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Numbers 26:25 meaning

This verse reminds us that every family under God’s banner has a role and a place in His story.

We see in Numbers 26 that Moses and Eleazar the priest were commanded by the LORD to take a second census to document the tribes of Israel. In verse 25, Scripture records: “These are the families of Issachar according to those who were numbered of them, 64,300.” (v.25) Here, the verse specifically focuses on the tribe of Issachar, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. This census reflects both God’s faithfulness in multiplying His people and the tangible growth of Issachar’s lineage. Drawing from the broader biblical narrative, Issachar was Jacob’s fifth son by Leah, born around 1900 BC. Historically, this tribe would go on to inherit a portion of the Promised Land that lay in the fertile farming region northeast of the Jezreel Valley, an area known for agricultural abundance and strategic significance. Their increasing numbers evidence God’s blessing and His intention to establish a future inheritance for them.

When the text says, “These are the families of Issachar according to those who were numbered of them, 64,300,” (v.25) it reveals diligent record-keeping in Israel’s communal life. The total number of men of this tribe demonstrates its strength and readiness for responsibilities in the land distribution that would soon follow. The attached materials remind us that these genealogical records also served as a unique bond, tying each family back to God’s covenant promises. In the New Testament, we see a similar principle of spiritual heritage in Jesus’ lineage (Matthew 1:1-17), linking tribal and family lines to divine promises. Issachar’s enumeration here foreshadows the critical role each tribe (and subsequently each believer in Christ) plays in God’s redemptive plan.

This verse, though brief, underlines the significance of every tribe’s contribution to the nation of Israel. The number 64,300 shows an impressive stature and the Lord’s ongoing care for His people. According to biblical tradition, the tribe of Issachar was to be known for their wisdom and understanding of the times (1 Chronicles 12:32), contributing discernment and counsel to Israel’s direction. This census count points to God’s continued faithfulness, ensuring that each tribe, including Issachar, was prepared to enter into the land He had promised them.

Numbers 26:25