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26:1-65 The Second Census. The later chapters of Numbers are all concerned with Israel's future life in Canaan. Balaam has predicted a secure and prosperous future there. This census deals with establishing the relative size of the tribes so that they may each be given an appropriately sized holding (vv. 53-54). The first census (ch. 1) was primarily concerned with establishing the number of fighting men, but this issue is mentioned only once in this second census (in 26:2). The issue of territory probably also explains why the second census is so interested in the clans that make up each tribe--which are hardly mentioned in ch. 1. The total number of Israelites has changed very little between the censuses: 603,550 (first) and 601,730 (second). Even though the total may be similar, 26:64-65 stresses that the people being counted are quite different: only Joshua and Caleb figure in both totals. The tribal totals vary somewhat more than the overall total, but the most striking change is the fall in Simeon's total from 59,300 to 22,200 and the increase in Manasseh's from 32,200 to 52,700. The fall in Simeon's numbers could be partly due to the plague caused by Zimri, the Simeonite (25:9, 14), but there is no obvious explanation for the increase in Manasseh. (On interpreting the census numbers, see note on 1:20-46.)