Numbers 26:23-25 · Bible study
Numbers 26:23-25 Commentary: Issachar's Clans and the Census
Hebrew · 5 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why do the names of Issachar's sons differ between Genesis 46 and Numbers 26? Explore the census's significance for tribal structure and God's faithfulness.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The families of Issachar are listed by their founding sons, with a total count of 64,300 warriors, showing the tribe's growth and God's provision.
- Key words: Mishpachah (family/clan, H4940); pekudim (enrolled ones, H6485).
- Main debate: Whether the name variants between Genesis 46 (Iob) and Numbers 26 (Jashub) represent the same person or a different individual; most scholars see them as alternate forms of the same name.
- Theological theme: God's faithfulness to multiply His people and to provide ordered inheritance for each tribe and clan.
- Best use: This passage is ideal for teaching about God's attention to detail in family history and the importance of tribal identity in Israel's covenant community.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
23These were the descendants of Issachar by their clans: The Tolaite clan from Tola, the Punite clan from Puvah,
24the Jashubite clan from Jashub, and the Shimronite clan from Shimron.
25These were the clans of Issachar, and their registration numbered 64,300.
WEB World English Bible 2000
23The sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the family of the Punites;
24of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.
25These are the families of Issachar according to those who were counted of them, sixty-four thousand three hundred.
KJV King James Version 1769
23Of the sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites:
24Of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites: of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.
25These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
23The sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puvah, the family of the Punites;
24of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.
25These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, threescore and four thousand and three hundred.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
23Sons of Issachar by their families; of Tola is the family of the Tolaite; of Pua the family of the Punite;
24of Jashub the family of the Jashubite; of Shimron the family of the Shimronite.
25These are families of Issachar, by their numbered ones, four and sixty thousand and three hundred.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
23The sons of Issachar, after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites; of Puah, the family of the Punites;
24of Jashub, the family of the Jashubites; of Shimron, the family of the Shimronites.
25These are the families of Issachar according to those that were numbered of them, sixty-four thousand three hundred.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
23The sons of Issachar, by their kindreds: Thola of whom is the family of the Tholaites: Phua, of whom is the family of the Phuaites:
24Jasub, of whom is the family of the Jasubites: Semran, of whom is the family of the Semranites.
25These are the kindreds of Issachar, whose number was sixty-four thousand three hundred.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · Numbers 26:23
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Numbers 26:23-25 records the four main clans of Issachar, listing the eponymous ancestors: Tola, Puvah, Jashub, and Shimron. This census, taken on the plains of Moab as Israel prepared to enter Canaan, serves a dual purpose: it counts the men eligible for military service and it establishes the tribal divisions that will determine land inheritance. Gill notes that Issachar's numbers rose from 54,400 in the first census (Numbers 1:29) to 64,300 here, an increase of 9,900, indicating the tribe's vitality. The Cambridge Bible observes that the names are based on Genesis 46:13, but with variant forms (Puvah vs. Pua, Jashub vs. Iob), which likely represent alternative traditions or scribal developments over time. The order of Issachar's clans follows the birth order of Jacob's sons, with Issachar placed under Judah's standard (Numbers 2:5). All sources affirm that this list, like the rest of Numbers 26, shows God fulfilling His promise to multiply Abraham's descendants.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The passage records four clans of Issachar and a census count of 64,300 men, establishing the tribe’s size and family divisions for inheritance in Canaan.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Name variations between Genesis 46:13 and Numbers 26:23-25 | Both lists name four sons/clans of Issachar: Tola, Puvah/Pua, Jashub/Iob, Shimron. | The third son is called Iob in Genesis and Jashub in Numbers. Some see this as mere scribal variation; others suggest two different individuals reconciled through genealogy. |
| Accuracy of population numbers | The numbers reflect the military census of men aged 20+. | Cambridge Bible notes 'impossibility of the figures' if taken literally for a wilderness population; conservative traditions accept them as historically accurate. |
| Purpose of the census | The census determines land inheritance and military organization. | Some emphasize the practical land distribution purpose (Gill), while others see theological symbolism in the totals and order. |
| Tribal order in the census | The order follows Jacob’s sons by birth, with Levi omitted. | Why Manasseh precedes Ephraim (v.29-37) when Ephraim was blessed first by Jacob? This is a separate puzzle not resolved in the text. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Numbers 26 takes place after the plague that followed Israel's sin at Peor (Numbers 25) and before the conquest of Canaan. This is the second census of the new generation; the first occurred at Sinai (Numbers 1). The setting is the plains of Moab, across the Jordan from Jericho. God commands Moses and Eleazar the priest to count all men twenty years old and upward who are able to go to war. The purpose is practical and theological: to organize the army and to allocate land inheritance by tribe and family (Numbers 26:52-56). The repeated phrase "after their families" (mishpeḥotam) uses the key term mishpachah (H4940), which refers to a clan, the middle level between the tribe and the individual household. Each son named becomes a mishpachah (clan), showing the fission of the tribe into sub-groups.
The names themselves carry echoes: Tola means "worm" or "scarlet," Puah means "splendid" or "glistening," Jashub means "he will return," and Shimron means "guardian." These meanings may reflect characteristics or hopes. The variant between "Iob" in Genesis 46:13 and "Jashub" here is the most notable. Brown-Driver-Briggs notes that Jashub is likely the same person, with a slight orthographic shift, the Hebrew consonants y-sh-b (return) replacing y-b (possibly a theophoric shortened form).
