Numbers 26:42 kjv
These are the sons of Dan after their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan after their families.
Numbers 26:42 nkjv
These are the sons of Dan according to their families: of Shuham, the family of the Shuhamites. These are the families of Dan according to their families.
Numbers 26:42 niv
These were the descendants of Dan by their clans: through Shuham, the Shuhamite clan. These were the clans of Dan:
Numbers 26:42 esv
These are the sons of Dan according to their clans: of Shuham, the clan of the Shuhamites. These are the clans of Dan according to their clans.
Numbers 26:42 nlt
These were the clans descended from the sons of Dan: The Shuhamite clan, named after their ancestor Shuham.
Numbers 26 42 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 46:23 | The sons of Dan: Hushim. | Identifies Dan's son as "Hushim". |
| 1 Chr 7:12 | The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, Shallum. The sons of Bilhah: Hushim. | Links Hushim to Bilhah (Rachel's servant, mother of Dan & Naphtali). |
| Num 1:38-39 | Of the children of Dan, by their generations... those that were numbered were sixty-two thousand seven hundred. | First census of Dan's tribe. |
| Num 26:1 | And it came to pass after the plague, that the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest... | Establishes the timing of the second census. |
| Num 26:52-56 | And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Unto these the land shall be divided for an inheritance... | Purpose of the census: land distribution. |
| Josh 19:40-48 | The sixth lot came out for the people of Dan, tribe by their clans. | Dan's eventual territorial inheritance. |
| Judg 18:1 | In those days there was no king in Israel; and in those days the tribe of the Danites sought a territory... | Describes the Danites seeking and conquering new land. |
| Judg 18:27-29 | And they took what Micah had, and the priest... and went on to Laish... and rebuilt the city and lived there... | Details Dan's migration and establishing a new center. |
| Deut 33:22 | And of Dan he said: Dan is a lion's whelp; he shall leap from Bashan. | Moses' blessing for Dan. |
| Gen 49:16 | Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel. | Jacob's prophecy concerning Dan. |
| Exod 31:6 | And I have appointed with him Oholiab the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan... | Skilled artisan from Dan chosen by God. |
| Lev 24:10-11 | Now the son of an Israelite woman... whose father was an Egyptian, went out... and blasphemed the Name... | Example of an individual from Dan acting unfaithfully. |
| 1 Chr 27:3 | Of the children of Judah, Phoriah son of Jahaziel; and for the Danites, Azarel son of Jehoram. | Danites are mentioned in David's administration. |
| Neh 11:36 | and of the Levites: Jeduthun, the doorkeeper; the children of Dan, who dwelt near Benjamin. | Mentions Danite dwelling places in a later context. |
| Eze 48:1-2 | Now these are the names of the tribes... Dan, one portion. | Dan receives land in Ezekiel's visionary temple. |
| Rom 9:26 | And in the place where it was said to them, ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘sons of the living God.’ | Reminds of God's inclusive plan beyond strict lineage. |
| Eph 2:19 | So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God. | Believers become part of God's people, transcending tribal distinctions. |
| Gal 3:28 | There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. | Spiritual lineage supersedes physical lineage in the new covenant. |
| Rev 5:9 | ...and purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. | Redemption encompasses all "tribes" metaphorically and literally. |
| Heb 12:23 | to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven... | The true registry of God's people. |
Numbers 26 verses
Numbers 26 42 Meaning
Numbers 26:42 records the tribal affiliation and specific clan of the descendants of Dan within the second census of Israel. It identifies "Shuham" as the sole clan originating from Dan, implying that Dan's descendants organized into one significant family unit bearing his son's name, foundational for land allocation and identity in the Promised Land.
