What is the meaning of Numbers 26:40? And the descendants of Bela - “And the descendants of Bela” (Numbers 26:40) opens the verse with the name of Benjamin’s eldest son (Genesis 46:21). - Scripture records Bela’s line more than once (1 Chronicles 7:6–7; 1 Chronicles 8:1), underscoring the reliability of these family lists. - Genealogies matter because they trace covenant continuity: the Lord promised Abraham a nation (Genesis 17:7) and those promises stand verified clan by clan. - By the second census, every surviving male from Bela’s house proves God’s preservation through the wilderness (Numbers 26:63–65). from Ard and Naaman - The verse narrows from the son (Bela) to his grandsons “from Ard and Naaman.” Scripture often moves from tribe to clan to household (Joshua 7:17–18), showing God’s precision. - Ard and Naaman are earlier noted among Benjamin’s offspring (1 Chronicles 8:3–4). Their inclusion confirms the historical consistency of the record. - Practical reason: inheritance was assigned “by the number of names” (Numbers 26:54). Knowing exactly who belonged to whom prevented disputes once Canaan was divided (Joshua 18:10-11). were the Ardite clan from Ard - A distinct clan (“the Ardite”) emerges from Ard. In Hebrew thinking, a clan carried its ancestor’s name followed by “-ite” (compare the Ashbelites, Numbers 26:38). - Land allotment followed these lines: “To a larger group give a larger inheritance” (Numbers 26:54). Identification protected each clan’s God-given portion (Joshua 19:1-9). - Spiritually, the listing reminds believers that the Lord knows every family and honors each promise—even when only a small subgroup like the Ardites is in view (Psalm 147:4). and the Naamite clan from Naaman - Parallel structure—“the Naamite clan from Naaman”—confirms equal standing among Bela’s descendants. No clan is overlooked; all will receive birthright blessings (Deuteronomy 21:17). - Later history shows Benjamin producing leaders such as Ehud (Judges 3:15) and Saul (1 Samuel 9:1-2). These men arise from precisely such preserved lines. - The census therefore prepares the way for future service: each Naamite male, counted here, will soon take his place in battle ranks (Numbers 26:2) and in the land. summary Numbers 26:40 records two specific clans—Ardites and Naamanites—within Bela’s portion of the tribe of Benjamin. By naming them, God reaffirms His covenant faithfulness, secures each clan’s inheritance, and underscores that every family matters in His unfolding plan. |
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