What is the meaning of Numbers 26:46? And - This tiny conjunction ties the statement to the larger census report that begins in Numbers 26:1. The verse does not stand alone; it completes a careful, Spirit-inspired record of Israel’s families. - Scripture treats each detail as equally God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16). The word “And” signals continuity, reminding us that the Lord sees individuals within the multitude. - Cross references show the same connective flow in earlier listings: Genesis 46:8 ff. and Exodus 6:14 keep adding names with “And,” underscoring that no one is forgotten in God’s covenant family. the name - Names in the Bible are never filler; they carry identity, history, and often prophecy (Genesis 17:5; Matthew 1:21). - The census counts men for military service, yet the Spirit pauses to mention a woman by name. That emphasis highlights both her personal worth and God’s intentional record-keeping (Isaiah 49:16). - Compare the Lord’s detailed awareness in Luke 10:20, where Jesus says, “your names are written in heaven.” of Asher’s - Asher is Jacob’s eighth son, born to Leah’s maidservant Zilpah (Genesis 30:13). The tribe later settles in the fertile northern region (Joshua 19:24-31), fulfilling Jacob’s blessing of rich food and royal delicacies (Genesis 49:20). - By attaching Serah to Asher, Scripture roots her story in covenant promises that extend from the patriarchs to the Promised Land. - The faithfulness seen in Asher’s lineage mirrors God’s faithfulness to keep track of every branch (Psalm 105:8-11). daughter was - In a census focused on sons, the explicit mention of a daughter testifies that God values women equally in His redemptive plan (Genesis 1:27; Galatians 3:28). - Other notable mentions of daughters in genealogies—such as Zelophehad’s five daughters (Numbers 27:1-7) and Job’s daughters after his restoration (Job 42:13-15)—show the Lord’s purposeful inclusion. - The phrasing also verifies the literal historicity of the genealogies; this is not mythic symbolism but a concrete family record (1 Chronicles 7:30). Serah. - Serah (also spelled “Sarah” in some English renderings) appears earlier in Genesis 46:17 and later in 1 Chronicles 7:30, confirming she was a real person whose life spanned the migration to Egypt and the Exodus era. - Jewish tradition remembers her as a witness of Joseph’s bones being carried out (Exodus 13:19), illustrating how one faithful woman can bridge generations. - Her solitary mention in the second census suggests she survived the wilderness years, making her a living testimony of God’s preserving power—much like Caleb and Joshua (Numbers 14:30). summary Numbers 26:46 may look like a simple genealogical footnote, yet each word—“And the name of Asher’s daughter was Serah.”—reveals the Lord’s meticulous care. The tiny conjunction links her to His unfolding story, the term “name” affirms her personal worth, “of Asher’s” anchors her in covenant lineage, “daughter was” stresses God’s equal regard for women, and “Serah” preserves her identity for all time. The verse encourages us that the same God who recorded Serah’s name also knows ours, values us individually, and faithfully keeps every promise to His people. |
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