Issachar's position in the wilderness camp was on the east side, under the banner of Judah, alongside Zebulun (Numbers 2:3-9). The census number 64,300 represents a significant increase from the earlier count of 54,400, meaning the tribe grew by nearly 10,000 warriors in 38 years, a sign of God's blessing despite the wilderness judgment. The genealogical precision anchors Israel's identity; each family's heritage mattered for land rights and social structure.
Textual Notes
The supplied sources note no significant textual variants for Numbers 26:23-25 within the Masoretic tradition. The most notable variation is between the names in this passage and Genesis 46:13: the third son appears as “Job” (אִיּוֹב) in Genesis and “Jashub” (יָשׁוּב) here. Gill points out this difference, and it likely reflects either a copyist’s alteration or alternate traditions for the same individual. The name forms within the passage itself are consistent across manuscripts.
Reception History
Christian and Jewish exegetes have read this census genealogically: the names serve as evidence of God’s faithfulness across generations. The Geneva Bible and Matthew Henry both treat these verses as part of the larger narrative of Israel’s preparation to inherit Canaan. The repeated phrase “after their families” has been seen as affirming the dignity of each clan. In the Reformation era, commentators like Calvin saw the census as underscoring that God counts His people not as a mass but as distinct families. The variant spelling of Puvah and Jashub has drawn attention from textual critics; it shows how biblical books retain multiple traditions. Overall, this passage is not cited often in doctrinal debates but remains a foundational text for understanding Israel’s tribal structure.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God counts every family. The census shows that God cares about each clan and individual. Every name and number matters to Him.
- God keeps His promises. Issachar's increase from 54,400 to 64,300 displays God's faithfulness to multiply Abraham's descendants.
- God organizes for inheritance. The census isn't bureaucratic; it's the basis for allotting the land. God prepares His people for what He will give them.
Five-point outline
- Issachar's four clans: Tola, Puvah, Jashub, Shimron.
- The number: 64,300 men of fighting age.
- The setting: plains of Moab, second census.
- The contrast with Genesis 46:13 (name variant Iob / Jashub).
- The purpose: inheritance and military order.
Illustration hooks
- Family reunions. At a large family reunion, everyone belongs to a branch, grandparents, aunts, cousins. The census similarly honors each clan as part of the larger tribe.
- Census forms today. Filling out a government census can feel impersonal. This biblical census shows that God counts His people personally, not as statistics.
- Planting a garden. Before planting a community garden, you measure the plot and assign rows. The census measured Israel for their inheritance in Canaan.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Why does the Bible include long lists of names that are hard to pronounce?
- How do we know these numbers are accurate?
- Does God really care about my family's history or spiritual heritage?
Leading a Discussion
This short passage is part of the second census in Numbers. It might seem like a dry list, but it reminds us that God knows His people individually and collectively. As you discuss, consider how God’s careful accounting reflects His love for order and His faithfulness to promises.
Discussion questions
- Read Numbers 26:23-25 and then Genesis 46:13. What differences do you notice in the names? Why might the names have changed?
- Issachar’s number increased from 54,400 (Numbers 1:29) to 64,300. What does this growth tell you about God’s work during the wilderness years?
- The census was taken for inheritance and military purposes. How does the idea of “inheritance” in the Old Testament connect to our spiritual inheritance in Christ?
- Why do you think God commanded such detailed genealogical records? What does this show about His character?
- How does knowing that God “counts” you and your family affect your faith today?
- What are some “clans” or groups in your church family that have a particular role or heritage?
- If you were writing a spiritual census of your own life, what would you count as evidence of God’s faithfulness?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 30:17 | God listened to Leah, and she conceived, and bore Jacob a fifth son. |
| Genesis 30:18 | Leah said, “God has given me my hire, because I gave my servant to my husband.” She named him Issachar. |
| Genesis 46:13 | The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Iob, and Shimron. |
| Numbers 2:5 | “Those who encamp next to him shall be the tribe of Issachar. The prince of the children of Issachar shall be Nethanel the son of Zuar. |
| I Chronicles 7:1 | Of the sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four. |
| Numbers 1:28 | Of the children of Issachar, their generations, by their families, by their fathers’ houses, according to the number of the names, from twenty years old and upward, all who were able to go out to war: |
| Numbers 1:29 | those who were counted of them, of the tribe of Issachar, were fifty-four thousand four hundred. |
| Numbers 2:6 | His division, and those who were counted of it, were fifty-four thousand four hundred. |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
5 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator notes the slight drop in Israel's total fighting men from the first census, from 603,550 to 601,730, and observes that five tribes decreased while seven increased. He also points out that the secular tribes are counted separately from Levi, and that Manasseh now precedes Ephraim in the tribal order.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Notes simply record the names of Issachar's sons and the families that descended from each, together with the total count of the tribe. The comment draws attention to the orderly listing of clans and the precise number, highlighting the careful genealogical record.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill observes that Issachar's tribe was numbered right after Judah because it marched under Judah's standard. He notes slight name variations for two of Issachar's sons between this list and Genesis, and records that the tribe's fighting men increased by 9,900 to a total of 64,300.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange sees this census not as a mere military roll call but as the legal groundwork for distributing the promised land by family. He emphasizes that the people are now organized by their fighting strength, with each tribe's inheritance proportioned to its size and assigned by lot, so every family receives its portion as a direct grant from God.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry notes that this census list deliberately names Dathan and Abiram, notorious rebels against Moses and Aaron, as a lasting sign of God's judgment. At the same time, he observes the mercy that spared Korah's children, who did not die with their father. The record thus preserves both a warning and an example of grace.