What is the meaning of Exodus 1:4? Dan – “Dan” is named first in this pairing of four brothers (Exodus 1:4). – Genesis 30:6 records Rachel saying, “God has vindicated me; indeed, He has heard my voice and given me a son.” That son is Dan, whose name means “judge.” – His mention here shows that even the children born through Rachel’s maid Bilhah were fully counted among the covenant people (Genesis 46:23; Numbers 1:38-39). – By listing Dan, Scripture underscores that every branch of Jacob’s family—whether born to the wives or the concubines—was present in Egypt, fulfilling God’s promise in Genesis 46:3-4 that He would make Jacob’s family into a great nation there. Naphtali – Naphtali follows immediately: “Dan and Naphtali” (Exodus 1:4). – Genesis 30:8 records Rachel declaring, “With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister and prevailed,” and she named him Naphtali, meaning “my struggle.” – His inclusion reinforces the completeness of the northern tribes descended from Bilhah (see also Genesis 49:21; Deuteronomy 33:23). – Together, Dan and Naphtali show that personal struggles and imperfect family dynamics do not cancel God’s covenant faithfulness; He incorporates every son into the unfolding redemption narrative that will climax in the Exodus. Gad – After a semicolon the text continues, “Gad” (Exodus 1:4). – Gad, firstborn of Zilpah, Leah’s maid, was so named because Leah exclaimed, “How fortunate!” (Genesis 30:11). – His tribe would later settle east of the Jordan yet still fight for the land alongside their brothers (Numbers 32:16-33; Joshua 22:1-4), illustrating unity amid diversity within Israel. – Mentioning Gad signals that the sons of Zilpah were equally heirs to the promises made to Abraham (Genesis 15:13-14) and prepares readers for God’s deliverance “with great possessions” (Exodus 12:35-36). Asher – Finally, “and Asher” completes the list (Exodus 1:4). – Named when Leah said, “How happy I am! The women will call me happy” (Genesis 30:13), Asher means “happy” or “blessed.” – Moses would later bless Asher, saying, “May he be favored by his brothers and dip his foot in oil” (Deuteronomy 33:24), hinting at future abundance. – Asher’s placement rounds out the tally of Jacob’s lesser-known sons, stressing that none are forgotten as Exodus opens with the statement, “The Israelites were fruitful and increased greatly” (Exodus 1:7). summary Exodus 1:4 simply lists four sons of Jacob—Dan, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher—but in doing so it confirms that every branch of the patriarch’s family had entered Egypt and now stood on the brink of God’s promised deliverance. The verse functions as a roll call of covenant heirs, assuring readers that from the least celebrated to the most prominent, each tribe is part of God’s unfolding plan that will soon move from bondage to redemption. |
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