They counted the Shuhamites as part of the tribe of Dan, showing God’s blessing and fulfilling His promise to multiply the descendants of Israel.
All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those who were numbered of them, were 64,400 (v.43). This verse occurs during a census taken by Moses in the plains of Moab, which lie east of the Jordan River, across from the city of Jericho. The census continues the careful record-keeping of the Israelite population, emphasizing each clan’s identity and size. In this particular instance, the Shuhamites, who descend from Shuham of the tribe of Dan, reach an impressive total of 64,400. Their large number indicates both growth and God’s blessing as the people prepare to enter the land they have been promised.
Building upon the tribe of Dan’s lineage, Shuham would have been a descendant of Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel) several generations prior—around the eighteenth century BC, when Jacob and his family entered Egypt (Genesis 46:8-27). This stable continuation of family lines underscores how the events in Numbers happen within a grand and ordered plan. The new generation is on the verge of crossing into the Promised Land, reinforcing Yahweh’s faithfulness to His covenant promises. Although the verse itself focuses on numerical recording, it also reflects the people’s identity and shows that God’s covenant with Abraham remains strong (Genesis 17:4-8).
In a larger spiritual sense, careful attention to each family and clan paves the way for the eventual fulfillment of the ultimate promise through Jesus—who represents the perfect, eternal King of God’s people (Matthew 1:1-2). The presence of such specific genealogical markers throughout the Old Testament provides a framework that demonstrates the lineage of God’s chosen people, culminating in the advent of the Messiah. The census count of 64,400 reminds us that the Lord values every life and every generation, sustaining them in their journey.
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Numbers 26:43 meaning
All the families of the Shuhamites, according to those who were numbered of them, were 64,400 (v.43). This verse occurs during a census taken by Moses in the plains of Moab, which lie east of the Jordan River, across from the city of Jericho. The census continues the careful record-keeping of the Israelite population, emphasizing each clan’s identity and size. In this particular instance, the Shuhamites, who descend from Shuham of the tribe of Dan, reach an impressive total of 64,400. Their large number indicates both growth and God’s blessing as the people prepare to enter the land they have been promised.
Building upon the tribe of Dan’s lineage, Shuham would have been a descendant of Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel) several generations prior—around the eighteenth century BC, when Jacob and his family entered Egypt (Genesis 46:8-27). This stable continuation of family lines underscores how the events in Numbers happen within a grand and ordered plan. The new generation is on the verge of crossing into the Promised Land, reinforcing Yahweh’s faithfulness to His covenant promises. Although the verse itself focuses on numerical recording, it also reflects the people’s identity and shows that God’s covenant with Abraham remains strong (Genesis 17:4-8).
In a larger spiritual sense, careful attention to each family and clan paves the way for the eventual fulfillment of the ultimate promise through Jesus—who represents the perfect, eternal King of God’s people (Matthew 1:1-2). The presence of such specific genealogical markers throughout the Old Testament provides a framework that demonstrates the lineage of God’s chosen people, culminating in the advent of the Messiah. The census count of 64,400 reminds us that the Lord values every life and every generation, sustaining them in their journey.