Numbers 26 15

Numbers 26:15 kjv

The children of Gad after their families: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites: of Haggi, the family of the Haggites: of Shuni, the family of the Shunites:

Numbers 26:15 nkjv

The sons of Gad according to their families were: of Zephon, the family of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the family of the Haggites; of Shuni, the family of the Shunites;

Numbers 26:15 niv

The descendants of Gad by their clans were: through Zephon, the Zephonite clan; through Haggi, the Haggite clan; through Shuni, the Shunite clan;

Numbers 26:15 esv

The sons of Gad according to their clans: of Zephon, the clan of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the clan of the Haggites; of Shuni, the clan of the Shunites;

Numbers 26:15 nlt

These were the clans descended from the sons of Gad: The Zephonite clan, named after their ancestor Zephon.
The Haggite clan, named after their ancestor Haggi.
The Shunite clan, named after their ancestor Shuni.

Numbers 26 verses

Numbers 26 15 Meaning

Numbers 26:15 details three of the five major clans that descended from Gad, one of Jacob's sons and a progenitor of a major tribe of Israel. This verse, part of the second census conducted by Moses and Eleazar in the plains of Moab, lists "Zephon, the clan of the Zephonites; of Haggi, the clan of the Haggites; of Shuni, the clan of the Shunites." It specifically names these paternal houses within the tribe of Gad, establishing their lineage for purposes of organization, military service, and future land allocation. The precise recording of these families underscores God's meticulous order and His commitment to preserving and preparing His covenant people for their inheritance.

Numbers 26 15 Context

Numbers chapter 26 records the second comprehensive census of the Israelites, conducted in the plains of Moab "after the plague" (Num 25:9). This census specifically counted men aged twenty years and upward who were "able to go to war" (Num 26:2). Its primary purpose was to determine the exact number of the new generation, as the previous generation, counted at Sinai (Numbers 1), had entirely perished in the wilderness due to their disobedience and rebellion against God, as prophesied in Numbers 14:28-35.

Verse 15 focuses on the tribe of Gad, detailing the lineage of three of its primary family units. This methodical accounting was crucial for several reasons: military readiness as they prepared to enter and conquer Canaan, tribal organization, and most significantly, the just and proportional distribution of the land once they possessed it (Num 26:54). The act of counting also served as a powerful testimony to God's faithfulness, demonstrating that despite the severe judgment on the previous generation, His covenant promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob regarding their descendants multiplying was being miraculously fulfilled, and a new, disciplined generation was ready to inherit the promised land.

Numbers 26 15 Word analysis

• Of Gad:

  • Word: גָּד (Gad)
  • Meaning: "Troop" or "fortune." Gad was the seventh son of Jacob, born to Zilpah, Leah's handmaid. He is the progenitor of one of the twelve tribes of Israel.
  • Significance: This identifies the specific tribal division being enumerated. It links this new generation back to their ancestral patriarch, emphasizing continuity of covenant identity.

• of Zephon, the clan of the Zephonites;

  • Word (Zephon): צְפוֹן (Tzephon)
  • Meaning: Son of Gad. In Gen 46:16, his name appears as "Ziphion" (צִפְיוֹן - Tziphion). This variation (interchange of "z" and "tz", "p" and "ph") is a recognized linguistic shift in Hebrew, indicating consistency in identity despite a slight spelling difference.
  • Word (clan/family): מִשְׁפָּחָה (mishpachah)
  • Meaning: A subdivision within a tribe, denoting a major family or ancestral group descending from a common father. It functions as an organized social unit within the broader tribal structure.
  • Word (Zephonites): הַצְּפוֹנִי (hatz-Tzefonī)
  • Meaning: A patronymic plural suffix (-ite) indicating "descendants of Zephon" or "belonging to the family of Zephon."
  • Significance: This structure (father's name, then the clan of his descendants) highlights the patrilineal organization of Israelite society, which was fundamental for maintaining tribal purity, conducting military musters, and distributing land according to ancestral lineage. It underscores the precision in God's administration.

