Lexical Summary Chaggi: Haggi Original Word: חַגִּי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Haggi, Haggites From chagag; festive, Chaggi, an Israelite; also (patronymically) a Chaggite, or descendant of the same -- Haggi, Haggites. see HEBREW chagag NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chag Definition "festal," a son of Gad, also his desc. NASB Translation Haggi (2), Haggites (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs חַגִּי proper name, masculine (festal) 1 ᵐ5 Ἀγγις son of Gad Genesis 46:16; Numbers 26:15 (both P). 2. adjective, of a people as substantive collective, with article Numbers 26:15 (P). Topical Lexicon Biblical ContextHaggi appears in the patriarchal list of Genesis 46:16 as one of the seven sons of Gad, the seventh son of Jacob and firstborn of Zilpah. The name re-emerges in the wilderness census of Numbers 26:15, where “the Haggite clan from Haggi” is counted among the families of Gad. Although only these three occurrences preserve the name explicitly, the clan that descended from Haggi remained part of Israel’s tribal structure throughout the conquest and settlement of Canaan. Genealogical Significance 1. Second Generation of Gad 2. Formation of the Haggites Role within the Tribe of Gad Gad settled east of the Jordan River, a region demanding constant vigilance against external threats. Tribal bravery became a hallmark, reflected later in the exploits of the Gadite warriors who joined David (1 Chronicles 12:8-15). While the text does not single out the Haggites in these exploits, every Gadite clan—including theirs—shared in the reputation for valor: “They were brave warriors, ready for battle, armed with shield and spear, whose faces were the faces of lions, and they were as swift as gazelles on the mountains” (1 Chronicles 12:8). Thus, the Haggites participated in the defense of Israel’s eastern frontier and in the broader advance of the kingdom under David. Census and Inheritance The second wilderness census (Numbers 26) served two major purposes: 1. Military Mobilization—Each clan’s numbers determined its contribution to Israel’s army during the forthcoming conquest of Canaan. By tying the census directly to inheritance, the Lord underlined that every clan, however small, possessed an irrevocable stake in the covenant land. The Haggites, therefore, illustrate the precision of God’s promise to Abraham that his offspring would inherit a specific, tangible homeland (Genesis 15:18-21). Historical Footprint after the Conquest The Old Testament does not preserve further individual notices of Haggite leaders. This silence, however, should not be read as insignificance. Archaeological surveys of Gadite territory (modern northern Jordan) reveal pastoral and fortified sites dating to the Iron Age that match the Bible’s description of Gad’s way of life (Numbers 32:1-5, 34-38). The Haggites would have shared in the stewardship of these lands and the covenant responsibilities that accompanied them, including participation in the national assemblies at Shiloh, Shechem, and later Jerusalem. Ministry and Theological Reflections 1. Memorial of God’s Faithfulness The survival of the clan list into the Mosaic era testifies that God preserved every branch of Jacob’s family during four centuries of Egyptian sojourn. Each name, including Haggi, functions as a memorial stone, proclaiming that no covenant promise falters or fades. 2. Celebration and Worship Because Haggi’s name is related to Israel’s festal vocabulary, his lineage reminds believers that covenant life is inseparable from worship. The patriarchal family entered Egypt under the promise, “I will be with you” (Genesis 46:4), and they left under the sign of the Passover feast—a pattern fulfilled in Christ, “our Passover Lamb” (1 Corinthians 5:7). 3. Corporate Identity in Christ The Haggites exemplify the way God weaves individual families into the tapestry of redemptive history. Just as they found their identity within Gad, so Christians find theirs within the body of Christ. “For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks” (1 Corinthians 12:13). Summary Haggi, though mentioned only briefly, anchors a clan that endured from the migration into Egypt through the wilderness and into the Promised Land. The Haggites’ census count ensured their place in Israel’s army and inheritance, witnessing to God’s meticulous faithfulness. Their name, echoing Israel’s worship and festal rhythm, calls the people of God to rejoice in the sure promises fulfilled ultimately in Jesus Messiah. Forms and Transliterations הַֽחַגִּ֑י החגי וְחַגִּ֖י וחגי לְחַגִּ֕י לחגי ha·ḥag·gî hachagGi haḥaggî lə·ḥag·gî lechagGi ləḥaggî vechagGi wə·ḥag·gî wəḥaggîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Genesis 46:16 HEB: גָ֔ד צִפְי֥וֹן וְחַגִּ֖י שׁוּנִ֣י וְאֶצְבֹּ֑ן NAS: Ziphion and Haggi, Shuni KJV: Ziphion, and Haggi, Shuni, INT: of Gad Ziphion and Haggi Shuni and Ezbon Numbers 26:15 Numbers 26:15 3 Occurrences |
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