Numbers 26:23
Of the sons of Issachar after their families: of Tola, the family of the Tolaites: of Pua, the family of the Punites:
Numbers 26:23 (KJV)
Context
Numbers 26 records the second census of Israel, taken in the plains of Moab as the people prepared to enter the Promised Land. God commanded Moses and Eleazar the priest to count the men fit for military service. The results also determined how the land would be divided among the tribes, organizing the new generation for the conquest of Canaan.
Meaning
This verse names the first two sons of Issachar and their families. Tola gave rise to the Tolaites, and Pua (also spelled Puvah) gave rise to the Punites. The following verse adds Jashub and Shimron, whose families were the Jashubites and Shimronites. These four clans formed the tribe of Issachar, which descended from Jacob’s ninth son, born to Leah (Genesis 30:17-18). The listing by name shows the importance of genealogical identity.
Biblical connections
The same family line appears in Genesis 46:13, where Pua is called Phuvah and Jashub is called Job. The spelling differs slightly, but the family is the same. The census total for Issachar was 64,300 men, an increase of 9,900 from the first census at Sinai (Numbers 1:29). This growth shows that the tribe flourished during the wilderness years. Later, a judge named Tola from this tribe led Israel (Judges 10:1-2), showing that these families continued to serve God’s purposes. The continuity of the family line confirms God’s covenant faithfulness.
Application
This brief record reminds us that God values every family and every person. Even when the Bible gives few details about someone, that person still has a place in God’s plan. The census was not only for military purposes; it prepared the people to receive their inheritance. In the same way, God knows each of us by name and has a specific role for us in His community. We can trust that our lives matter to Him.
Reflection
Consider how God has preserved your own family line and placed you within His people. The faithfulness shown in keeping these records encourages us to trust that God will also keep His promises to us. We can take comfort that our lives, though they may seem small, are part of a larger story that God is writing.