• of Haggi, the clan of the Haggites;

  • Word (Haggi): חַגִּי (Ḥaggī)
  • Meaning: Son of Gad.
  • Word (Haggites): הַחַגִּי (ha-Ḥaggī)
  • Meaning: "Descendants of Haggi."
  • Significance: Reinforces the consistent pattern of identifying specific patriarchal families within the tribe of Gad, emphasizing the meticulous detail of the census.

• of Shuni, the clan of the Shunites;

  • Word (Shuni): שׁוּנִי (Shūnī)
  • Meaning: Son of Gad.
  • Word (Shunites): הַשּׁוּנִי (ha-Shūnī)
  • Meaning: "Descendants of Shuni."
  • Significance: Continues the established pattern of listing Gad's offspring as progenitors of clans, vital for recognizing their identity and rights within the community.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Of Gad: of [Son], the clan of the [Son-ites];"
  • Meaning: This repetitive phrasing emphasizes the strict genealogical framework central to Israelite identity and organization. Each mention of a "clan" (mishpachah) is crucial for military drafting, communal responsibility, and ultimately, land inheritance, as laid out in the latter part of Numbers (e.g., Numbers 36).
  • Significance: The census wasn't just about raw numbers, but about the structure of the nation. It visually demonstrates the unfolding of God's promise to make Jacob's descendants a great nation (Gen 12:2; Gen 46:3) and prepare them for entering the Promised Land as an organized, divinely appointed inheritance. The repetition itself serves as a steady rhythm, conveying the unwavering and detailed nature of God's dealings with His people, acknowledging each foundational family unit.

Numbers 26 15 Bonus section

• The naming convention shift from "Ziphion" in Genesis 46:16 to "Zephon" in Numbers 26:15 reflects either a scribal variation or an evolution in common pronunciation/spelling over time, while referring to the same ancestral figure. This highlights the fluidity within ancient Hebrew orthography but doesn't diminish the underlying genealogical connection.
• This detailed census serves as a theological statement: it is God who numbers and constitutes His people, preparing them not merely for existence but for an inheritance. The count demonstrates not human capability but divine preservation and sovereignty over historical events and human lineage.
• The absence of some of Gad's sons mentioned in Genesis 46:16 (Ozni, Eri, Arod, and Areli) in this particular verse (Num 26:15) does not mean their lineages ceased. Ozni and Eri's clans are listed in the very next verse (Num 26:16), completing the count of five distinct families within Gad that formed larger numbers by the census. This sectional breakdown shows the systematic listing within the census narrative.
• The emphasis on "clans" (mishpachah) prepared the way for the just distribution of the land. Each clan received land in proportion to its population (Num 26:54), preventing disputes and ensuring fair allocation based on their ancestral connections. This foretells the organized establishment of Israel in Canaan.

Numbers 26 15 Commentary

Numbers 26:15 is a specific yet profoundly significant detail within the larger narrative of the second census. Far from being a mere dry list of names, this verse, like others in the census, serves as a powerful testament to God's unwavering faithfulness, meticulous order, and sovereign purpose. It demonstrates the continuity of the covenant through generations, despite the severe judgment that fell upon the previous one. The detailed listing of Zephon, Haggi, and Shuni, and their respective clans, underscores that God preserves the lineage, structure, and identity of His people.

This census, taken as Israel stands on the threshold of the Promised Land, acts as a bridge between the wandering generation that died in the wilderness due to unbelief (Num 14) and the new generation prepared to inherit. It showcases that God's plan cannot be thwarted by human disobedience; rather, He raises up new vessels to fulfill His promises. Each clan named signifies a unit ready for war, ready for land allocation, and ready to establish the promised nation under God's guidance. It is a precise documentation of God's providential care in bringing His covenant purposes to fruition, maintaining identity, ensuring justice in inheritance, and demonstrating that His promises endure from one generation to the next.