Genesis 46:23

And the sons of Dan; Hushim.

Genesis 46:23 (KJV)

Context

Genesis 46 records Jacob’s journey to Egypt with his entire family. Jacob, also called Israel, had received God’s reassurance to go down to Egypt, where his son Joseph lived, because a severe famine gripped Canaan.

Dan was Jacob’s fifth son, the firstborn of Bilhah, Rachel’s maidservant. This verse lists Dan’s offspring: Hushim. The plural “sons” is a Hebrew idiom; Dan had only one son, but the plural can denote posterity or a clan.

Meaning

The name Dan means “judge” or “he who judges.” Hushim, whose name is plural in form, likely represents a family or tribal group rather than just an individual. In the later census of Numbers 26:42, the name appears as Shuham, and the family is called Shuhamites—a transposition of the same name.

Though Dan had only one son, the tribe grew remarkably. By the second census in the wilderness, the tribe of Dan numbered 64,400 men, an increase of 1,700 from the first census. This growth shows God’s blessing and faithfulness in multiplying His people, even from a single individual.

Application

This brief genealogical note reminds us that God works through ordinary family lines and small beginnings. Even when a tribe or person seems insignificant, God’s purposes are not limited by human numbers. The tribe of Dan’s later failure, recorded in Judges 18:30-31, warns us to remain faithful and to learn from past mistakes.

Reflection

God’s plan for Israel’s growth, promised to Abraham, unfolded through real families and specific names. This verse encourages us to trust that God is faithful to His promises, even when our own contribution seems small.