This verse catalogs the subdivisions of the tribe of Benjamin as part of Israel’s second census.
In this section of Numbers, the Israelite community is in the midst of taking a second census near the end of their forty-year wilderness journey, approximately around 1407 BC. The census is carried out under Moses’ leadership for the purpose of allocating future land inheritances among the tribes. It is in this context that we encounter the families of the tribe of Benjamin, where the verse states: “The sons of Benjamin by their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites;” (Numbers 26:38). Benjamin was the youngest son of the patriarch Jacob and his wife Rachel, making him one of the foundational pillars of the Israelite nation. Over time, Benjamin’s descendants became known for their fierce loyalty and contributed leaders like King Saul (around 11th century BC) and, centuries later, the Apostle Paul, who described himself as being “of the tribe of Benjamin” (Romans 11:1).
When this second census is recorded, the three sons of Benjamin mentioned in this verse—Bela, Ashbel, and Ahiram—each form a distinct family line. By listing them as “the family of the Belaites,” “the family of the Ashbelites,” and “the family of the Ahiramites” (Numbers 26:38), Moses emphasizes the idea that every distinct branch of the tribe matters for Israel’s inheritance. Geographically, once the Israelites settled in the Promised Land, the tribe of Benjamin occupied a region located just north of Judah, often considered a strategic corridor because it lay near key cities like Jerusalem (although Jerusalem was not yet in Israelite hands at this point). This location would play a major role in Israel’s national history, especially during the periods of the Judges and the united monarchy.
The ongoing theme of genealogies in Numbers underscores God’s faithfulness to preserve His covenant people, from father to son, over many centuries. In the broader narrative, these detailed listings connect the Israelites’ immediate situation—on the edge of entering Canaan—with the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:1-3). The mentioning of Benjamin’s clans here signals both the fulfillment of God’s promise of multitudinous descendants and foreshadows future leaders who would arise from this tribe, including Saul in the Old Testament (c. 1079 - 1000 BC) and Paul in the New Testament, who would become a great apostle of Christ (born c. AD 5).
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Numbers 26:38 meaning
In this section of Numbers, the Israelite community is in the midst of taking a second census near the end of their forty-year wilderness journey, approximately around 1407 BC. The census is carried out under Moses’ leadership for the purpose of allocating future land inheritances among the tribes. It is in this context that we encounter the families of the tribe of Benjamin, where the verse states: “The sons of Benjamin by their families: of Bela, the family of the Belaites; of Ashbel, the family of the Ashbelites; of Ahiram, the family of the Ahiramites;” (Numbers 26:38). Benjamin was the youngest son of the patriarch Jacob and his wife Rachel, making him one of the foundational pillars of the Israelite nation. Over time, Benjamin’s descendants became known for their fierce loyalty and contributed leaders like King Saul (around 11th century BC) and, centuries later, the Apostle Paul, who described himself as being “of the tribe of Benjamin” (Romans 11:1).
When this second census is recorded, the three sons of Benjamin mentioned in this verse—Bela, Ashbel, and Ahiram—each form a distinct family line. By listing them as “the family of the Belaites,” “the family of the Ashbelites,” and “the family of the Ahiramites” (Numbers 26:38), Moses emphasizes the idea that every distinct branch of the tribe matters for Israel’s inheritance. Geographically, once the Israelites settled in the Promised Land, the tribe of Benjamin occupied a region located just north of Judah, often considered a strategic corridor because it lay near key cities like Jerusalem (although Jerusalem was not yet in Israelite hands at this point). This location would play a major role in Israel’s national history, especially during the periods of the Judges and the united monarchy.
The ongoing theme of genealogies in Numbers underscores God’s faithfulness to preserve His covenant people, from father to son, over many centuries. In the broader narrative, these detailed listings connect the Israelites’ immediate situation—on the edge of entering Canaan—with the promises God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Genesis 12:1-3). The mentioning of Benjamin’s clans here signals both the fulfillment of God’s promise of multitudinous descendants and foreshadows future leaders who would arise from this tribe, including Saul in the Old Testament (c. 1079 - 1000 BC) and Paul in the New Testament, who would become a great apostle of Christ (born c. AD 5).