Numbers 1 15

Numbers 1:15 kjv

Of Naphtali; Ahira the son of Enan.

Numbers 1:15 nkjv

from Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan."

Numbers 1:15 niv

from Naphtali, Ahira son of Enan."

Numbers 1:15 esv

from Naphtali, Ahira the son of Enan."

Numbers 1:15 nlt

Naphtali ? Ahira son of Enan

Numbers 1 15 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Num 1:2"Take a census of all the congregation of the people of Israel, by their clans and fathers' houses..."Census command for military readiness.
Num 1:4"With you there shall be a man from each tribe, each being the head of his father's house."The role of the appointed tribal heads.
Ex 30:11-16"...each one who is listed in the counts, from twenty years old and upward..."Census purpose for ransom and accounting.
Num 7:1-11"On the first day Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah..."Tribal leaders' offerings upon tabernacle completion.
Num 7:78-83"On the twelfth day Ahira the son of Enan, the leader of the people of Naphtali..."Ahira presents Naphtali's offering.
Num 10:1-10"The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Make two silver trumpets... for calling the congregation and for breaking camp.'"Signals for Israel's ordered movement.
Num 10:27"Then the division of the tribe of the people of Naphtali set out, and Ahira the son of Enan was over their host."Ahira leads Naphtali's marching division.
Num 26:48-50"The descendants of Naphtali by their clans: of Jahzeel, the clan of the Jahzeelites..."Naphtali's clans in the second census.
Gen 30:7-8"Then Bilhah conceived again and bore Jacob a second son. And Rachel said, 'With mighty wrestlings...' So she called his name Naphtali."Origin of the name Naphtali.
Gen 46:24"The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem."Naphtali's family in Egypt.
Gen 49:21"Naphtali is a doe let loose that yields beautiful fawns."Jacob's prophetic blessing for Naphtali.
Deut 33:23"O Naphtali, satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of the Lord..."Moses' blessing on Naphtali's land and people.
Jos 19:32-39"The sixth lot came out for the people of Naphtali, for the people of Naphtali according to their clans."Naphtali's inheritance in the Promised Land.
Judg 4:6-10"She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-Naphtali..."Barak, a leader from Naphtali, fights against Sisera.
Judg 5:18"Zebulun is a people who risked their lives to the death; Naphtali too, on the heights of the field."Naphtali's bravery in Deborah's song.
1 Chr 7:13"The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah."Genealogy of Naphtali in Chronicles.
Isa 9:1-2"In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time..."Prophecy of light in Naphtali's region.
Matt 4:13-16"and leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken..."Jesus fulfills Isaiah's prophecy in Galilee.
Rev 7:6"...of the tribe of Naphtali 12,000 were sealed..."Naphtali's presence among the sealed tribes.
Ex 18:21-22"Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, trustworthy men..."Principle of selecting qualified leaders.
1 Cor 14:33"For God is not a God of confusion but of peace..."Principle of divine order reflected in the census.

Numbers 1 verses

Numbers 1 15 Meaning

Numbers 1:15 states that Ahira, the son of Enan, was the designated leader or chieftain for the tribe of Naphtali. This verse is part of a comprehensive roster identifying the divinely appointed representatives from each of the twelve tribes of Israel who assisted Moses and Aaron in conducting the census commanded by the Lord. This particular chieftain's identity was crucial for tribal administration, military organization, and the subsequent ordering of the Israelite camp in the wilderness.

Numbers 1 15 Context

Numbers chapter 1 inaugurates the book of Numbers (also known as "In the Wilderness"). It records the divine command to Moses, issued from the tent of meeting in the Sinai wilderness, to take a census of all the males aged twenty years and upward who were able to go to war. This census served crucial administrative, military, and spiritual purposes: to organize the tribal camps, prepare for military action, distribute burdens, and underscore Israel's identity as a vast, covenant-keeping people. The list of chieftains, like Ahira, forms the backbone of this divinely ordered structure, demonstrating God's meticulous care in organizing His people for their journey to the Promised Land. The enumeration emphasized their status as a unified nation under Yahweh, rather than a disorganized multitude of runaway slaves.

Numbers 1 15 Word analysis

  • of Naphtali (לְנַפְתָּלִי, l'Naftali):

    • לְ (l’): A preposition meaning "of," "belonging to," or "for." It connects the leader to his specific tribe.
    • נַפְתָּלִי (Naftali): Transliterated as Naphtali. The sixth son of Jacob, born to Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid (Gen 30:8). The name itself is connected to "wrestling" (naftulei El - "wrestlings of God") from Rachel's words. The tribe of Naphtali eventually settled in the northern region of Galilee (Jos 19:32-39). Mentioning the tribe before the individual emphasizes the corporate identity within the census. This also reinforces the idea of each segment of God's people being accounted for.
  • Ahira (אֲחִירַע, Achira):

    • אֲחִירַע (Achira): Transliterated as Ahira. Means "my brother is evil" or "brother of evil/wickedness," derived from ach (brother) and ra (evil/bad). Despite the challenging etymology of the name, he was divinely selected for leadership. His name stands alongside other unusual names found among the Israelite leaders, indicating divine selection transcends human perception or namesake meaning in this context. He is designated as the nasi (נָשִׂיא), or "prince/chieftain," signifying his primary role as the authoritative tribal representative (Num 7:78, 10:27).
  • the son of Enan (בֶּן־עֵינָן, ben-Enan):

    • בֶּן־ (ben-): Means "son of." This standard Hebrew genealogical marker emphasizes lineage and familial identity, essential for the Israelite tribal system. It identifies the direct paternal line, establishing authenticity and authority.
    • עֵינָן (Einan): Transliterated as Enan. This is Ahira's father's name. Its meaning is often related to "having eyes" or "spring/fountain." The father's name provides a crucial reference point for individual identification within the wider tribal and familial structure. This specificity prevents confusion among individuals who might share a given name and roots Ahira within an established lineage within Naphtali.

Numbers 1 15 Bonus section

The consistent formula used to identify each chieftain ("X, the son of Y") across Numbers 1 (and 7, 10) emphasizes the importance of a clear and traceable lineage in ancient Israel. This served several critical functions: validating one's tribal identity for census, military service, and land inheritance, especially relevant as they approached the division of Canaan. It also established the divinely recognized authority of these chosen leaders within their respective clans and tribes. The meticulousness of this record reflects God's ordered nature, highlighting that His plan for Israel involved structure and leadership for every family unit and tribal division, preparing them for both warfare and life in the promised land.

Numbers 1 15 Commentary

Numbers 1:15, seemingly a mere listing, is pivotal for understanding Israel's ordered existence under God's sovereignty. Ahira, son of Enan, represents more than an individual; he embodies the administrative backbone of the tribal structure. His specific identity, connected to the tribe of Naphtali, underscores the precision and order God demanded in preparing His people. This enumeration was not simply a count of men but a declaration of Israel's strength, unity, and readiness under Yahweh's command. The repeated phrase "the son of" across the chieftains reinforces the importance of lineage and continuity within the tribal families, vital for establishing identity, inheritance, and authority within the covenant community. Ultimately, this verse points to God as a God of meticulous order, providing leadership for every segment of His chosen people for their journey and purpose.