These are the sons of Gilead: of Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites: of Helek, the family of the Helekites:
These are the sons of Gilead by Jeezer and Helek, whose clans are named the Jeezerites and the Helekites. The verse belongs to the second numbering of Israel in Numbers 26, taken in the plains of Moab just before entering Canaan at the end of the forty years in the wilderness, after the wilderness generation had died. That second numbering came nearly forty years after the first numbering taken soon after leaving Egypt at Sinai, with thirty-eight years between the two enumerations.
The thirty-six chapters of Numbers very nearly cover those thirty-eight years between the two enumerations. The total number of adult males in the nation had not changed much during the interval, from 603,550 to 601,730, though the numbers of the several tribes had changed considerably. Manasseh, to which Jeezer and Helek belong, showed the most pronounced growth, increasing by almost two-thirds from 32,200 to 52,700. The second numbering showed that the generation numbered the first time had died in the wilderness, except Caleb and Joshua, making clear that God had carried out His threatened judgment against the rebellious generation.
The second numbering is to be compared with the first numbering in Numbers 1 to note the differences among the tribes, showing how some tribes fell off and declined and how others increased and gained in number during the wilderness journey. The census was taken by Moses at the Lord's command, and unlike David's census it was not sinful because it was authorized by God. The chapter sets out the good that follows walking in God's ways and the evil that follows turning from His commandments, and its references to seven times mean a sevenfold degree, not a period of time. The verse appears as part of a diversified reading that also includes various laws and ordinances containing valuable instruction and giving interest and profit.
These are the sons of Gilead by Jeezer and Helek, whose clans are named the Jeezerites and the Helekites. The verse belongs to the second numbering of Israel in Numbers 26, taken in the plains of Moab just before entering Canaan at the end of the forty years in the wilderness, after the wilderness generation had died. That second numbering came nearly forty years after the first numbering taken soon after leaving Egypt at Sinai, with thirty-eight years between the two enumerations.
The thirty-six chapters of Numbers very nearly cover those thirty-eight years between the two enumerations. The total number of adult males in the nation had not changed much during the interval, from 603,550 to 601,730, though the numbers of the several tribes had changed considerably. Manasseh, to which Jeezer and Helek belong, showed the most pronounced growth, increasing by almost two-thirds from 32,200 to 52,700. The second numbering showed that the generation numbered the first time had died in the wilderness, except Caleb and Joshua, making clear that God had carried out His threatened judgment against the rebellious generation.
The second numbering is to be compared with the first numbering in Numbers 1 to note the differences among the tribes, showing how some tribes fell off and declined and how others increased and gained in number during the wilderness journey. The census was taken by Moses at the Lord's command, and unlike David's census it was not sinful because it was authorized by God. The chapter sets out the good that follows walking in God's ways and the evil that follows turning from His commandments, and its references to seven times mean a sevenfold degree, not a period of time. The verse appears as part of a diversified reading that also includes various laws and ordinances containing valuable instruction and giving interest and profit.