This verse showcases the meticulous genealogical structure of Israel’s tribes and underlines God’s careful provision for each family branch.
In Numbers 26, Moses and Eleazar record a second census of Israel after years of wandering in the wilderness (Numbers 26:1-2). This census establishes a clear record of the tribes and their families, confirming God’s care for every part of His people’s heritage. Within this context, the verse highlights two family lines: “and of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites” (v.31). These names represent lineage branches among the descendants of Manasseh, one of Joseph’s sons, demonstrating the detail and thoroughness of Israel’s genealogical structure (Genesis 48:5-6).
When the verse states “of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites” (v.31), it refers to Asriel as a significant forefather whose offspring became a recognized family group within Manasseh’s tribe. Although Asriel himself is not prominently featured in other Old Testament narratives, the mere mention of his name underlines the importance of identity and heritage in ancient Israel. This census likely took place around the late fifteenth century BC, during Israel’s final stretch in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land (Numbers 25-27). Identifying each family carried legal and spiritual significance, determining their future inheritance of the land, which would be divided among the tribes (Joshua 14-19).
The verse also includes “of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites” (v.31). Shechem was both a person’s name and the name of a well-known city located in the central hill country of Canaan, in a region that would later become part of the tribal territory of Ephraim and Manasseh. Historically, Shechem (the city) dated back to roughly the nineteenth or eighteenth century BC, where biblical figures like Abraham (circa 2100-1900 BC) built an altar (Genesis 12:6-7). While this Shechem in Numbers 26:31 references a family patriarch, its naming offers a reminder of the city’s significance through various biblical periods. In the broader biblical narrative, these genealogical details eventually point to God’s unfolding plan, culminating in the lineage of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-16).
These population records highlight God’s faithfulness to preserve His people’s identity and to fulfill His promise of establishing each tribe in their inheritance.
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Numbers 26:31 meaning
In Numbers 26, Moses and Eleazar record a second census of Israel after years of wandering in the wilderness (Numbers 26:1-2). This census establishes a clear record of the tribes and their families, confirming God’s care for every part of His people’s heritage. Within this context, the verse highlights two family lines: “and of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites; and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites” (v.31). These names represent lineage branches among the descendants of Manasseh, one of Joseph’s sons, demonstrating the detail and thoroughness of Israel’s genealogical structure (Genesis 48:5-6).
When the verse states “of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites” (v.31), it refers to Asriel as a significant forefather whose offspring became a recognized family group within Manasseh’s tribe. Although Asriel himself is not prominently featured in other Old Testament narratives, the mere mention of his name underlines the importance of identity and heritage in ancient Israel. This census likely took place around the late fifteenth century BC, during Israel’s final stretch in the wilderness before entering the Promised Land (Numbers 25-27). Identifying each family carried legal and spiritual significance, determining their future inheritance of the land, which would be divided among the tribes (Joshua 14-19).
The verse also includes “of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites” (v.31). Shechem was both a person’s name and the name of a well-known city located in the central hill country of Canaan, in a region that would later become part of the tribal territory of Ephraim and Manasseh. Historically, Shechem (the city) dated back to roughly the nineteenth or eighteenth century BC, where biblical figures like Abraham (circa 2100-1900 BC) built an altar (Genesis 12:6-7). While this Shechem in Numbers 26:31 references a family patriarch, its naming offers a reminder of the city’s significance through various biblical periods. In the broader biblical narrative, these genealogical details eventually point to God’s unfolding plan, culminating in the lineage of the Messiah, Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-16).
These population records highlight God’s faithfulness to preserve His people’s identity and to fulfill His promise of establishing each tribe in their inheritance.