ALPHA MAAMA (A.M.)

 Sapate Siulai 4, 2021

Lau ‘a e tokolahi ‘o e fakataha kātoa ‘o ha‘a ‘Isileli

Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel

Nomipa 26 (Numbers 26)

G. Campbell Morgan's Exposition on the Whole Bible

At this point we begin the third and last movement in the Book of Numbers, that which is devoted to the second numbering of the people and their preparation for taking possession of the land from which they had been excluded for forty years.

We have first the record of historic facts in sequence and all the way an account of how the divine government was insisted upon by the repetition of certain laws with new emphasis and applications. In this particular chapter we have the account of the taking of the census and a record of the families and their numbers.

The record is followed by the account of an instruction given to Moses concerning the division of the land among the tribes, the numbering of the Levites, who possessed no inheritance in the land because they were devoted to the service of God.

An examination of this new census will reveal the omission of many names occurring in the first, while others have taken their place. Thus there is emphasized a marked continuity of purpose, notwithstanding the change of persons.

Two men only of those who long before had come to the same margin of the land were now to pass over into possession. These were Caleb and Joshua, the men who constituted the minority, who saw more than enemies and walled cities because to them the vision of God was unclouded.

David Guzik :: Study Guide for Numbers 26

(v.1-2) PEA hili ‘a e mahaki faka‘auha, pea folofola ‘a Sihova kia Mōsese, pea kia ‘Eliesa foha ‘o ‘Ēlone ko e taula‘eiki, ‘o pehē, Lau ‘a e tokolahi ‘o e fakataha kātoa ‘o ha‘a ‘Isileli, ‘o kamata meiate ia ‘oku uofulu ta‘u ‘o fai hake, ‘o faka‘ulumotu‘a, ‘a kinautolu kotoa ‘i ‘Isileli ‘oku tu‘u ‘i he tau.

(1-2) After the plague, the Lord said to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron, the priest, “Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, from twenty years old and upward, by their fathers’ houses, all in Israel who are able to go to war.”

Take a census of all the congregation of the children of Israel: Some 38 years earlier, at the beginning of the Book of Numbers, while Israel still camped at Mount Sinai, God commanded them to take a census.

The first census was primarily for military organization. If they were to enter into and take possession of the Promised Land, they had to know how many troops they had, and how they should best be organized.

All who are able to go to war in Israel: The purpose of the second census was also made clear. They were to count those able to fight on behalf of Israel. This accounting, 38 years later, was again for military organization.

38 years before Israel was organized enough; they just did not have enough faith to take the Promised Land. Organization is good, and the work of God can suffer from a lack of it; but the best organization can never replace bold trust in God.