Genesis 46:23
The son of Dan: Hushim.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Genesis 46:23
The son of Dan: Hushim.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The verse lists "the sons of Dan" but only names one, Hushim. This suggests that "sons" might be used more broadly to encompass descendants, or simply that Hushim was Dan's only son at that time, a detail that subtly emphasizes the lineage's future growth from a small beginning.
As Jacob's family prepares to move to Egypt, God reassures him that he will make his descendants a great nation there. The text then lists the names of Jacob's sons and grandsons who are making the journey, totaling seventy people, to emphasize the humble beginnings of the nation that God promised to Abraham. This list of descendants concludes with the sons of Dan and Naphtali, who were born to Jacob through Bilhah, Rachel's maid.
Why does the Bible sometimes use plural words for a single person? It's more than just a grammatical quirk; it can highlight the potential and future of that individual.
In Genesis 46:23, we read, 'The sons of Dan; Hushim.' The interesting part here is that Dan only had one son, Hushim. So why the plural 'sons'?
God's Perspective on Potential
This linguistic choice reveals a significant aspect of how Scripture often speaks. It's not just about the present reality but also about the future. Even though Dan currently had only one son, the 'sons' could refer to the potential for many descendants to come from this single lineage. It's a way of looking forward to the tribe Dan would eventually become.
A Glimpse of Future Growth
This is similar to how God spoke to Abraham, promising countless descendants. While Abraham had no children at the time, God saw the future nation already present in His mind. This single son, Hushim, was the seed from which a larger family, and eventually a tribe, would grow. It's a reminder that God's plans often encompass more than we can see in the immediate moment.
Why is Dan, a son of a handmaid, listed among Jacob's descendants? His inclusion highlights the richness and inclusivity of God's covenant family.
The list of Jacob's descendants in Genesis 46 is a crucial record, tracing the lineage that would become the nation of Israel. It's significant that Dan, the son of Bilhah (Rachel's handmaid), is included.
From Handmaid to Tribe
Dan was not born to one of Jacob's primary wives, Leah or Rachel, but to their servant, Bilhah. Yet, he is fully integrated into the count of Jacob's descendants. This shows that God's purposes and promises extend beyond immediate or obvious lines of inheritance.
God's Covenant Encompasses All
By including the descendants of both Leah and Bilhah (and Zilpah), the text emphasizes that God's covenant family is built on His grace, not solely on birth order or status. The future nation of Israel would be formed from all of Jacob's sons, regardless of their mothers' social standing. This sets a precedent for how God incorporates diverse individuals and groups into His redemptive plan.
Understand the original words
ben · Hebrew Noun
Referring to the descendants of a patriarch, often used to signify the tribal clan or the progeny resulting from a specific union within the context of the patriarch's household.
While the verse itself is a simple genealogical note, it's embedded within the monumental narrative of Jacob's family moving to Egypt. This move, though initially a salvation from famine, set in motion the events leading to centuries of slavery and God's powerful deliverance.
c. 1805 BC— this verse
Jacob's Family Migrates to Egypt
Jacob and his entire household, numbering seventy souls, relocate from Canaan to the land of Goshen in Egypt due to a severe famine. This marks a pivotal moment, setting the stage for their future enslavement and eventual liberation.
c. 1805 BC
Jacob Offered Land in Goshen
Joseph arranges for his family to settle in the fertile region of Goshen, a pastureland that was an abomination to Egyptians due to their occupation as shepherds. This separation protected the Israelites and fostered their growth.
c. 1805 BC
Jacob Reaffirms Covenant with God
Before embarking on the journey to Egypt, Jacob offers sacrifices at Beersheba. God appears to him in a vision, reassuring him of His presence, promising to make him a great nation in Egypt, and reaffirming the covenant.
c. 1700-1550 BC
Hyksos Rule in Egypt
The period of the Hyksos, or 'shepherd kings,' who were Semitic peoples, may have coincided with or immediately followed the Israelites' settlement in Egypt. Their presence could have initially facilitated the Israelites' integration.
This passage provides a parallel listing of the descendants of Israel, noting that Hushim is also called Shuham, highlighting variations in names across different biblical accounts.
1 Chronicles 7:12This passage lists descendants, and while the connection to Dan can be obscure, it demonstrates the importance of tracing genealogies within the tribes of Israel.
Genesis 30:6This verse introduces Dan as the son of Jacob and Bilhah, setting the stage for the later mention of his descendants like Hushim and emphasizing the lineage through concubines.
Exodus 1:1-5This passage immediately follows the account of Jacob's family settling in Egypt and lists the sons who came with him, providing context for the 'seventy souls' and the growth of Israel's population.
gillGenesis 46:23: "And the sons of Dan; Hushim."
And the sons of Dan, Hushim. He had but one son, wherefore the plural is put for the singular, see Genesis 46:7 ; Aben Ezra thinks he had two sons, and that one of them was dead, and therefore not mentioned; but the other way best accounts for the expression; though, as Schmidt observes, the plural may be indefinitely put, and the sense be this, as for the sons of Dan, there was only one, whose name was Hushim. Dan was a son of Jacob by Bilhah, Rach…
calvinGenesis 46:1-34: "And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac."
- Et dixit Deus ad Israel in visi onibus noctis, dixit inquam, Jahacob Jahacob. Ille respondit, Ecce, adsum.
3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
- Et dixit, Ego sum Deus, Deus patris tui: ne timeas descendere in Aegyptum: quia in gentem magnam ponam to ibi…
The verse lists "the sons of Dan" but only names one, Hushim. This suggests that "sons" might be used more broadly to encompass descendants, or simply that Hushim was Dan's only son at that time, a detail that subtly emphasizes the lineage's future growth from a small beginning.
As Jacob's family prepares to move to Egypt, God reassures him that he will make his descendants a great nation there. The text then lists the names of Jacob's sons and grandsons who are making the journey, totaling seventy people, to emphasize the humble beginnings of the nation that God promised to Abraham. This list of descendants concludes with the sons of Dan and Naphtali, who were born to Jacob through Bilhah, Rachel's maid.
As Jacob's family prepares to move to Egypt, God reassures him that he will make his descendants a great nation there. The text then lists the names of Jacob's sons and grandsons who are making the journey, totaling seventy people, to emphasize the humble beginnings of the nation that God promised to Abraham. This list of descendants concludes with the sons of Dan and Naphtali, who were born to Jacob through Bilhah, Rachel's maid.
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c. 1550 BC
Expulsion of the Hyksos
Egyptian dynasties reasserted control, expelling the Hyksos. This shift in power likely marked the beginning of increased hardship and oppression for the Israelites, who were also viewed as foreign shepherds.
"The son of Dan: Hushim." — The verse lists "the sons of Dan" but only names one, Hushim. This suggests that "sons" might be used more broadly to encompass descendants, or simply that Hushim was Dan's only son at that time, a d…