Topical Bible: Tribe of Naphtali: Census of

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Topical Encyclopedia

The Tribe of Naphtali, one of the twelve tribes of Israel, descended from Naphtali, the sixth son of Jacob and the second son of Bilhah, Rachel's maidservant (Genesis 30:7-8). The tribe played a significant role in the history of Israel, and its population was recorded during the censuses conducted in the wilderness period, as documented in the Book of Numbers.

First Census:

The first census of the Israelites, as commanded by God to Moses, took place in the second year after the Exodus from Egypt. This census was conducted to organize the Israelites for their journey and military campaigns. According to Numbers 1:42-43 , the tribe of Naphtali was counted as follows:

"From the sons of Naphtali, their genealogies according to their clans and families, every male twenty years of age and older, everyone who could serve in the army, those registered with the tribe of Naphtali numbered 53,400."

This initial count positioned Naphtali as a moderately sized tribe among the Israelites, contributing significantly to the military strength of the nation during their wilderness wanderings.

Second Census:

A second census was conducted nearly 40 years later, as the Israelites prepared to enter the Promised Land. This census, recorded in Numbers 26, was necessary to allocate the land inheritance among the tribes. Numbers 26:48-50 provides the details of the tribe of Naphtali:

"The descendants of Naphtali by their clans were: from Jahzeel, the Jahzeelite clan; from Guni, the Gunite clan; from Jezer, the Jezerite clan; from Shillem, the Shillemite clan. These were the clans of Naphtali, and their registration numbered 45,400."

The second census revealed a decrease in the population of the tribe of Naphtali, with a total of 45,400 men eligible for military service. This decline in numbers may reflect the challenges and trials faced by the Israelites during their wilderness journey.

Significance:

The censuses of the tribe of Naphtali highlight the tribe's role within the larger community of Israel. The tribe's numbers, though diminished in the second census, still represented a significant portion of the Israelite fighting force. The censuses also served as a means of organizing the tribes for the distribution of the land in Canaan, ensuring that each tribe received its inheritance according to its size and needs.

The tribe of Naphtali, like the other tribes, was integral to the fulfillment of God's promises to the patriarchs, as they prepared to settle in the land flowing with milk and honey. The censuses underscore the importance of order, preparation, and faithfulness in the journey of God's people.

Nave's Topical Index

Numbers 1:42,43
Of the children of Naphtali, throughout their generations, after their families, by the house of their fathers, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all that were able to go forth to war;
Nave's Topical Index

Numbers 26:48-50
Of the sons of Naphtali after their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites: of Guni, the family of the Gunites:
Nave's Topical Index

Library

The Jewish Institutions and Laws of Far Higher Antiquity than the ...
... of Bener, [2041] of the tribe of Naphtali, commanding the ... son of a Jewish mother,
of the tribe of Dan ... the twenty-eighth year, when first the census was ordered ...
/.../the stromata or miscellanies/chapter xxi the jewish institutions and.htm

Chapter xlix
... The second census shortly before the Occupation of Canaan ... Barak and the ten thousand
of Naphtali and Zebulon ... will be the distinguishing marks of this tribe. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlix.htm