What is the meaning of Numbers 26:15? These were the descendants of Gad by their clans • Numbers 26 records the second census, taken near the end of Israel’s wilderness journey; this verse introduces the segment dealing with Gad’s family lines. • Counting each clan individually shows God’s faithfulness to the promise that “Gad shall be raided by raiders, but he shall raid at their heels” (Genesis 49:19) and prepares the tribe for its share of the land east of the Jordan (Deuteronomy 33:20-21; Joshua 13:24-28). • The literal listing of clans underscores that every family has a place in God’s covenant people—no one is lost or overlooked (Numbers 1:24-25; 26:18). The Zephonite clan from Zephon • Zephon (called Ziphion in Genesis 46:16) was one of the seven sons of Gad; his descendants form the Zephonite clan. • Their inclusion decades after the exodus proves the Lord preserved this line through the wilderness judgments (Numbers 14:29-31). • By tracing the clan back to a single ancestor, Scripture highlights personal responsibility and corporate identity: each Zephonite would share in Gad’s eastern inheritance (Numbers 32:1-5, 33-34). The Haggite clan from Haggi • Haggi, another son of Gad (Genesis 46:16), lends his name to the Haggites. • The clan’s survival speaks to God’s provision of daily manna, water, and protection (Exodus 16:35; Numbers 20:2-11). • Their later settlements among fertile pasturelands east of the Jordan align with Jacob’s blessing that Gad would be battle-ready and prosperous (Genesis 49:19; 1 Chronicles 5:18-22). The Shunite clan from Shuni • Shuni, also listed in Genesis 46:16, is the forefather of the Shunites. • Their presence in the second census confirms that even smaller family branches shared equally in covenant promises (Numbers 26:53-54). • When Gad helped Reuben and half-Manasseh build fortified cities (Numbers 32:34-36), Shunites would have contributed manpower and resources, fulfilling their role as warriors for Israel (Deuteronomy 3:18-20). summary Numbers 26:15 details three of Gad’s seven clans to show that God faithfully preserved every lineage named in Genesis. Each clan—Zephonite, Haggite, Shunite—stands as proof that the Lord keeps His word, counts every family, and assigns each a secure inheritance within His people. |
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