What is the meaning of Genesis 46:23? The son of Dan Genesis 46:23 begins by recording that Dan—one of Jacob’s twelve sons—had descendants who accompanied the family to Egypt. Earlier in Genesis 30:6, Rachel declared, “God has vindicated me… so she named him Dan,” anchoring Dan’s identity in God’s faithfulness. Though Dan himself did not play a dominant narrative role, Jacob’s blessing in Genesis 49:16-18 foretold that “Dan shall provide justice for his people,” hinting at the tribe’s later place among Israel. By listing Dan here, Scripture affirms that every branch of Jacob’s household was preserved, supporting God’s promise in Genesis 46:3-4 that Israel would become a great nation in Egypt. Subsequent censuses show how the tribe multiplied from this single listed son: Numbers 1:38-39 counts 62,700 fighting men from Dan, underscoring God’s ability to turn small beginnings into large fulfillment. • Dan’s inclusion secures the complete tally of seventy persons entering Egypt (Genesis 46:27), a number mirrored in Acts 7:14, confirming the historical integrity of the narrative. • The mention also foreshadows the tribe’s strategic location on Israel’s frontier (Joshua 19:40-48) and its role in later prophetic passages such as Judges 18. Hushim Only one descendant of Dan is named: “Hushim.” Numbers 26:42 refers to the same ancestor as “Shuham,” showing the clan’s development over time. First Chronicles 7:12 lists “Hushim” among Benjamite families allied with Dan, illustrating inter-tribal connections. Recording Hushim’s name demonstrates that God values individuals as well as tribes; even a solitary son is memorialized in the inspired record. The placement also highlights divine precision: every tribe, no matter how initially small, contributes to the unfolding covenant line promised to Abraham in Genesis 15:5 and reiterated in Exodus 1:7, where the Israelites are described as fruitful and numerous. • Hushim’s solitary listing accentuates the miraculous growth detailed later: by the second census, the “Shuhamites” form a substantial clan (Numbers 26:42-43). • Hushim stands as evidence that God keeps meticulous track of His people, echoing truths seen in passages like Isaiah 49:16, where the Lord says, “Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.” summary Genesis 46:23, though brief, reinforces the reliability of Scripture’s genealogies. It shows Dan entering Egypt with only one recorded son, Hushim, yet later producing a populous tribe. The verse testifies to God’s faithfulness to grow Jacob’s family into a nation, demonstrates His care for every individual name, and prepares readers for the tribe’s future role in Israel’s story. |
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