What is the meaning of Numbers 26:38? Descendants of Benjamin “ ‘These were the descendants of Benjamin by their clans…’ ” (Numbers 26:38) • The verse appears in the second national census Moses conducted on the plains of Moab (Numbers 26:1–4). • Benjamin, Jacob’s youngest (Genesis 35:16-18), had survived the wilderness years and now fielded 45,600 fighting men (Numbers 26:41), up from 35,400 in the first census (Numbers 1:36-37). God had indeed been “fruitful and multiplied” them, just as He promised Abraham (Genesis 22:17). • Each clan will later receive its share of land west of the Jordan (Joshua 18:11-28). The listing shows that inheritance in Israel is grounded in real families, preserving both order and promise. • The tribe will give Israel its first king, Saul (1 Samuel 9:1-2), and centuries later the apostle Paul will testify, “I am…of the tribe of Benjamin” (Philippians 3:5). The genealogy here undergirds both stories. Belaite clan from Bela “ ‘…The Belaite clan from Bela…’ ” • Bela is Benjamin’s firstborn (Genesis 46:21). Firstborn sons normally carried special responsibility, and the size of Bela’s clan reflects that prominence: 45,600 Benjamites in total, but Bela’s sub-clan alone Numbers 45,600’s principal share (compare Numbers 26:40). • From Bela’s line comes Ehud, the left-handed judge who delivered Israel from Moab (Judges 3:15, where his father Gera is a Belaite; cf. 1 Chronicles 8:3). God often raises leaders from faithful households, affirming that He “remembers” names written generations earlier. • Practical take-away: our family histories matter to God. He tracks individuals so that blessings can travel down the line (Psalm 112:1-2). Ashbelite clan from Ashbel “ ‘…the Ashbelite clan from Ashbel…’ ” • Ashbel is listed second among Benjamin’s sons (Genesis 46:21). His clan survives four decades of wilderness wandering intact, a testimony to God’s preserving care in harsh conditions (Deuteronomy 8:2-4). • When the land is parceled, Ashbelites settle in the central hill country near Ramah and Gibeah (Joshua 18:21-28; Judges 19:14-15). Those towns later feature in the ministries of Samuel and Jeremiah, showing how clan allotments shape Israel’s story. • The presence of Ashbel’s name here underscores that every family, not just the largest, has a secure place in God’s covenant community (Psalm 68:6). Ahiramite clan from Ahiram “ ‘…the Ahiramite clan from Ahiram,’ ” • Ahiram (called Ehi in Genesis 46:21) rounds out the trio named in verse 38. The census registers his descendants alongside the others without ranking them, highlighting equal standing before the Lord (Numbers 1:2). • Later genealogies note Ahiram’s branch among the “mighty men of valor” in Jerusalem after the exile (1 Chronicles 8:1-7). God preserves even the seemingly minor lines for future service. • Lesson for believers: no lineage is too obscure for God’s unfolding purposes (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). He delights in using the overlooked to accomplish His plans. summary Numbers 26:38 is more than a roll call; it is a witness that God keeps covenant promises down to every household. By naming the Belaite, Ashbelite, and Ahiramite clans, Scripture affirms that real families survived the desert, received land, produced leaders, and ultimately pointed forward to the Messiah’s work through Israel. Every name matters, every promise stands, and every believer can trust the God who records such details—and fulfills them. |
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