Tribe Of Naphtali In Biblical Genealogy
Naphtali was the fifth son of Jacob, born to Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid [2]. His birth is recorded in Genesis 30:8, where Rachel names him, saying, "With mighty wrestlings I have wrestled with my sister, and have prevailed" [2]. The name Naphtali itself means "wrestling" or "that struggles or fights" [6, 8]. He is considered the founder of the tribe of Naphtali [3].
At the time of the Exodus, a census taken at Mount Sinai recorded the tribe of Naphtali as having 53,400 fighting men [2, 4]. However, by the time they reached the borders of the Promised Land, their numbers had decreased to 45,400 [2, 4]. During the wilderness wanderings, the tribe of Naphtali encamped on the north side of the tabernacle, alongside Dan and Asher, forming "the camp of Dan" under a common standard [2, 4, 5].
Jacob's patriarchal blessing for Naphtali states, "Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words" (Genesis 49:21) [4]. This blessing is understood to poetically describe the future character of the tribe, suggesting they would be a free mountain people [4, 10]. Moses' blessing for Naphtali describes the tribe as "satisfied with favor, and full of the blessing of the Lord; possess thou the west and the south" (Deuteronomy 33:23) [13]. The phrase "west and the south" or "southward to the sea" likely refers to the region the tribe settled near the Sea of Galilee, known for its fishing and farming [8].
The inheritance of the tribe of Naphtali was located in the hilly region northwest of the Sea of Galilee [10]. This territory extended eastward as far as Damascus, encompassing upper Galilee, Mount Lebanon, and the sources of the Jordan River [9]. The tribe's land was divided among its families [11]. Notable individuals from the tribe include Nahbi son of Vophsi, who was chosen to spy out the land [1, 5], and Ahira son of Enan, who was a prince of the tribe [12]. The families of Naphtali included Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem [7, 5]. In later biblical accounts, a skilled coppersmith named Hiram, whose mother was of the tribe of Naphtali (though also described as being of Dan), was employed by Solomon for work on the temple [14].
Sources
- Numbers “Numbers 13:14 (BSB) — from the tribe of Naphtali, Nahbi son of Vophsi;”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Naphtali — (wrestling), the fifth son of Jacob; the second child name to him by Bilhah, Rachel's slave. His birth and the bestowal of his name are recorded in (Genesis 30:8) When the census was taken at Mount Sinai the tribe of Naphtali numbered no less than 53,400 fighting men, (Numbers 1:43; 2:50) but when the borders of the promised land were reached, its numbers were reduced to, 45,400. (Numbers 26:48-50) During the march through the wilderness Naphtali occupied a position on the north of the sacred tent with Dan and Asher. (Numbers 2:25-31) In the apportionment o”
- STEPBible TIPNR “Biblical proper name: [email protected]=H5321G — Jacob's son living at the time of the Patriarchs (refs: #A man who founded the tribe of Naphtali living at the time of the Patriarchs, first mentioned at G)”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Naphtali, Tribe of — On this tribe Jacob pronounced the patriarchal blessing, "Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words" (Gen. 49:21). It was intended thus to set forth under poetic imagery the future character and history of the tribe. At the time of the Exodus this tribe numbered 53,400 adult males (Num. 1:43), but at the close of the wanderings they numbered only 45,400 (26:48-50). Along with Dan and Asher they formed "the camp of Dan," under a common standard (2:25-31), occupying a place during the march on the north side of the tabernacle. The posses”
- Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Naphtali, the Tribe Of — Descended from Jacob's sixth son -- Ge 30:7,8. Predictions respecting -- Ge 49:21; De 33:23. Persons selected from To number the people. -- Nu 1:15. To spy out the land. -- Nu 13:14. To divide the land. -- Nu 34:28. Strength of, on leaving Egypt -- Nu 1:42,43. The rear of the fourth division of Israel in their journeys -- Nu 10:25,27. Encamped under the standard of Dan north of the tabernacle -- Nu 2:25,29. Offering of, at the dedication -- Nu 7:78-83. Families of -- Nu 26:48,49. Strength of, on entering Canaan -- Nu 26:50. On Ebal said amen ”
- Hitchcock's Bible Names “Hitchcock's Bible Names: Naphtali — that struggles or fights”
- Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Shillem — (requital), son of Naphtali and an ancestor of the family of the Shillemites. (Genesis 46:24; Numbers 26:49)”
- Deuteronomy (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Deuteronomy 33:23: 33:23 Naphtali was the younger of two sons of Jacob by Rachel’s servant Bilhah (Gen 30:7-8). The name means something like “my struggle.” • the west and the south (or southward to the sea): The Hebrew word (yam) can mean either “west” or “sea.” This phrase might refer to the region this tribe settled in near the Sea of Galilee (see Matt 4:12-17), known for its fishing and farming.”
- Joshua (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Joshua 19:38: This is the inheritance of the tribe of the children of Naphtali,.... Which Josephus (o) thus describes;"the country to the east, as far as Damascus the city, and upper Galilee, the Naphtalites took, unto Mount Lebanon, and the fountains of Jordan, which flow out of the mount, reaching the northern border of the city Arce:" according to their families; which was divided among them, according to the number of their families: the cities and their villages; before enumerated. (o) Antiqu. l. 5. c. 1. sect. 22.”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 49:21: 49:21 Naphtali, like a doe, would be a free mountain people (cp. Judg 5:18). The tribe settled in the hilly region northwest of the Sea of Galilee.”
- Joshua (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Joshua 19:31: The sixth lot came out to the children of Naphtali,.... The tribe of Naphtali, and directed what should be the inheritance of this tribe: even for the children of Naphtali, according to their families; which was to be divided among them, according to the number of their, families.”
- Midrash Rabbah (Jewish (Rabbinic)) “Midrash Rabbah, Bamidbar Rabbah 14:11: “On the twelfth day, prince of the children of Naphtali, Aḥira son of Einan” (Numbers 7:78). “On the twelfth day, prince of the children of Naphtali, Aḥira son of Einan” – why did Naphtali present his offering after Asher? It is because Asher was called for the happiness [ ishuran ] of Israel, and Naphtali is called for the Torah that Israel received. What is Naphtali? It is nofet li . This is the Torah, in whose regard it is written: “They are more desirable than gold, than quantities of fine gold, and sweeter than honey and the juices of [ nofet ] ripe ”
- Deuteronomy (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Deuteronomy 33:22: And of Naphtali he said,.... The tribe of Naphtali, as the Targums of Jonathan and Jerusalem: O Naphtali, satisfied with favour; with the favour of men, which to have is a great blessing; and as he gave goodly words to others, he had the good word of others, Gen 49:21; and with the favour of God, as the next clause shows; which is the greatest blessing of all, and is special and peculiar, free and sovereign, and the source of all blessings, temporal and spiritual; and to be full of this, and satisfied of an interest in it, is the highest of enjoyments; and not”
- 1 Kings (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on 1 Kings 7:13: Solomon sent and fetched Hiram out of Tyre - This was not the Tyrian king, mentioned before, but a very intelligent coppersmith, of Jewish extraction by his mother's side, who was probably married to a Tyrian. In Ch2 2:14, this woman is said to be of the daughters of Dan, but here of the tribe of Naphtali. The king of Tyre, who gives the account as we have it in Chronicles, might have made the mistake, and confounded the two tribes; or she might have been of Naphtali by her father, and of Dan by her mother, and so be indifferently called of the tribe of Naphtali or”