The tribe of Dan kept a specific identity and role within the nationwide tapestry of Israel.
“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.” (v.42) In this verse, the census of Israel continues by detailing the lineage of Dan. Dan was one of the twelve sons of Jacob, also known as Israel, who lived around the 19th to 18th century BC. This tribal census, undertaken toward the end of Israel’s wilderness wanderings, serves to recount the people who will enter the Promised Land. By specifically identifying the Shuhamites, scripture demonstrates that this family line within Dan remained intact and ready to assume its place as part of God’s chosen nation.
Dan himself (the person) appears in Genesis as the fifth son of Jacob, born to Bilhah (Genesis 30:5-6). Over the centuries, his descendants grew into one of the prominent tribes of Israel, tasked with helping secure the land west of the Jordan River. Geographically, they would later settle in the coastal region of Canaan, near what is today central Israel. This prime territory placed them in crucial contact with foreign influences, but it also posed challenges for them to remain faithful to God’s covenant.
In linking Dan’s pedigree with other key tribal registries, this verse shows continuity between God’s promise to the patriarchs and the reality of a substantial tribe poised to receive an inheritance. The Tribe of Dan is often mentioned in various biblical narratives, such as Judges 18, illustrating both their struggles and their ultimate place among the people of Israel. Each family group listed in the census underscores how God’s promise to multiply the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob continued through generations, eventually culminating in the birth of Jesus Christ centuries later (Matthew 1).
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Numbers 26:42 meaning
“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.” (v.42) In this verse, the census of Israel continues by detailing the lineage of Dan. Dan was one of the twelve sons of Jacob, also known as Israel, who lived around the 19th to 18th century BC. This tribal census, undertaken toward the end of Israel’s wilderness wanderings, serves to recount the people who will enter the Promised Land. By specifically identifying the Shuhamites, scripture demonstrates that this family line within Dan remained intact and ready to assume its place as part of God’s chosen nation.
Dan himself (the person) appears in Genesis as the fifth son of Jacob, born to Bilhah (Genesis 30:5-6). Over the centuries, his descendants grew into one of the prominent tribes of Israel, tasked with helping secure the land west of the Jordan River. Geographically, they would later settle in the coastal region of Canaan, near what is today central Israel. This prime territory placed them in crucial contact with foreign influences, but it also posed challenges for them to remain faithful to God’s covenant.
In linking Dan’s pedigree with other key tribal registries, this verse shows continuity between God’s promise to the patriarchs and the reality of a substantial tribe poised to receive an inheritance. The Tribe of Dan is often mentioned in various biblical narratives, such as Judges 18, illustrating both their struggles and their ultimate place among the people of Israel. Each family group listed in the census underscores how God’s promise to multiply the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob continued through generations, eventually culminating in the birth of Jesus Christ centuries later (Matthew 1).