Lexical Summary Tachani: Millstone Original Word: תַּחֲנִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance entreaty, supplication Patronymically from Tachan; a Tachanite (collectively) or descendants of Tachan -- Tahanites. see HEBREW Tachan NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom 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. 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). 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. 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 hattaḥănîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman'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 |