Numbers 26:31

And of Asriel, the family of the Asrielites: and of Shechem, the family of the Shechemites:

Numbers 26:31 (KJV)

Context

In Numbers 26, Moses and Eleazar the priest conduct a second census in the plains of Moab, just before Israel crosses the Jordan. This count prepares the nation for military service and for dividing the land, confirming each tribe’s inheritance rights.

Meaning

Numbers 26:31 names two families within the tribe of Manasseh: the Asrielites and the Shechemites. Asriel was a grandson of Manasseh through Machir and Gilead. The name Asriel may mean “Vow of God.” Shechem was another grandson, and his family bore the name of the important city of Shechem, where Jacob’s sons had acted long before (Genesis 34). This city later became a place of covenant renewal.

Biblical connections

Manasseh was a son of Joseph, so these families belonged to the larger promise given to Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation. The census shows God’s faithfulness in preserving each tribe and family through generations. According to 1 Chronicles 7:14, Asriel was born to Manasseh by an Aramitess concubine, showing that God’s plan included people of varied backgrounds. The listing of families by their ancestors highlights the importance of lineage in God’s redemptive history.

Application

This list reminds us that God cares for every family and every person. Each name mattered for inheritance and for the nation’s future. In the same way, God knows each believer personally and has a place for them in His purposes. He orders His people with care, and no one is forgotten.

Reflection

God’s promises are reliable across many generations. The careful records of these families show that He keeps His word and orders His people with purpose. We can trust Him to remember us and to give us our own place in His plan.