards proper to each virtue, and the greatest rewards go to those who are endowed with sincere hearts. For, Scripture says, they will see God. The sort of …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
And thus Christ, our Joshua, when he was urged to appoint one of his disciples to his right hand, another to his left in his kingdom, acknowledged the sovereignty of his Father in the disposal: It is not mine to give. Joshua must not dispose of inheritances in Canaan according to his own mind. But it shall be given to those for whom it is prepared of my Father.
By lot - For the tribes, not for the several families; for the distribution of it to them was left to the rulers wisdom according to the rule now given.
Notwithstanding, the land shall be divided by lot,....
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
The manner in which the lot was taken has not been recorded. But it is evident that the lot was cast for determining the section of the country in which each tribe should be located--not the quantity of their possessions.
The words behind it
9 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| אַךְ־ | ʾakh- | only | H389 → | 161 times |
| בְּגוֹרָ֕ל | begoral | by lot | H1486 → | 78 times |
| יֵחָלֵ֖ק | yechalek | it will be divided | H2505 → | 65 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| הָאָ֑רֶץ | haaretz | the land | H776 → | 2504 times |
| לִשְׁמ֥וֹת | lishmot | to [the] names of | H8034 → | 864 times |
| מַטּוֹת־ | matot- | [the] tribes of | H4294 → | 252 times |
| אֲבֹתָ֖ם | ʾavotam | ancestors their | H1 → | 1212 times |
| יִנְחָֽלוּ׃ | yinchalu | they will inherit | H5157 → | 59 times |
אַךְ־only
ʾakh-H389 →161 times
בְּגוֹרָ֕לby lot
begoralH1486 →78 times
יֵחָלֵ֖קit will be divided
yechalekH2505 →65 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
הָאָ֑רֶץthe land
haaretzH776 →2504 times
לִשְׁמ֥וֹתto [the] names of
lishmotH8034 →864 times
מַטּוֹת־[the] tribes of
matot-H4294 →252 times
אֲבֹתָ֖םancestors their
ʾavotamH1 →1212 times
יִנְחָֽלוּ׃they will inherit
yinchaluH5157 →59 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Joshua 11:23So Joshua took the entire land, in keeping with all that the LORD had spoken to Moses. And Joshua gave it as an inheritance to Israel according to the allotments to their tribes. Then…
it leads to
- Joshua 21:44–45
And the LORD gave them rest on every side, just as He had sworn to their fathers. None of their enemies could stand against them, for the LORD delivered all their enemies into their…
- Numbers 26:52–55
Then the LORD said to Moses,
- Psalms 46:9
He makes wars to cease throughout the earth; He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; He burns the shields in the fire.
- Exodus 23:27–31
I will send My terror ahead of you and throw into confusion every nation you encounter. I will make all your enemies turn and run.
- Joshua 21:44–45
Through
Joshua 14:2Their inheritance was assigned by lot for the nine and a half tribes, as the LORD had commanded through Moses.
it leads to
- Numbers 34:13
So Moses commanded the Israelites, “Apportion this land by lot as an inheritance. The LORD has commanded that it be given to the nine and a half tribes.
- Numbers 33:54
And you are to divide the land by lot according to your clans. Give a larger inheritance to a larger clan and a smaller inheritance to a smaller one. Whatever falls to each one…
- Numbers 26:55–56
Indeed, the land must be divided by lot; they shall receive their inheritance according to the names of the tribes of their fathers.
- Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.
- Numbers 34:13
About Numbers
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes on the Old Testament; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Procopius of Gaza, CATENA ON THE OCTATEUCH, ON NUMBERS 26:55.