What does Numbers 26:27 mean?
"These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred." - Numbers 26:27

Numbers 26:27 from the King James Version of the Bible reads: "These are the families of the Zarhites: and they that were numbered of them were threescore and ten thousand and five hundred."
In order to fully understand the meaning and significance of this verse, it is important to examine the broader context in which it appears. The book of Numbers is the fourth book of the Hebrew Bible and it continues the story of the Israelites after their exodus from Egypt. This particular verse is part of a census of the Israelite people that was conducted at the command of God.
At this point in the narrative, the Israelites have been wandering in the desert for forty years as a consequence of their lack of faith and disobedience to God. The census was taken as the Israelites prepared to enter the promised land of Canaan. The purpose of the census was to count and organize the people according to their tribes and families.
In Numbers 26:27, the focus is specifically on the family of Zarhites. The number of Zarhites who were counted in the census was seventy thousand and five hundred. The significance of this number is that it demonstrates the size and strength of the Zarhite family within the larger community of Israel. It also illustrates the fulfilling of God's promise in Genesis 15:5 to make the descendants of Abraham as numerous as the stars in the sky.
The mention of the Zarhites in this verse is significant because it highlights the importance of family and lineage within the Israelite community. In the Hebrew culture, family and tribe were of utmost importance, and one's identity and heritage were closely tied to their ancestral lineage. This emphasis on lineage also served to reinforce the idea of God's faithfulness to His covenant with the descendants of Abraham.
The Zarhites themselves were a part of the larger tribe of Simeon, one of the twelve tribes of Israel. The significance of their large number in the census indicated that they were a prominent and influential family within the tribe of Simeon. This would have given them a certain level of prestige and responsibility within the community.
The numerical value mentioned in this verse also holds symbolic significance. In biblical numerology, the number seventy often represents completeness and perfection. The inclusion of the number five hundred further emphasizes the abundance and prosperity of the Zarhite family. This can be seen as a reflection of God's blessing and favor upon them.
The broader themes of family, community, and faithfulness to God are woven throughout this verse. The emphasis on the importance of familial ties and lineage serves to underscore the interconnectedness of the Israelite people and their shared identity as God's chosen people. The numerical count of the Zarhites further illustrates the fulfillment of God's promises and the abundant blessings that He bestows upon His people.
In conclusion, Numbers 26:27 offers a glimpse into the significance of familial lineage and the abundance of blessings that God bestows upon His people. The numerical count of the Zarhites serves as a symbol of God's faithfulness and the fulfillment of His promises. This verse reminds us of the importance of community and the ties that bind us together as God's chosen people.
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Numbers 26:27 Artwork
Numbers 26:27 - "These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred."
"These are the families of the Zebulunites according to those that were numbered of them, threescore thousand and five hundred." - Numbers 26:27
Numbers 14:26-27 - "And the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, "How long shall this wicked congregation grumble against me? I have heard the grumblings of the people of Israel, which they grumble against me."
Matthew 27:26
Matthew 27:26
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Numbers 26:8 - "And the sons of Pallu; Eliab."
Numbers 26:26 - "¶ Of the sons of Zebulun after their families: of Sered, the family of the Sardites: of Elon, the family of the Elonites: of Jahleel, the family of the Jahleelites."
Numbers 26:46 - "And the name of the daughter of Asher was Sarah."
Numbers 27:5 - "And Moses brought their cause before the LORD."
Numbers 26:11 - "Notwithstanding the children of Korah died not."
Numbers 27:15 - "¶ And Moses spake unto the LORD, saying,"
Numbers 27:6 - "¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
Numbers 33:27 - "And they departed from Tahath, and pitched at Tarah."
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Numbers 33:26 - "And they removed from Makheloth, and encamped at Tahath."
Israelites taking census in Numbers 26
Numbers 26:52 - "¶ And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,"
Numbers 26:36 - "And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites."
Numbers 26:53 - "Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance according to the number of names."
Acts 27:26 - "Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island."
Numbers 26:39 - "Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites: of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites."
Numbers 26:31 - "And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites:"
Numbers 26:6 - "Of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites: of Carmi, the family of the Carmites."
Numbers 26:49 - "Of Jezer, the family of the Jezerites: of Shillem, the family of the Shillemites."
Numbers 26:24 - "Of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites: of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites."