8470. Tachani

Lexical Summary

Tachani: Millstone

Original Word: תַּחֲנִי
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: Tachaniy
Pronunciation: tah-khah-NEE
Phonetic Spelling: (takh-an-ee')
KJV: Tahanites
NASB: Tahanites
Word Origin: [patronymically from H8465 (תַּחַן - Tahan)]

1. a Tachanite (collectively) or descendants of Tachan

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

entreaty, supplication

Patronymically from Tachan; a Tachanite (collectively) or descendants of Tachan -- Tahanites.

see HEBREW Tachan

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from Tachan
Definition
desc. of Tahan
NASB Translation
Tahanites (1).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

תַּחֲנִי adjective, of a people only with article as substantive collective, ׳הַתּ Numbers 26:35.

[תִּימָרָה] noun feminine (palm-like) column (spreading at top; compare Ol^{§ 184 b}); — plural construct תִּימְרוֺת עָשָׁן Joel 3:2; Songs 3:6 (compare עַמּוּד עָשָׁן in prose Judges 20:40).

Topical Lexicon

Biblical Occurrence

“Tachani” designates the family or clan that descended from Tahan, one of the sons of Ephraim. The sole explicit reference is in the second wilderness census: “These were the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: of Shuthelah, the clan of the Shuthelahites; of Becher, the clan of the Becherites; of Tahan, the clan of the Tahanites” (Numbers 26:35).

Genealogical Context

The house of Ephraim traced its lineage through Joseph, Jacob’s favored son. Within that house, Tahan appears in the patriarchal genealogy of 1 Chronicles 7:25. From him the Tahanites—or Tachani—emerged as one of three principal sub-tribal families (alongside the Shuthelahites and Becherites). Scripture’s meticulous record of such family names underlines divine covenant faithfulness: every household within Israel’s tribes was counted as part of the nation God redeemed from Egypt (Exodus 6:6-7).

Historical Development

1. Wilderness Generation: The second census (Numbers 26) occurred on the plains of Moab just before entry into Canaan. Unlike the first census thirty-eight years earlier (Numbers 1), the list contains an entirely new generation; the mention of the Tahanites shows that this clan survived the judgment in the desert and would inherit territory in the land.
2. Conquest and Settlement: Although the individual exploits of the Tahanites are not detailed, the Ephraimite inheritance fell in the hill country of central Canaan (Joshua 16). Any land apportioned to the clan of Tahan would have been within those borders, contributing to Ephraim’s later prominence in Israel’s history (Judges 8:1; 1 Kings 11:26).
3. Monarchy and Beyond: Ephraim at times rivaled Judah in influence. A strong clan structure—Tahanites included—helped preserve tribal identity through the divided-kingdom era and even into post-exilic genealogical records (Ezra 10:2; Nehemiah 7:61-62).

Covenantal Significance

• Preservation of Identity: The Tachani line testifies that God not only redeemed a nation but also preserved its family lines to fulfil the promise of land and blessing (Genesis 12:7; 15:13-16).
• Accountability and Inheritance: By naming each clan, the census connected every Israelite family to covenant privileges and responsibilities—Passover observance, encampment order, military service, and eventual land allotment (Numbers 2; Joshua 14:1-5).
• Witness to Divine Faithfulness: The continuity from Tahan (1 Chronicles 7:25) through the wilderness to the plains of Moab underscores that neither time nor trial nullifies God’s purposes for His people (Deuteronomy 7:9).

Ministry and Practical Reflection

1. Value of Spiritual Lineage: Just as the Tahanites carried forward Ephraim’s heritage, believers today form a spiritual household built on Christ the cornerstone (1 Peter 2:5). Careful record-keeping in Scripture encourages congregations to honor godly forebears and pass on the faith.
2. Assurance amid Obscurity: The Tachani appear only once, yet their inclusion proves that every member of God’s covenant community matters. Pastors and teachers can draw comfort that unseen faithfulness has eternal recognition (Hebrews 6:10).
3. Corporate Responsibility: The census lists call modern churches to mutual accountability—every believer counted, equipped, and ready for service (Ephesians 4:16). As the Tahanites stood with Ephraim, so each local fellowship stands within the wider body of Christ.

Summary

Though mentioned only briefly, the Tachani represent a vital thread in Israel’s tapestry: a family redeemed from bondage, preserved through wilderness testing, and destined for inheritance in the promised land. Their single appearance is a quiet yet powerful reminder that God’s covenant encompasses both the renowned and the obscure, knitting every clan—and every believer—into His unfolding redemptive plan.

Forms and Transliterations

הַֽתַּחֲנִֽי׃ התחני׃ hat·ta·ḥă·nî HattachaNi hattaḥănî

Englishman's Concordance

Numbers 26:35
HEB: לְתַ֕חַן מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַֽתַּחֲנִֽי׃
NAS: of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
KJV: of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
INT: of Tahan the family of the Tahanites

1 Occurrence

Strong's Hebrew 8470
1 Occurrence

hat·ta·ḥă·nî — 1 Occ.