Numbers 26:48 shows God’s careful enumeration of Naphtali’s families, emphasizing their distinct place and inheritance in Israel’s covenantal story.
Of the sons of Naphtali by their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites. (Numbers 26:48)
In this scripture, Moses is taking the second census of Israel in the plains of Moab. The tribe of Naphtali traces its lineage back to Naphtali, who was the sixth son of the patriarch Jacob, born by Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant, around the early second millennium BC. Since the census is taking place just before the Israelites enter the Promised Land, it highlights the continuity of God’s covenant promises through each family line. By listing the family group of Naphtali—specifically Jahzeel (the Jahzeelites) and Guni (the Gunites)—scripture preserves the identity of each sub-clan that will inherit land in the region assigned to the tribe of Naphtali. This region is in northern Canaan near the Sea of Galilee, a location that would later be of great importance since Jesus carried out significant portions of His Galilean ministry in this area (Matthew 4:12-17). Naphtali’s presence in the biblical storyline from the days of Jacob onward emphasizes God’s faithfulness in preserving and numbering His people.
The census itself, repeated in Numbers 26, serves to organize Israel for inheritance and for future military engagements as they stand on the threshold of the land of Canaan. Each tribe needed to know its subgroups and genealogical heads—families like the Jahzeelites and Gunites—so that every Israelite would have clarity regarding territory, responsibilities, and blessings (Numbers 2:32-34; 26:48). By tracing these subdivisions, the verse reminds readers that not a single clan was overlooked. God reaffirmed that each family’s identity—and the tribal structure as a whole—was part of His larger plan for the nation to serve as a kingdom of priests and a light to the nations.
Naphtali itself would later be recognized beyond the Old Testament, notably in Deuteronomy 33:23 when Moses blesses the tribe of Naphtali, and in the Gospel narratives that cite Galilee’s connection to the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali. Here, in Numbers 26:48, the inclusive mention of Jahzeelites and Gunites underlines God’s personal and collective care for His people, showing how each name and family matters in the record of His covenant community.
This verse demonstrates God’s faithfulness to number and watch over every sub-tribe as they move closer to receiving the promise of land.
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Numbers 26:48 meaning
Of the sons of Naphtali by their families: of Jahzeel, the family of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the family of the Gunites. (Numbers 26:48)
In this scripture, Moses is taking the second census of Israel in the plains of Moab. The tribe of Naphtali traces its lineage back to Naphtali, who was the sixth son of the patriarch Jacob, born by Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant, around the early second millennium BC. Since the census is taking place just before the Israelites enter the Promised Land, it highlights the continuity of God’s covenant promises through each family line. By listing the family group of Naphtali—specifically Jahzeel (the Jahzeelites) and Guni (the Gunites)—scripture preserves the identity of each sub-clan that will inherit land in the region assigned to the tribe of Naphtali. This region is in northern Canaan near the Sea of Galilee, a location that would later be of great importance since Jesus carried out significant portions of His Galilean ministry in this area (Matthew 4:12-17). Naphtali’s presence in the biblical storyline from the days of Jacob onward emphasizes God’s faithfulness in preserving and numbering His people.
The census itself, repeated in Numbers 26, serves to organize Israel for inheritance and for future military engagements as they stand on the threshold of the land of Canaan. Each tribe needed to know its subgroups and genealogical heads—families like the Jahzeelites and Gunites—so that every Israelite would have clarity regarding territory, responsibilities, and blessings (Numbers 2:32-34; 26:48). By tracing these subdivisions, the verse reminds readers that not a single clan was overlooked. God reaffirmed that each family’s identity—and the tribal structure as a whole—was part of His larger plan for the nation to serve as a kingdom of priests and a light to the nations.
Naphtali itself would later be recognized beyond the Old Testament, notably in Deuteronomy 33:23 when Moses blesses the tribe of Naphtali, and in the Gospel narratives that cite Galilee’s connection to the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali. Here, in Numbers 26:48, the inclusive mention of Jahzeelites and Gunites underlines God’s personal and collective care for His people, showing how each name and family matters in the record of His covenant community.
This verse demonstrates God’s faithfulness to number and watch over every sub-tribe as they move closer to receiving the promise of land.