The Church Fathers on this verse

Numbers 26:1Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

After the blood of the guilty was shed, the Lord said to Moses and to Eleazar the son of Aaron, the priest:

Douay-Rheims

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהוָה֙ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֔ה וְאֶ֧ל אֶלְעָזָ֛ר בֶּן־אַהֲרֹ֥ן הַכֹּהֵ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

Why did the Lord instruct the Israelites to be counted anew (Num. 26: 1-2)? Although He had already rendered judgment on those previously numbered and destined their offspring to enter the promised land, whom they claimed would be captives (Num. 14:3), He ordered that the children should also be counted. This was to demonstrate the efficacy of His blessing, ensuring that even after the fathers' passing, the number would remain unchanged.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.