Numbers 26:30
These are the sons of Gilead: of Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites: of Helek, the family of the Helekites:
Original Language Analysis
בְּנֵ֣י
These are the sons
H1121
בְּנֵ֣י
These are the sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
2 of 9
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
גִלְעָ֔ד
of Gilead
H1568
גִלְעָ֔ד
of Gilead
Strong's:
H1568
Word #:
3 of 9
gilad, a region east of the jordan; also the name of three israelites
מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת
the family
H4940
מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת
the family
Strong's:
H4940
Word #:
5 of 9
a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people
Cross References
Judges 6:11And there came an angel of the LORD, and sat under an oak which was in Ophrah, that pertained unto Joash the Abiezrite: and his son Gideon threshed wheat by the winepress, to hide it from the Midianites.Joshua 17:2There was also a lot for the rest of the children of Manasseh by their families; for the children of Abiezer, and for the children of Helek, and for the children of Asriel, and for the children of Shechem, and for the children of Hepher, and for the children of Shemida: these were the male children of Manasseh the son of Joseph by their families.Judges 6:24Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.Judges 6:34But the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him.
Historical Context
These clan names reappear in Joshua 17:2 when the land is actually divided 40 years later. The Abiezrites of Ophrah (Gideon's hometown) became a key center in Manasseh's territory. Such genealogical precision was essential for property rights, marriage alliances, and tribal identity throughout Israel's history.
Questions for Reflection
- How does the discovery that 'Jeezer' was Gideon's clan encourage us to see our own family lines as containing potential deliverers?
- What does the Hebrew concept of 'portion' (heleq) teach about accepting God's specific calling rather than coveting another's inheritance?
- How does this meticulous record-keeping challenge modern Christianity's sometimes casual approach to covenant community and membership?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The sons of Gilead: of Jeezer, the family of the Jeezerites: of Helek, the family of the Helekites—Gilead's six clan subdivisions (Jeezer, Helek, Asriel, Shechem, Shemida, Hepher) demonstrate how covenant promises multiply through generations. Jeezer (אִיעֶזֶר, 'father of help') appears elsewhere as Abiezer, the clan of Gideon (Judges 6:11), showing how this dry genealogy conceals future deliverers.
Helek (חֵלֶק, 'portion') embodies the census's purpose—each clan would receive their heleq, their divinely apportioned land inheritance (Numbers 26:52-56). This wasn't mere property distribution but theological statement: God's people receive measured grace, proportional inheritance, specific callings. The detailed clan structure ensured every family knew their place in redemptive history.