Numbers 26 32

Numbers 26:32 kjv

And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.

Numbers 26:32 nkjv

of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites; of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.

Numbers 26:32 niv

through Shemida, the Shemidaite clan; through Hepher, the Hepherite clan.

Numbers 26:32 esv

and of Shemida, the clan of the Shemidaites; and of Hepher, the clan of the Hepherites.

Numbers 26:32 nlt

The Shemidaites, named after their ancestor Shemida.
The Hepherites, named after their ancestor Hepher.

Numbers 26 32 Cross References

| Verse | Text | Reference ||------------|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|| Num 1:2-3 | "Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, by their families... from twenty years old and upward..." | Purpose of first census for army recruitment || Num 26:2 | "Take a census of all the congregation of the sons of Israel, from twenty years old and upward..." | Instruction for this second census || Num 26:52-56| "The land shall be divided by lot according to the number of names... to the large tribe you shall give a larger inheritance..." | Purpose of census: Land distribution by clan || Josh 17:2 | "These were the sons of Manasseh by their families: the sons of Abiezer... Shechem... Hepher... Shemida..." | Listing Manasseh's families for inheritance || Josh 17:3-6| "But Zelophehad, the son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir... had no sons... So they were given a possession..." | Example of land given to Manasseh's daughters|| Gen 48:19-20| "His younger brother shall be greater than he, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations..." | Jacob's blessing of Ephraim over Manasseh || Gen 49:22 | "Joseph is a fruitful bough, a fruitful bough by a spring; its branches run over the wall." | Joseph's (Manasseh's father) prolific offspring|| Gen 13:14-15| "Lift up your eyes and look... for all the land that you see I will give to you and to your offspring forever." | God's promise of land to Abraham and descendants || Exod 6:14-25| Genealogies listed to establish tribal identity and lineage. | Importance of lineage for tribal identity || Deut 1:15 | Moses appoints leaders for "thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens." | Order and organization of the Israelites || Deut 28:11 | "The Lord will make you abou...nd in prosperity, in the offspring of your body..." | Blessings for obedience include descendants || 1 Chr 7:14-19| Genealogies of Manasseh including sons of Gilead (Machir's son). | Genealogical records and continuity || Ps 147:4 | "He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names." | God's meticulous knowledge and numbering || Matt 10:30 | "But even the hairs of your head are all numbered." | God's detailed knowledge of individuals || Eph 2:19-20| "So then you are no longer strangers... but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household..." | Belonging to God's family/household in NT || 1 Cor 12:12-27| Describes the church as one body with many members. | Divine order and structure within God's people|| Heb 11:8-9 | "By faith Abraham obeyed... he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise." | Faith in receiving the promised land || Acts 7:5 | Stephen on God not giving Abraham any inheritance in the land, "not even a foot's length, but promised to give it to him..." | Land promise to Abraham, fulfilled in later generations || Gal 3:29 | "And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise." | Spiritual inheritance through Christ || Rev 7:6 | "from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000 were sealed." | Manasseh's inclusion in God's redeemed people|

Numbers 26 verses

Numbers 26 32 Meaning

Numbers 26:32 specifies the clan or family unit that descended from Shemida, one of the sons of Gilead and a grandson of Manasseh. This verse details a specific subdivision within the tribal enumeration during the second census of Israel, distinguishing Shemida's descendants for purposes of organization and eventual land allocation in Canaan.

Numbers 26 32 Context

Numbers Chapter 26 records the second census of the Israelites, taken in the plains of Moab just before their entry into the Promised Land. This census serves multiple critical purposes for the original audience. Firstly, it established the new generation of fighting men, replacing those who perished in the wilderness due to their rebellion, as chronicled in the earlier chapters of Numbers. Secondly, and crucially for this specific verse, the census was taken "according to their families, by their fathers’ houses" (Num 26:2) to provide an accurate record for the division of the land of Canaan (Num 26:52-56). Each registered male, twenty years old and upward, represented his family's share in the future inheritance. Thus, the precise listing of families like "Shemida's family" was foundational for equitable land distribution. This meticulously detailed accounting underscores God's orderliness, His faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant promises, and His deep care for the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Numbers 26 32 Word analysis

  • And of: This conjunction connects Shemida's family to the previous listing of Manasseh's other sons' families (v. 30-31), indicating continuity within the genealogical record.
  • Shemida's: This refers to Shemida (שְׁמִידָע - Shemida), the fourth son of Gilead (who was the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh) according to Numbers 26:30 and Joshua 17:2. The name Shemida likely means "knowledge" or "fame," and this patronymic clearly identifies his descendants.
  • family: The Hebrew word used here is מִשְׁפַּחַת (mishpachah), which refers to a "clan," "kindred," or "extended family unit" that forms a subdivision of a tribe. This was the fundamental social and economic unit for inheritance and community in ancient Israel.
  • the: A definite article emphasizing the distinctness of this particular family/clan.
  • family of: Repeats the term for clan, further underscoring the specific identity of the group descended from Shemida.
  • Shemida: Repetition of the ancestor's name; see "Shemida's" above. This full phrase clearly identifies the clan as "the family of Shemida," leaving no ambiguity about its identity and place within Manasseh.

Words-group by words-group analysis

  • "And of Shemida's family, the family of Shemida.": The apparent redundancy in "Shemida's family, the family of Shemida" serves to emphasize the specific, identifiable clan. In Hebrew literary style, such repetition provides clarity, formality, and strong identification, rather than simply being a decorative element. It unequivocally designates the specific descendants linked to Shemida, ensuring that their particular lineage for census and inheritance purposes is distinct from the other clans of Manasseh, particularly his brothers' families listed immediately before (Iezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Hepher). This meticulous detailing of individual family units underscores God's sovereign hand in organizing and leading His people, providing a sharp contrast to any ancient Near Eastern belief systems where divine order might be seen as chaotic or impersonal. The careful genealogical records affirmed the identity and continuity of God's chosen people, crucial for the fulfillment of His promises, especially concerning land possession.

Numbers 26 32 Bonus section

The precise detailing of the clans in Numbers 26 (including Shemida's) served as the foundational legal document for land allocation in the Book of Joshua. The inheritance of the tribes, specifically Manasseh's often-discussed unique split inheritance east and west of the Jordan, was directly tied to the numbers derived from this census (Num 32; Josh 17). This census also tacitly excludes the generation who rebelled in the wilderness, signifying that God upholds His justice even as He is faithful to His covenant with the new, faithful generation poised to enter Canaan. The inclusion of specific family names also highlighted the distinct identities within the larger tribal structures, critical for establishing legal rights and responsibilities.

Numbers 26 32 Commentary

Numbers 26:32, though a simple line in a long census record, holds profound significance. It reflects God's meticulous care for His people and His divine order in preparation for fulfilling His covenant promises. Each enumerated family, down to individual clan units like Shemida's, represented a parcel of the Promised Land that was soon to be divided among them. This was not a mere bureaucratic exercise, but an affirmation of God's faithfulness to make Israel a great nation and give them the land He swore to their forefathers. The precision in this genealogical record is a theological statement, demonstrating that God is intimately aware of His people, counting and providing for each and every "family." It reminds believers today of God's attention to detail, His sovereign plan for the future, and the importance of our individual place within the larger "family" of God's people.