Numbers 26 39

Numbers 26:39 kjv

Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites: of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.

Numbers 26:39 nkjv

of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites.

Numbers 26:39 niv

through Shupham, the Shuphamite clan; through Hupham, the Huphamite clan.

Numbers 26:39 esv

of Shephupham, the clan of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the clan of the Huphamites.

Numbers 26:39 nlt

The Shuphamite clan, named after their ancestor Shupham.
The Huphamite clan, named after their ancestor Hupham.

Numbers 26 39 Cross References

VerseTextReference
Gen 12:2"I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you..."God's promise to multiply Abraham's descendants.
Gen 15:5"...So shall your offspring be."Promise of innumerable descendants.
Gen 48:19"his offspring will become a multitude of nations."Jacob's prophecy concerning Ephraim's greatness.
Exod 1:7"But the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly..."God's faithfulness in multiplying Israel in Egypt.
Num 1:2-3"Take a census of the whole Israelite community...men twenty years old or more..."The command for the first census.
Num 26:2"Take a census of the whole Israelite community...all those twenty years old or more..."The command for this second census.
Num 26:52-56"The land shall be divided by lot...to a larger group give a larger inheritance..."The census' direct purpose: land inheritance by clan.
Num 27:7-11"The daughters of Zelophehad are right. You must certainly give them property..."The importance of family inheritance and preserving lineage.
Num 36:7-9"No inheritance in Israel is to pass from one tribe to another..."Safeguarding tribal and familial inheritance through marriage.
Deut 1:10"The Lord your God has increased your numbers so that today you are as numerous as the stars..."Acknowledgment of God's blessing of multiplication.
Josh 14:1-2"These are the inheritances...which Eleazar the priest...divided by lot among them."Fulfillment of land division based on the census.
Josh 17:1-6"...a lot fell to Manasseh...This was the land of Manasseh according to their clans."Practical division of land among clans/families.
1 Chr 7:20"Shuthelah, his son, Bered his son..."Shuthelah listed in a later Ephraimite genealogy.
Neh 9:23"You multiplied their children as the stars of heaven..."Nehemiah recalls God's faithfulness in increasing Israel.
Psa 105:24"The Lord made his people very fruitful; he made them too numerous for their foes..."God's hand in Israel's multiplication and strength.
Isa 60:22"The smallest of you will become a thousand, the least a mighty nation."Prophecy of God's future multiplication of His people.
Jer 30:19"I will multiply them, and they will not be few..."Prophecy of restored population after exile.
Ezek 47:22"You are to allot it as an inheritance for yourselves and for the foreigners residing among you..."Future inheritance based on familial lines (also including others).
Lk 3:23-38"Jesus himself was about thirty years old...the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God."Importance of genealogical records to confirm lineage, notably for the Messiah.
Acts 7:17"As the time drew near for God to fulfill his promise to Abraham, the people multiplied and grew in number..."Stephen's speech referencing Israel's growth in Egypt.
Heb 11:12"And so from this one man...came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky..."Abraham's faith resulting in innumerable descendants.

Numbers 26 verses

Numbers 26 39 Meaning

Numbers 26:39 meticulously records the continuation of two specific familial clans within the tribe of Ephraim: the Shuthelahites and the Eranites. This verse is part of the second census taken of the Israelite male population twenty years old and upward, capable of going to war, as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. It highlights the divine preservation of family lines and the orderly organization of Israel for the upcoming conquest and land inheritance, fulfilling God's covenant promises to multiply Abraham's descendants.

Numbers 26 39 Context

Numbers 26 stands as a pivotal chapter, recording the second census of Israel, following a generation of judgment and perishing in the wilderness due to their disobedience and rebellion at Kadesh Barnea (Num 14). This census, taken on the plains of Moab before entering the Promised Land, serves multiple critical purposes: it confirms the preservation and multiplication of the new generation, it establishes the military strength necessary for the upcoming conquest, and most significantly, it provides the precise demographic data needed for the equitable division of the land among the tribes and their respective families (clans), as explicitly stated in verses 52-56. The detailed listing of families like the Shuthelahites and Eranites ensures a precise record of those who would receive an inheritance. Historically, Ephraim, as a prominent son of Joseph, had received special blessings from Jacob, prophesying a large multitude (Gen 48:19). This census confirms that blessing's realization, with the tribe boasting several large family units, ready to claim their promised inheritance.

