The number of registered men from the tribe of Benjamin in the second census
The number 45600 is the count of fighting men from the tribe of Benjamin recorded in the second census on the plains of Moab, as noted in Numbers 26:41. In the first census at Sinai (Numbers 1:37), the tribe of Benjamin numbered 35,400 men, indicating a significant increase of 10,200 men during the wilderness journey. This growth is remarkable considering that many tribes experienced decline in the same period as a result of God's judgments upon the rebellious generation. Benjamin's increase testifies to God's faithfulness to the promises given to this tribe through the patriarch Jacob's blessing. The census on the plains of Moab served the practical purpose of mapping Israel's military strength before entering Canaan, and it formed the basis for distributing the inheritance land according to the size of each tribe. Benjamin was Jacob's youngest son with Rachel. The name means "son of my right hand" or "son of happiness," and the tribe became known for its skilled warriors, especially left-handed slingers (Judges 20:16). The growth of Benjamin from 35400 to 45600 represents an increase of about 28.8%, making it one of the tribes with the greatest percentage growth between the two censuses. The second census in Numbers 26 was conducted after the plague at Peor (Numbers 25) and marked the transition to a new generation that would inherit the promised land. Only Joshua and Caleb survived from the first generation. The allocation of land following the census followed the principle in Numbers 26:54, where larger tribes received larger portions. Benjamin's inheritance came to lie strategically between Judah and Ephraim and later included the city of Jerusalem.*