Page:Light and truth.djvu/35

Rh the Ardites; and Naaman, of whom cometh the Naamanites. These were the families of Benjamin, and the number of them was forty-five thousand six hundred souls.—(Gen. xlvi. ; Numbers xxvi.)

Dan, (Gen. xxx. 6,) was the fifth son of Jacob. The prediction uttered by Jacob, respecting Dan, (Gen xlix. 16, 17.) is variously interpreted. It is probable that the elevation of his tribe to an equal rank with the others, notwithstanding he was born of a concubine, was foretold in Gen. v. 16; and the residue of the prediction may allude to the subtle and crafty disposition of his descendants. Indeed, we know that Samson, [who was among the most noted of them,] was remarkably successful in stratagem, (Judg. xiv. 15,) and perhaps the same trait was characteristic of their tribe.—(Judg. xviii. 26, 27.) The son of Dan was Hushim or Shuham, of whom cometh the Shuhamites. The mother of Hiram, an Ethiopian king of Tyre, was a daughter of Dan.—(Num. xxvi. 2 Chron. ii. 14.)

Naphtali, (Gen. xxx. 8,) or Nephthalim, (Matt, iv 15,) was a son of Jacob, by Bilhah. The sons of Naphtali, and their families, were Jahzeel, of whom cometh the Jahzeelites; Guni, of whom cometh the Gunites; Jezer, of whom cometh the Jezerites; Shillem, of whom cometh the Shillemites; Huram, or Hiram, was an Ethiopian king of Tyre, of the tribe of Naphtali. These were the families of Naphtali, and the number of them was forty-five thousand four hundred souls.—(Gen. xlvi.; Num. xxvi.; 1 Kings vii. 14.)

Gad, (Gen. xxx. 9—11; Num. i. 25,) was the son of Jacob, by Zilpah, Leah's handmaid. The sons of Gad, and their families, were Ziphion, or Zephon, of whom cometh the Zephonites; Haggi,in of whom cometh the Haggites; Shuni, of whom cometh the Shunites: Ezbon, or Ozni, of whom cometh the Oznites; Eri, of whom cometh the Erites; Arod, of whom cometh the Arodites; Arela, of whom cometh the Arelites. These were the families of Gad, and the number of them was forty thousand five hundred souls.—(Gen. xlvi. Num. xxvi.)