What is the meaning of Numbers 34:20? Shemuel • “of the tribe of Simeon, Shemuel son of Ammihud;” (Numbers 34:20) appears in a list the LORD gives Moses naming leaders who will divide Canaan (Numbers 34:16-18). • His inclusion shows God’s care to appoint a real, identifiable man for a real, historical task (cf. Numbers 34:17; Joshua 14:1-2). • Like Caleb and Joshua before him, Shemuel stands as a witness that every tribe has a stake in the promise (Exodus 6:8; Joshua 21:45). son of Ammihud • Scripture roots leaders in family lines, underscoring accountability and continuity (Numbers 1:2; Numbers 26:55-56). • Mentioning Ammihud ties Shemuel to an established household, affirming that the work of dividing the land involves whole families, not isolated individuals (Numbers 36:7-9; Psalm 78:5-7). • This lineage theme anticipates Israel’s later insistence on documented ancestry when they return from exile (Ezra 2:59-63), reminding readers that God keeps track of His people. from the tribe of Simeon • Simeon’s history carries both discipline and restoration: Jacob prophesied scattering (Genesis 49:5-7), yet the tribe still receives an inheritance inside Judah’s allotment (Joshua 19:1-9). • Choosing a Simeonite leader affirms that even tribes with a troubled past are fully included in God’s promise (Numbers 25:14; 26:14; Romans 11:29). • The presence of a Simeonite at the land-allocation table highlights unity among the tribes as they obey God together (Joshua 18:1-10; Ephesians 4:3-4). summary Numbers 34:20 identifies Shemuel, a verified family man from Simeon, as one of the divinely appointed commissioners to parcel out the Promised Land. The verse shows God’s meticulous faithfulness: every tribe receives representation, every promise is anchored in real people, and even formerly disciplined tribes are fully restored to their inheritance. |
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