Breakdown of Numbers 26:55-56

"But the land shall be divided by lot. According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. Their inheritance shall be divided according to lot between the larger and the smaller.”" — The text doesn't just say the land was divided by lot; it emphasizes that the names of the tribes were the basis for the lots. This highlights that their inheritance wasn't arbitrary but was divine…

Numbers 26:55-56 Meaning Explained

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Numbers 26:55-56

But the land shall be divided by lot. According to the names of the tribes of their fathers they shall inherit. Their inheritance shall be divided according to lot between the larger and the smaller.”

English Standard Version (ESV)

The text doesn't just say the land was divided by lot; it emphasizes that the names of the tribes were the basis for the lots. This highlights that their inheritance wasn't arbitrary but was divinely ordained, ensuring every tribe received its portion based on God's sovereign decree, not human arrangement.

What Numbers 26:55-56 means

This passage comes after a census of the Israelite tribes, a necessary step before they can take possession of the Promised Land. While the size of each tribe's portion is determined by its population size, the actual location and boundaries of their inheritance are decided by casting lots, ensuring God's divine ordering of their new home. This method of division, a reflection of God's will, would prevent disputes among the tribes as they settled into the land.

Divine Equity in Land Division

How did God ensure fairness when dividing a promised land among so many people? It wasn't left to chance or favoritism.

The passage reveals God's intentional system for dividing the land of Canaan among the tribes. While the amount of land was determined by the tribe's size (more people, more land, as seen in verse 54: "To many you shall give the more inheritance, and to few you shall give the less inheritance"), the specific location of each tribe's inheritance was decided by lot. This method served two crucial purposes:

Removing Strife: As commentators note, using lots eliminated potential arguments or disputes between tribes about who got the best or largest portions. Everyone could trust that the outcome was from God Himself.
Divine Authority: Casting lots was a way to appeal directly to God for the final decision. It affirmed that the land was God's gift and that His will determined its distribution. This practice underscored God's sovereignty over all things, including the land He promised.

Inheriting Through Ancestral Names

Why are the 'names of the tribes' so important in the division of the land? It's about identity and legacy.

The verse emphasizes that inheritance was tied to the names of the tribes of their fathers. This wasn't just a bureaucratic detail; it connected each generation to their lineage and the covenant promises made to their ancestors.

Covenant Identity: The tribes were named after the sons of Jacob (Israel). Receiving an inheritance in the land was a tangible fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that their descendants would possess the land. The name itself carried the weight of that promise.
Divine Remembrance: By dividing the land according to tribal names, God was actively remembering His covenant with their forefathers. It signaled that their inheritance was not arbitrary but rooted in God's faithfulness to His promises, despite the people's failures.

Understand the original words

Original language

lotגּוֹרָל

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.

inheritanceנַחֲלָה

nachalah · Hebrew Noun

Refers to the portion of land or property allotted to a tribe or family as their permanent possession. In the context of Israel, it is a covenantal gift from God, symbolizing His provision and their identity as His people.

lotגּוֹרָל

goral · Hebrew Noun

A method used in the Old Testament to determine God's will in dividing land or making decisions. It involved casting objects to reveal divine guidance, trusting that God sovereignly controls the outcome.

Historical context

Written: Around 13th century BC, during the Israelites' wilderness wanderings.
Author: Traditionally understood as Moses, though modern scholarship suggests possible later editing.
Location: Written from the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, near Jericho.
Genre: Biblical narrative, a census record with legal and historical elements. It features detailed genealogical lists and divine instructions for land distribution.

Historical background

The use of lots for dividing the land provided a divinely sanctioned method to prevent disputes, ensuring each tribe received its inheritance according to God's will, not human favoritism or power.

c. 1406 BC
Israelites Enter Canaan
After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites cross the Jordan River and begin the conquest of the Promised Land.
c. 1400-1390 BC
Conquest and Initial Division of Land
The military conquest of Canaan is underway, and the land is being allotted to the tribes based on God's command.
c. 1390 BC— this verse
Land Division by Lot
The land of Canaan is formally divided among the nine and a half tribes by casting lots, ensuring a divinely ordained and fair distribution.
c. 1390 BC
Settlement East of Jordan
Two and a half tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh) had already settled the lands east of the Jordan River prior to this formal division.

Key themes

01Divine appointment of inheritance
02Tribal land allocation
03God's order and fairness

Cross-references

Joshua 14:2

This passage shows the actual casting of lots for the inheritance of the land, illustrating how the principle mentioned in Numbers 26:55 was carried out.

Proverbs 16:33

This proverb directly echoes the idea that lots are cast, but the final outcome is from the Lord, reinforcing the divine sovereignty over the division of the land mentioned in Numbers.

1 Chronicles 26:16

This verse describes the appointment of duties for the Levites by lot, showing the practice of using lots for distribution and assignment within Israelite society beyond just land inheritance.

Acts 1:26

This New Testament passage describes the choosing of Matthias by lot to replace Judas, demonstrating the continued use of lots for important decisions within the early church, connecting to the ancient practice.

Scholarly commentary

Numbers 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…
benson

Numbers 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…

calvin

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What Numbers 26:55-56 means

Original language

lotגּוֹרָל

gowral · Hebrew Noun

inheritanceנַחֲלָה

nachalah · Hebrew Noun

lotגּוֹרָל

goral · Hebrew Noun

Historical context

Written: Around 13th century BC, during the Israelites' wilderness wanderings.
Author: Traditionally understood as Moses, though modern scholarship suggests possible later editing.
Location: Written from the plains of Moab, east of the Jordan River, near Jericho.
Genre: Biblical narrative, a census record with legal and historical elements. It features detailed genealogical lists and divine instructions for land distribution.

Historical background

The use of lots for dividing the land provided a divinely sanctioned method to prevent disputes, ensuring each tribe received its inheritance according to God's will, not human favoritism or power.

c. 1406 BC

Israelites Enter Canaan

After 40 years in the wilderness, the Israelites cross the Jordan River and begin the conquest of the Promised Land.

c. 1400-1390 BC

Conquest and Initial Division of Land

The military conquest of Canaan is underway, and the land is being allotted to the tribes based on God's command.

c. 1390 BC— this verse

Land Division by Lot

The land of Canaan is formally divided among the nine and a half tribes by casting lots, ensuring a divinely ordained and fair distribution.

c. 1390 BC

Settlement East of Jordan

Two and a half tribes (Reuben, Gad, and half of Manasseh) had already settled the lands east of the Jordan River prior to this formal division.

Scholarly commentary

Numbers 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…
benson

Numbers 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…

calvin

Frequently asked questions

What does Numbers 26:55-56 mean?

Explain the meaning of Numbers 26:55-56

What is the context of Numbers 26:55-56?

Ask Sola about this verse

Ask Sola things like:

“What does "lot" mean in the original Hebrew?”
“Why did Traditionally understood as Moses, though modern scholarship suggests possible later editing. write Numbers 26:55-56?”
“How does divine appointment of inheritance show up in Numbers 26:55-56?”

Ask in the Sola app Get the app

Live chat about Numbers 26:55-56 is available in the Sola app.