Numbers 26:32
And of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites.
Original Language Analysis
מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת
the family
H4940
מִשְׁפַּ֖חַת
the family
Strong's:
H4940
Word #:
2 of 6
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
הַשְּׁמִֽידָעִ֑י
of the Shemidaites
H8062
הַשְּׁמִֽידָעִ֑י
of the Shemidaites
Strong's:
H8062
Word #:
3 of 6
a shemidaite (collectively) or descendants of shemida
Historical Context
The Hepherites' later significance through Zelophehad's daughters (v. 33) shows how census genealogies preserve information that becomes crucial later. This clan's name appears in Joshua's land division (Joshua 17:2-3), where the daughters' inheritance is formally granted. Their case became precedent for property law throughout Israel's history (Numbers 36).
Questions for Reflection
- How does Hepher's story of 'the pit' producing legal reformers encourage believers from disadvantaged or stigmatized backgrounds?
- What does the equal counting of prestigious and humble clans teach about God's valuation versus human social hierarchies?
- How might Zelophehad's case, arising from 'shameful' Hepher, typologically point to Christ bringing redemption through the shame of the cross?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
Of Shemida, the family of the Shemidaites: and of Hepher, the family of the Hepherites—Shemida (שְׁמִידָע, 'name of knowing' or 'wise fame') suggests reputation built on understanding, while Hepher (חֵפֶר, 'a pit/well' or 'shame') seems less auspicious. Yet Hepher's clan produced Zelophehad, whose daughters revolutionized inheritance law (Numbers 27:1-11).
This juxtaposition—'wise fame' beside 'the pit'—mirrors Scripture's pattern: God chooses foolish things to shame the wise (1 Corinthians 1:27). The Hepherites, despite their inauspicious name, became agents of covenant justice and women's rights. The census doesn't rank clans by prestige but counts them equally, each essential to Israel's completeness. No clan is expendable; the 'least' may birth landmark legal precedent.