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Numbers 26:22 meaning

This verse highlights the enduring promise of God’s blessing and the continued significance of Judah’s lineage.

These are the families of Judah by those who were numbered of them, 76,500. (v.22) This statement concludes the tally for the tribe of Judah in the second wilderness census. The context of Numbers 26 reveals that Moses took this census just before Israel would embark on entering the Promised Land, ensuring each tribe had its proper allotment of future inheritance. The tribe of Judah, descended from Jacob’s fourth son, grew to be the largest tribe recorded in this census. Their final count of 76,500 men demonstrates God’s blessing and faithfulness to His covenant promise to multiply the descendants of Abraham (Genesis 12:2).

Judah is an important name within Israel’s history. Historically, Judah himself is believed to have been born in the early second millennium BC, making him a key figure in the lineage of the Israelites. The region later referred to as Judah becomes centered around Jerusalem, in the southern part of the land of Canaan, marking a significant geographic sphere of influence for generations. This expansive count of 76,500 from Numbers 26 suggests the tribe’s prominence and stability, setting them apart in size from other tribes, and foreshadows their central role throughout biblical history.

Within the fuller biblical narrative, Judah’s lineage is also the line through which King David emerged (Ruth 4:18-22), ultimately leading to the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1). This tribe repeatedly stands out in Scripture as a keeper of the Messianic promise. God’s faithfulness to sustain and grow the tribe underscores His overarching plan of redemption, culminating in the birth of Christ, the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5). Numbers 26:22 thus connects an ancient census count to God’s ongoing work in history, preserving a people for His redemptive purpose.

Numbers 26:22