Numbers 26 42 Context
Numbers 26:42 is part of the second census of the Israelites in the wilderness. This census, taken on the plains of Moab just before entering Canaan, serves a crucial purpose: to re-count the new generation of fighting men, ensuring the nation's readiness for military conquest and, more significantly, to provide the basis for the allocation of land inheritance (Num 26:52-56). Unlike the first census in Numbers 1, which emphasized the number of each tribe for military organization, this second census highlights the number of clans within each tribe. This detailed familial structure was vital because land was to be distributed not just to tribes, but specifically to their constituent clans and families "according to the number of names" (Num 26:53). Thus, verse 42 precisely identifies the sole clan descending from Dan, "Shuham," and reiterates its primary significance for the tribe of Dan's identity and its future land claim. The historical context reflects a new chapter for Israel, having overcome divine judgment in the wilderness, now preparing for settlement and the fulfillment of God's promises.
Numbers 26 42 Word analysis
- These: Refers to the descendants about to be enumerated, linking back to the purpose of the census.
- are: Simple existential verb, affirming identification.
- the sons of Dan:
- sons: בְּנֵי (b'nei) - Descendants, indicating progeny and continuation of the lineage. Not necessarily direct male offspring in every case but foundational ancestors of the tribal line.
- Dan: דָּן (Dan) - Means "judge." He was the fifth son of Jacob, born to Bilhah, Rachel's servant (Gen 30:6). His name foreshadows his tribe's future role and character.
- by their clans: מִשְׁפְּחֹתָם (mishpekhotam) - Family groups, subdivisions of a tribe. This phrase underscores the administrative purpose of the census for land distribution. Each "mishpachah" (singular) was a foundational unit for socio-political organization and inheritance.
- of Shuham, the clan of the Shuhamites:
- Shuham: שׁוּחָם (Shukham) - The specific name of Dan's son. Notably, Gen 46:23 and 1 Chron 7:12 list Dan's son as "Hushim" (חוּשִׁים). Scholars widely agree "Shuham" and "Hushim" refer to the same individual or founding family. Possible explanations include: (1) variation in spelling/pronunciation over time; (2) "Hushim" being a plural form or patronymic description ('the noisy ones,' related to root 'hum' meaning 'to hurry' or 'to make a noise'), while "Shuham" is the actual proper name or a derivative used here; (3) different emphasis or purpose in various genealogical records. The Numbers record prioritizes a specific name for the census count.
- the Shuhamites: הַשֻּׁחָמִי (ha-Shukhami) - The definite article "ha-" indicates "the specific Shuhamite clan," the primary, and in this case, only enumerated clan of Dan in this census. This clearly identifies them as descendants from Shuham.
- These are the clans of Dan: A concluding statement emphasizing the singular clan enumerated for the tribe of Dan, solidifying its identity and distinction among the tribes, especially for the upcoming land allotment. It also reconfirms the lineage and confirms the direct relationship from the progenitor, Dan.
Numbers 26 42 Bonus section
The uniqueness of Dan being listed with only one clan (Shuham/Hushim) might indicate either a historically small or very unified lineage, or that over time, other minor family lines of Dan had consolidated or merged into this predominant "Shuhamite" identity for the purposes of the census. In ancient Israelite genealogies, sometimes a prominent son’s line would encompass the broader descendants, even if other sons existed. This concise representation points to the functional nature of biblical genealogies—not always exhaustive historical records, but divinely inspired documents tailored to particular administrative, theological, or redemptive purposes. For the allocation of land and establishing a fighting force, one strong, clear clan structure for Dan was sufficient.
Numbers 26 42 Commentary
Numbers 26:42 provides a terse but critical piece of the tribal genealogy during the second census. Its brevity highlights the fact that, for census purposes, the tribe of Dan was reckoned as consisting of a single major clan, that of the Shuhamites. This suggests a consolidated internal structure compared to tribes with multiple named clans. The significance lies not just in the naming, but in its administrative function: establishing clear familial units for land inheritance in Canaan. The mention of "Shuham" instead of "Hushim" (found in Genesis and Chronicles) illustrates the fluidity of ancient Near Eastern names and reinforces the authority of the Numbers account for its specific, divine purpose of re-ordering Israel. This verse ensures every recognized familial group is accounted for, underscoring God's meticulous care for the orderly transition and settlement of His people. The tribe of Dan's concise lineage here also prefaces its often unique and sometimes tumultuous journey in the land of Canaan, from initial struggles to securing its inheritance and beyond (Judges 18).