What is the meaning of Numbers 26:31? Asrielite clan from Asriel • Numbers 26 places the census on the plains of Moab as Israel prepares to enter Canaan; v. 31 names the Asrielites so their numbers can be recorded for land allotment (cf. Numbers 26:52–56). • Asriel, originally listed as a son of Manasseh (Genesis 46:20; 1 Chronicles 7:14), has now become the forefather of a sizable clan. This shows God’s blessing of fruitfulness on the descendants of Joseph (Genesis 48:19). • Their separate mention underscores the covenant promise that each family line would inherit territory in the promised land (Joshua 17:1–2). • The census also highlights God’s faithfulness after thirty-eight years in the wilderness: although an entire unbelieving generation died (Numbers 26:64–65), the clans themselves survived and even grew. Shechemite clan from Shechem • Like Asriel, Shechem is named among the sons of Gilead, grandson of Manasseh (Numbers 26:29–31). His descendants form the Shechemite clan, counted for inheritance alongside the Asrielites. • Their name recalls the city of Shechem in the hill country of Ephraim, land later given to Joseph’s tribe (Joshua 24:1, 32). The pairing of clan and future territory illustrates how God weaves personal history and geography together for His purposes. • By listing the Shechemites separately, Scripture affirms the value of every branch of God’s people. Even a short line in a census assures them that the Lord knows their name and secures their place (Isaiah 43:1). • The detail also anticipates Joshua’s division of the land, where the children of Manasseh receive territory on both sides of the Jordan (Joshua 17:5–6), fulfilling promises first spoken to Abraham (Genesis 15:18). summary Numbers 26:31 simply names two clans—Asrielite and Shechemite—but its meaning is rich: God keeps precise record of His people, preserves each family line through the wilderness, and prepares specific inheritances for them in the land. The verse reminds believers today that the Lord’s promises are detailed, dependable, and directed toward every individual who trusts Him. |
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