This verse emphasizes God’s faithfulness by recording the ongoing preservation of Benjamin’s family lines.
In the second census recorded in the Book of Numbers, Moses and Eleazar carefully listed the families of the Israelite tribes as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. In this context Numbers 26:39 highlights two sub-clans of the tribe of Benjamin: Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites. (v.39). These names would have represented the descendants of Shupham (also spelled Shephuphan) and Hupham, both of whom likely lived centuries earlier, tracing their lineage back to Benjamin, the youngest son of the patriarch Jacob. Historically, Jacob is thought to have lived around the early 2nd millennium BC, making these genealogical links a testament to the ongoing faithfulness of God in preserving the Israelite families.
Because this census took place near the end of Israel’s forty-year sojourn in the wilderness, it was held on the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, just before the people crossed into Canaan. During the first census, the tribe of Benjamin was one of the smaller tribes, with its counted men at 35,400—much fewer than the tribe of Judah, which had 74,600. Now in the second census, the careful mention of these families shows just how much attention the Lord placed on preserving and organizing His chosen people, ensuring each clan’s inheritance in the land. This meticulous detail underscores a God who values each person and family lineage, reminding us of His deep concern for every generation.
This careful catalog of Israel’s families foreshadows the many genealogies found in Scripture, all culminating in the Messiah’s lineage (Matthew 1:1-16). Although Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, the presence of these names from Benjamin points to the broader tapestry of God’s covenant people. Later, the apostle Paul—himself from the tribe of Benjamin—became one of the most influential figures in the New Testament, testifying that God continues to fulfill His promises to each tribe through Christ.
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Numbers 26:39 meaning
In the second census recorded in the Book of Numbers, Moses and Eleazar carefully listed the families of the Israelite tribes as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. In this context Numbers 26:39 highlights two sub-clans of the tribe of Benjamin: Of Shupham, the family of the Shuphamites; of Hupham, the family of the Huphamites. (v.39). These names would have represented the descendants of Shupham (also spelled Shephuphan) and Hupham, both of whom likely lived centuries earlier, tracing their lineage back to Benjamin, the youngest son of the patriarch Jacob. Historically, Jacob is thought to have lived around the early 2nd millennium BC, making these genealogical links a testament to the ongoing faithfulness of God in preserving the Israelite families.
Because this census took place near the end of Israel’s forty-year sojourn in the wilderness, it was held on the plains of Moab by the Jordan at Jericho, just before the people crossed into Canaan. During the first census, the tribe of Benjamin was one of the smaller tribes, with its counted men at 35,400—much fewer than the tribe of Judah, which had 74,600. Now in the second census, the careful mention of these families shows just how much attention the Lord placed on preserving and organizing His chosen people, ensuring each clan’s inheritance in the land. This meticulous detail underscores a God who values each person and family lineage, reminding us of His deep concern for every generation.
This careful catalog of Israel’s families foreshadows the many genealogies found in Scripture, all culminating in the Messiah’s lineage (Matthew 1:1-16). Although Jesus came from the tribe of Judah, the presence of these names from Benjamin points to the broader tapestry of God’s covenant people. Later, the apostle Paul—himself from the tribe of Benjamin—became one of the most influential figures in the New Testament, testifying that God continues to fulfill His promises to each tribe through Christ.