Numbers 26:41

These were the clans of Benjamin, and their registration numbered 45,600.

Berean Standard Bible

Study note

Setting — Moses addresses the Israelite camp on the plains of Moab, recording a second census before the conquest of Canaan. The text states that Benjamin's clans were enumerated and totaled 45,600 registered men.

The words — פְּקֻדֵיהֶם (p'kudeihem) means "their enrolled [men]," indicating a formal administrative and military count. The phrase חֲמִשָּׁה וְאַרְבָּעִים אֶלֶף (chamishah ve'arbim elef) literally reads "five and forty thousand."

The thread — This tally corresponds to the first census in Numbers 1:36 and traces to the genealogical records in Genesis 46:21. The tribe's subsequent camp placement is noted in Numbers 2:22.

Why it lands — The passage requires acknowledging that covenant inheritance and military organization depend on precise divine accounting. It asks the reader to accept that God's promises are executed through structured, documented communities rather than abstract promises.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

אֵ֥לֶּה'E.lehthese בְנֵי־ve.nei-[were] [the] descendants of בִנְיָמִ֖ןvin.ya.MinBenjamin לְמִשְׁפְּחֹתָ֑םle./mish.pe.cho.Ta/mto/ clans/ their וּפְקֻ֣דֵיהֶ֔םu./fe.Ku.dei./Hemand/ enrolled [men]/ their חֲמִשָּׁ֧הcha.mi.Shah[were] five וְאַרְבָּעִ֛יםve./'ar.ba.'Imand/ forty אֶ֖לֶף'E.lefthousand וְשֵׁ֥שׁve./Sheshand/ six מֵאֽוֹת׃ סme.'othundred<s>

King James Version

These are the sons of Benjamin after their families: and they that were numbered of them were forty and five thousand and six hundred.

Cross-references

Genesis 46:21 The sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.
Numbers 1:36 From the sons of Benjamin, according to the records of their clans and families, counting the names of all those twenty years of age or older who could serve in the army,
Numbers 2:22 Next will be the tribe of Benjamin. The leader of the Benjamites is Abidan son of Gideoni,