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Genesis 41:51,52
And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God,said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house…

Genesis 46:20
And unto Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.

Genesis 48:5,13-20
And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt,are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine…

and their registration numbered 60,500
The census number of 60,500 reflects the military strength of the tribe of Zebulun at that time. This was an increase from the previous census inNumbers 1, where Zebulun had 57,400 men. The increase in numbers could be seen as a sign of God's blessing and faithfulness to His promise to multiply the descendants of Abraham. The tribe's growth also underscores the importance of Zebulun in the collective strength of Israel as they prepared to conquer Canaan. In a broader biblical context, the tribe of Zebulun is mentioned in the blessings of Jacob (Genesis 49:13) and Moses (Deuteronomy 33:18-19), where their future prosperity and role in trade and maritime activities are highlighted.

• The verse recalls the three family branches named just a line earlier: “the Seredite clan, the Elonite clan, and the Jahleelite clan” (Numbers 26:26).

• By listing the clans, Scripture affirms the real, traceable lineage of Zebulun, son of Leah and Jacob (Genesis 30:20).

• Family identity mattered because land and inheritance would soon be divided tribe by tribe (Joshua 19:10-16).

• The mention of clans also ties back to Jacob’s blessing: “Zebulun shall dwell by the seashore” (Genesis 49:13). God is faithfully moving the promise toward fulfillment.

• The fact that every clan is named shows God’s personal knowledge of His people, echoed in passages likeIsaiah 43:1 where He calls them “by name.”

• “Registration” points to the second wilderness census (Numbers 26:2), taken almost forty years after the first (Numbers 1:2-3).

• The count served practical purposes:

– Preparing able-bodied men for the coming conquest of Canaan (Numbers 26:53).

– Establishing the basis for fair land allotment (Numbers 26:54).

• The census underscores God’s orderliness (1 Corinthians 14:33) and His concern for structure among His people.

• Each individual mattered; no one slipped through the cracks—anticipating Jesus’ teaching that even “the very hairs of your head are all numbered” (Luke 12:7).

• Compared to the first census total of 57,400 (Numbers 1:31), Zebulun gained 3,100 men despite wilderness hardships.

• Growth in the face of judgment (Numbers 14:29-35) displays God’s sustaining grace and covenant faithfulness (Deuteronomy 7:9).

• The figure confirms Zebulun remained one of Israel’s larger tribes, ready for battle (Judges 5:18) and prosperity foretold in Moses’ blessing (Deuteronomy 33:18-19).

• Every specific number in Scripture carries weight; here it testifies that God kept Zebulun intact and increasing, validating His promise to multiply Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 22:17).

Numbers 26:27 is more than a census statistic. By naming Zebulun’s clans, recording their official enrollment, and preserving the exact total of 60,500, God showcases His precision, covenant loyalty, and care for every family and individual. The verse assures us that He tracks His people’s journey, preserves them through trials, and positions them for the inheritance He has promised.

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