Hushim חֻשִׁים

Male Tribe of Dan H2366B 2 books

Son of Dan, ancestor of the Shuhamites.

Who is Hushim in the Bible?

Hushim, also known as Shuham, was the son of Dan and ancestor of the Shuhamite clan within the tribe of Dan (Genesis 46:23). He is listed in the genealogy of Jacob's descendants who went down to Egypt, appearing as Dan's only son in that record. During the wilderness census recorded in Numbers 26:42-43, his descendants were identified as the Shuhamites, indicating that Hushim's lineage formed a distinct clan within the tribe of Dan. His significance lies in establishing one of the family lines through which the tribe of Dan maintained its tribal identity and inheritance rights as the Israelites prepared to enter the Promised Land.

Biography

Hushim, also referred to as Shuham, is mentioned in Gen.46.23 and Num.26.42-43 as the son of Dan, one of the twelve sons of Israel (or 'Jacob') (Israel). In the genealogy of Genesis 46, which records the descendants of Jacob who went down to Egypt, Hushim is listed as the only son of Dan.

In Numbers 26, during the census of the Israelites in the wilderness, the descendants of Hushim are referred to as the Shuhamites. This suggests that Hushim was also known as Shuham, and his descendants formed a clan within the tribe of Dan.

The census in Numbers 26 was taken after the Israelites had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years and were preparing to enter the Promised Land. The purpose of the census was to determine the military strength of each tribe and to allocate the land inheritance accordingly.

The Shuhamites, as descendants of Hushim (Shuham), would have been part of the tribe of Dan and would have received their portion of the land inheritance in Canaan.

The variations in the name (Hushim and Shuham) may be due to different spellings or pronunciations used in different traditions or may reflect changes in the name over time.

Family

In Scripture

2 biblical books ; 1 with study content
Genesis 1 verse
Numbers 2 verses
  • Numbers 26:42

    "These were the descendants of Dan by their clans: The Shuhamite clan from Shuham. These were the clans of Dan."

  • Numbers 26:43

    "All of them were Shuhamite clans, and their registration numbered 64,400."

Names & Aliases

Form Language Script
Named Hebrew חֻשִׁים
Named Hebrew שׁוּחָם
Group Hebrew שׁוּחָמִי