And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites:
This verse names two families of the tribe of Manasseh, the Asrielites descended from Asriel and the Shechemites descended from Shechem, as counted in Israel's census in the plains of Moab. It belongs to the second numbering of Israel, taken by Moses at the Lord's command at the close of the forty years of wandering in the wilderness. That numbering came nearly forty years after leaving Egypt and just before entering Canaan, forty years after the first numbering in Numbers 1. By that time all those counted in the first numbering had died except Caleb and Joshua.
It is to be compared with the first numbering in Numbers 1 to note the difference in the tribes. The comparison shows how during the forty years some tribes increased or gained greatly and others decreased or lost. The families named here make up part of Manasseh's total of 52,700 adult males, against 32,200 at the first numbering soon after leaving Egypt. That increase of 20,500 was the most pronounced growth among the tribes at almost two-thirds of its former size, while the whole nation changed little from 603,550 to 601,730.
The second numbering proves beyond dispute that God fulfilled His threatened judgment. The wicked generation that rebelled openly against God was excluded by solemn oath from the land of promise and perished in the wilderness. Unlike David's unauthorized numbering of Israel, the census Moses took at the Lord's command brought no trouble. It stands with various laws and ordinances containing valuable instruction, making a diversified reading of interest and profit.
It warns those hoping to enter the kingdom of God, whose hopes and tokens of favor cannot be stronger than Israel's were, that sin carried in the heart will inevitably bring ruin.
This verse names two families of the tribe of Manasseh, the Asrielites descended from Asriel and the Shechemites descended from Shechem, as counted in Israel's census in the plains of Moab. It belongs to the second numbering of Israel, taken by Moses at the Lord's command at the close of the forty years of wandering in the wilderness. That numbering came nearly forty years after leaving Egypt and just before entering Canaan, forty years after the first numbering in Numbers 1. By that time all those counted in the first numbering had died except Caleb and Joshua.
It is to be compared with the first numbering in Numbers 1 to note the difference in the tribes. The comparison shows how during the forty years some tribes increased or gained greatly and others decreased or lost. The families named here make up part of Manasseh's total of 52,700 adult males, against 32,200 at the first numbering soon after leaving Egypt. That increase of 20,500 was the most pronounced growth among the tribes at almost two-thirds of its former size, while the whole nation changed little from 603,550 to 601,730.
The second numbering proves beyond dispute that God fulfilled His threatened judgment. The wicked generation that rebelled openly against God was excluded by solemn oath from the land of promise and perished in the wilderness. Unlike David's unauthorized numbering of Israel, the census Moses took at the Lord's command brought no trouble. It stands with various laws and ordinances containing valuable instruction, making a diversified reading of interest and profit.
It warns those hoping to enter the kingdom of God, whose hopes and tokens of favor cannot be stronger than Israel's were, that sin carried in the heart will inevitably bring ruin.