1sn The breakdown of ch. 26 for outlining purposes will be essentially according to the tribes of Israel. The format and structure is similar to the first census, and so less comment is necessary here.

2tc The MT has also “saying.”

3tn Heb “house of their fathers.”

4tn Heb “everyone who goes out in the army in Israel.”

5tn The word “River” is not in the Hebrew text, but has been supplied in the translation for clarity (also in v. 62).

6map For the location of Jericho see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.

7tn “Number the people” is added here to the text for a smooth reading.

8tc The Hebrew text has no preposition here, but one has been supplied in the translation for clarity. Cf. vv. 23, 30, 31, 32.

9sn The Reubenites had decreased from 46,500 to 43,730.

10tc The MT has “and the sons of Pallu.”

11tn Or “company” (so KJV, NASB, NRSV); Heb “congregation.”

12tc This is “Zohar” in Exod 6:15 and Gen 46:10.

13sn Before entering Sinai the tribe numbered 59,300, the third largest. Now it was about one-third its original size.

14tc The MT of Gen 46:16 reads this as “Ezbon.”

15tc The Greek version and Smr have “Ad[d]i,” probably by confusion of letters.

16tc Gen 46:16 and the LXX here read “Arodi.”

17sn The Gadites decreased from 45,650 to 40,500.

18tc Smr and the Greek version have “Hamuel.”

19sn The Judahites increased from 74,600 to 76,500.

20sn The Issacharites increased from 54,400 to 64,300.

21sn The Zebulunites showed a slight increase from 57,400 to 60,500.

22sn The Manassehites increased from 32,200 to 52,700.

23sn This is a significant reduction from the first count of 40,500.

24tc With the exception of a few manuscripts the MT has Shephupham. The spelling in the translation above is supported by Smr and the ancient versions.

25tc The LXX has Adar. Cf. 1 Chr 8:3.

26tc “From Ard” is not in the Hebrew text.

27sn The Benjaminites increased from 35,400 to 45,600. The Greek version has here 35,500.

28sn The Danites increased from 62,700 to 64,400.

29tn Also mentioned in 1 Chr 7:30.

30sn The Asherites increased from 41,500 to 53,400.

31sn The Naphtalites decreased from 53,400 to 45,400.

32sn This number shows only a slightly smaller total in the second census; the first was 603,550.

33tn Heb “to many you will multiply his inheritance.”

34tn Heb “to a few you will lessen his inheritance.”

35tn Heb “according to those that were numbered of him,” meaning, in accordance with the number of people in his clan.

36tn Heb “divided.”

37tn Heb “who she bore him to Levi.” The verb has no expressed subject. Either one could be supplied, such as “her mother,” or it could be treated as a passive.

38tn The expression אֵשׁ זָרָה (’esh zarah, “strange fire”) seems imprecise and has been interpreted numerous ways (see the helpful summary in J. E. Hartley, Leviticus [WBC 4], 132-33). The infraction may have involved any of the following or a combination thereof: (1) using coals from some place other than the burnt offering altar (i.e., “unauthorized coals” according to J. Milgrom, Leviticus [AB], 1:598; cf. Lev 16:12 and cf. “unauthorized person” [אִישׁ זָר, ’ish zar] in Num 16:40 [17:5 HT], NASB “layman”), (2) using the wrong kind of incense (cf. the Exod 30:9 regulation against “strange incense” [קְטֹרֶת זָרָה, q˙toret zarah] on the incense altar and the possible connection to Exod 30:34-38), (3) performing an incense offering at an unprescribed time (B. A. Levine, Leviticus [JPSTC], 59), or (4) entering the Holy of Holies at an inappropriate time (Lev 16:1-2).

sn This event is narrated in Lev 10:1-7.

39map For the location of Jericho see Map5-B2; Map6-E1; Map7-E1; Map8-E3; Map10-A2; Map11-A1.

40tn “who had been” is added to clarify the text.