Numbers 26 39 Word analysis

  • Of Shuthelah (שֻׁתֶלַח - Shuthelach): A proper name, meaning possibly "noise of war" or "fresh plant." Shuthelah was a son of Ephraim (1 Chr 7:20), indicating a direct male line. His name, if "noise of war," might hint at a fierce, prominent lineage, fitting for a key tribe in military endeavors. If "fresh plant," it speaks to growth and vitality, reflecting the divine blessing of proliferation.
  • the family (מִשְׁפַּחַת - mishpaḥath): Refers to a clan or sub-division within a tribe. This unit was crucial for social organization, military muster, and especially for inheriting land. God ordered Israel meticulously into these units to ensure precise allocation of the Promised Land.
  • of the Shuthelahites (הַשֻּׁתַלְחִי - ha-Shuthelachi): The suffix "-ites" indicates descendants of Shuthelah, establishing them as a recognized, distinct family unit within the larger tribe of Ephraim. This specificity guarantees their right to a portion of the land.
  • of Eran (עֵרָן - Eran): Another proper name, a son of Ephraim. The name may mean "wakeful," "active," or "ready." This also suggests vitality and readiness, perhaps reflecting the qualities needed for taking possession of the land and being watchful against adversaries.
  • the family (מִשְׁפַּחַת - mishpaḥath): Same as above, emphasizing another distinct clan.
  • of the Eranites (הָעֵרָנִי - ha-Eranī): Signifies the direct descendants of Eran, formally acknowledging their distinct clan identity for the purposes of census and inheritance.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "Of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthelahites: of Eran, the family of the Eranites." This repeated structure ("Of [Patriarch's Name], the family of the [Patriarch's Name]ites") is typical of genealogical lists throughout Numbers 26 and other Old Testament passages. It serves to:
    • Validate Lineage: Clearly links each specific clan directly to its founding father, a direct son of the tribal head (in this case, Ephraim).
    • Ensure Order: Demonstrates God's meticulous care in maintaining order and identity within His people, especially important for legal and spiritual governance.
    • Guarantee Inheritance: This direct identification was crucial for land apportionment (Num 26:52-56) as the land was distributed according to these very clans. Each family, specifically named, had a stake in God's promises. It underpins the reality of a tangible, physical inheritance tied to faithfulness across generations.

Numbers 26 39 Bonus section

  • Significance for Land Inheritance: This detailed enumeration of clans was absolutely foundational for the allocation of land in Canaan. The principle established in Num 26:52-56 stated that land would be distributed "according to the number of names," implying the specific families listed. This prevented disputes and ensured a just apportionment among all legitimate heirs.
  • Ephraim's Prominence: The tribe of Ephraim was especially blessed by Jacob (Gen 48) and indeed grew to be one of the largest and most influential tribes, particularly becoming the leading tribe in the Northern Kingdom after the division of the monarchy. The existence of these two strong clans contributes to that picture of significant tribal population and power.
  • Contrast with First Census: This census implicitly contrasts with the one in Numbers 1. The previous generation, with few exceptions, perished due to their unfaithfulness. The new census in Num 26 (including detailed family units like the Shuthelahites and Eranites) symbolizes a renewed people, a testament to God's restorative grace, ready to enter the land. The meticulous nature of this record highlights God's sovereignty over history and demography, shaping a people for His purposes despite their past failings.

Numbers 26 39 Commentary

Numbers 26:39, while seemingly a simple genealogical record, profoundly demonstrates God's unwavering faithfulness and meticulous organization. It reveals that despite the deaths of the rebellious generation in the wilderness, God preserved and multiplied their descendants, keeping His covenant promise to Abraham to make him a great nation. The verse meticulously lists distinct family units, highlighting God's care in maintaining clear tribal and clan identities, not just for numerical count, but specifically for the impending and vital task of dividing the Promised Land. This divine attention to detail ensured that every family unit, like the Shuthelahites and Eranites, would receive their rightful portion. It emphasizes divine order over chaos, purposeful progression towards destiny, and the enduring nature of God's word, fulfilling promise generation after generation.