Numbers 26:55
But the land shall be divided by lot. According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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While the census numbers determined the size of each tribe's inheritance, the lot was employed to decide the location of those portions. This subtle but crucial detail reveals God's direct involvement in assigning land, ensuring fairness and removing disputes by demonstrating His sovereign hand in the distribution.
This passage occurs after a census of the Israelite tribes has been taken, following a severe plague. God instructs Moses on how the Promised Land will be distributed, emphasizing fairness based on the size of each tribe. The verses immediately following will detail the specific inheritances for each tribe and their boundaries.
Ever wondered how a nation, after so many trials, gets its 'fair share' of land? This verse points to a divine method of distribution.
The land of Canaan, a gift from God, was to be divided among the twelve tribes. While the size of each portion was determined by the number of people in each tribe (Numbers 26:54), the specific location of that portion was decided by lot.
This wasn't a random free-for-all. Casting lots was a way to appeal directly to God for His decision. It removed any human favoritism or potential for disputes among the tribes. Everyone could trust that their inheritance was assigned by God Himself, ensuring peace and acceptance of their assigned territory.
Your name carries weight, but what if it also determined your inheritance? This verse connects tribal identity directly to land ownership.
The division of the land wasn't just about geography; it was deeply personal, tied to the identity of each tribe. The phrase 'according to the names of the tribes of their fathers' means that each tribe would inherit land that bore the name and legacy of its ancestral patriarch.
This reinforced a sense of belonging and continuity. It wasn't an impersonal distribution; it was an inheritance passed down through families, linking the present generation to their ancestors and to the promises God had made to them.
Understand the original words
gowral · Hebrew Noun
The use of a divine mechanism (such as Urim and Thummim) to discern God’s will in matters of decision or division. It acknowledges God’s sovereign control over human circumstances and prevents human bias.
The command to divide the land by lot emphasizes God's direct involvement and sovereignty in giving His people their inheritance, removing potential disputes and ensuring each tribe received its portion according to His will.
c. 1406 BC
Israelites Enter Canaan
Following 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites, under Joshua's leadership, cross the Jordan River and begin the conquest of the Promised Land.
c. 1400 BC— this verse
Division of Land by Lot
After the conquest of Canaan, the land is systematically divided among the twelve tribes of Israel based on the census taken in Numbers 26. The specific portion for each tribe is determined by casting lots, ensuring a divinely appointed distribution.
c. 1375 BC
Tribal Territories Established
The initial division of land by lot leads to the establishment of distinct territories for most of the tribes of Israel within Canaan.
c. 1375 BC
Settlement East of Jordan
Two and a half tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh) had already settled in the Transjordanian region prior to the main division of land in Canaan, having been granted their territory earlier.
This passage shows the lots being cast for the inheritance of the land in Canaan, mirroring the process described in Numbers when dividing the promised land.
Proverbs 16:33This verse highlights the concept that 'The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord,' which directly supports the idea in Numbers that the land division by lot was under divine direction.
Acts 1:26Here, the casting of lots is used to choose Matthias to replace Judas, demonstrating the ongoing practice of using lots to discern God's will for appointments and divisions.
1 Chronicles 26:26This passage describes the dedication of treasures and materials for the temple, which were also distributed and accounted for by lot, showing the principle extended to sacred duties.
Judges 1:3Judah's invitation to Simeon to join him in his 'lot' illustrates how tribes sometimes shared or adjusted their allotted portions, indicating flexibility within the framework of the land division.
bensonNumbers 26:55: "Notwithstanding the land shall be divided by lot: according to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit."
Numbers 26:55 . By lot — The quantity of land, it seems, was to be assigned according to the number in each tribe, but the situation was to be determined by lot, both as to the tribes and as to individuals. For instance, it was determined by lot which of the tribes were to inherit in the south, which in the north, &c. But in that quarter where their lot fe…
calvinNumbers 26:1-65: "And it came to pass after the plague, that the LORD spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest, saying,"
And the sons of Eliab; Nemuel, and Dathan, and Abiram. This is that Dathan and Abiram which were famous in the congregation, who strove against Moses and against Aaron in the company of Korah, when they strove against the Lord:
Filii autem Eliab, Nebuel, Dathan et Abiron: isti sunt Dathan et Abiron majores synagogae qui rixati sunt contra Mosen et…
While the census numbers determined the size of each tribe's inheritance, the lot was employed to decide the location of those portions. This subtle but crucial detail reveals God's direct involvement in assigning land, ensuring fairness and removing disputes by demonstrating His sovereign hand in the distribution.
This passage occurs after a census of the Israelite tribes has been taken, following a severe plague. God instructs Moses on how the Promised Land will be distributed, emphasizing fairness based on the size of each tribe. The verses immediately following will detail the specific inheritances for each tribe and their boundaries.
This passage occurs after a census of the Israelite tribes has been taken, following a severe plague. God instructs Moses on how the Promised Land will be distributed, emphasizing fairness based on the size of each tribe. The verses immediately following will detail the specific inheritances for each tribe and their boundaries.
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"But the land shall be divided by lot. According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit." — While the census numbers determined the size of each tribe's inheritance, the lot was employed to decide the location of those portions. This subtle but crucial detail reveals God's direct invo…
