Numbers 26:54

Increase the inheritance for a large tribe and decrease it for a small one; each tribe is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those registered.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — God commands Moses and Eleazar to distribute the Promised Land among the tribes following the second census at the plains of Moab. This directive immediately follows the population count and precedes the lot-casting procedure.

The words — The text uses תַּרְבֶּה (tarbeh, "you will make great") and תַּמְעִיט (tam'it, "you will make small") to mandate proportional land allocation. These verbs directly govern נַחֲלָתוֹ (nachalato, "its inheritance") based on the registered census figures.

The thread — The proportional distribution rule reappears in Numbers 33:54, which explicitly ties lot-casting to clan size. The same census-to-territory framework structures the tribal land requests recorded in Numbers 32:3 and Numbers 32:5.

Why it lands — The text states that each tribe receives territory strictly according to its registered population count. It requires readers to accept that divine allotment operates through objective, recorded data rather than subjective preference.

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

לָרַ֗בla./Ravfor the/ many תַּרְבֶּה֙tar.Behyou will make great נַחֲלָת֔וֹna.cha.la.T/oinheritance/ its וְלַמְעַ֕טve./la/m.'Atand/ for the/ few תַּמְעִ֖יטtam.'Ityou will make small נַחֲלָת֑וֹna.cha.la.T/oinheritance/ its אִ֚ישׁ'isheach לְפִ֣יle./Fito/ [the] mouth of פְקֻדָ֔יוfe.ku.Da/venrolled [men]/ his יֻתַּ֖ןyu.Tanit will be given נַחֲלָתֽוֹ׃na.cha.la.T/oinheritance/ its

King James Version

To many thou shalt give the more inheritance, and to few thou shalt give the less inheritance: to every one shall his inheritance be given according to those that were numbered of him.

Cross-references

Numbers 33:54 And you are to divide the land by lot according to your clans. Give a larger inheritance to a larger clan and a smaller inheritance to a smaller one. Whatever falls to each one by lot will be his. You will receive an inheritance according to the tribes of your fathers.
Numbers 32:3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo, and Beon,
Numbers 32:5 “If we have found favor in your sight,” they said, “let this land be given to your servants as a possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.”
Joshua 17:14 Then the sons of Joseph said to Joshua, “Why have you given us only one portion as an inheritance? We have many people, because the LORD has blessed us abundantly.”