Lexical Summary Shuchami: Shuchamite Original Word: שׁוּחָמִי Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Shuhamites Patronymic from Shuwcham; a Shuchamite (collectively) -- Shuhamites. see HEBREW Shuwcham NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom Shucham Definition desc. of Shuham NASB Translation Shuhamites (2). Brown-Driver-Briggs שׁוּחָמִי adjective, of a people of foregoing; with article ׳הַשּׁ as collective noun Numbers 26:42. [יְשׁוֺחָיָה] proper name, masculine see below שׁחח. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrences Strong’s Hebrew 7749 designates the clan name “Shuhamite(s),” appearing twice in Scripture—Numbers 26:42 and Numbers 26:43—during the second wilderness census under Moses. Genealogical Context The Shuhamites descend from Shuham, listed among the sons of Dan (compare Genesis 46:23, where the variant form “Hushim” appears). They therefore form one of the sub-familial groupings within the tribe of Dan. In ancient Israel’s social structure, such clan names identified extended family lines responsible for mutual support, inheritance, and military duty. Historical Setting: The Second Census Numbers 26 records the census taken on the plains of Moab shortly before Israel crossed the Jordan. The text reads: “These are the descendants of Dan by their clans: From Shuham, the clan of the Shuhamites… The number of all the Shuhamite clans was 64,400” (Numbers 26:42–43). The large population credited to the Shuhamites underscores both divine blessing and the tribe’s preparedness for conquest. Whereas the earlier Sinai census (Numbers 1:38–39) records Dan’s total at 62,700, the Moab census shows a net gain, highlighting God’s faithfulness despite decades of wilderness wandering and judgment. Territorial Allotment after Conquest When the land was apportioned (Joshua 19:40–48), the territory of Dan lay along the coastal plain. Although the text does not single out the Shuhamites, clan divisions ordinarily influenced settlement patterns and local leadership. Later frustration with Philistine pressure led many Danites northward (Judges 18). Any Shuhamite migration would have participated in that movement, illustrating the fluidity of clan identity while maintaining tribal cohesion. Theological Significance 1. Covenant Continuity: The preservation of Shuham’s lineage from Egypt (Genesis 46) through the wilderness (Numbers 26) into Canaan confirms God’s promise to multiply Abraham’s descendants (Genesis 22:17). Lessons for Ministry • Remembered by Name: Though mentioned only twice, the Shuhamites are eternally inscribed in Scripture. God notices faithful but otherwise obscure believers and incorporates them into His redemptive plan. Summary The Shuhamites exemplify an ordinary clan within Israel whose brief biblical appearance testifies to God’s meticulous covenant care. Their legacy challenges believers to value every member of God’s people, trust His capacity to sustain growth in adversity, and carry forward a collective witness marked by order, unity, and faith. Forms and Transliterations הַשּׁוּחָמִ֑י הַשּׁוּחָמִ֖י השוחמי haš·šū·ḥā·mî hashshuchaMi haššūḥāmîLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Numbers 26:42 HEB: לְשׁוּחָ֕ם מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת הַשּׁוּחָמִ֑י אֵ֛לֶּה מִשְׁפְּחֹ֥ת NAS: the family of the Shuhamites. These KJV: the family of the Shuhamites. These [are] the families INT: of Shuham the family of the Shuhamites These are the families Numbers 26:43 2 Occurrences |
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