Who was Ammihud in the Bible?

Ammihud was the father of Shemuel, a leader from the tribe of Simeon. His primary significance is that his son was chosen to help divide the Promised Land of Canaan among the Israelites (Numbers 34:20).

What is the significance of Ammihud's role?

While Ammihud himself is not a major actor, his lineage was important. His son, Shemuel, represented the tribe of Simeon in the crucial task of apportioning the land, linking Ammihud to this foundational event in Israel's history.

Where is Ammihud mentioned in the Bible?

Ammihud is mentioned only once, in Numbers 34:20. This verse lists him as the father of Shemuel, the Simeonite leader appointed for the land division.

Ammihud

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleLeaderFather

Ammihud was the father of Shemuel, the leader from the tribe of Simeon appointed to help divide the land of Canaan.

Ammihud

Biography

Ammihud was the father of Shemuel, the appointed leader from the tribe of Simeon designated to assist in the division and allotment of the land of Canaan among the twelve tribes of Israel (Numbers 34:20). This commission was given by God to Moses near the end of the wilderness period, as Israel stood poised to cross the Jordan and take possession of the promised land. Shemuel ben Ammihud was one of ten tribal representatives, alongside Eleazar the priest and Joshua, charged with ensuring an equitable and divinely ordered distribution of territory. Though Ammihud himself plays no active role in the narrative beyond fathering this appointed leader, his name, meaning 'my people are glorious,' resonates with the honor attached to his family's selection.

Significance

Ammihud's significance is inseparable from the mission of his son Shemuel, who bore responsibility for ensuring that the tribe of Simeon received its rightful inheritance in the promised land. The careful allotment of Canaan under divine direction was a direct fulfillment of the Abrahamic covenant, and the leaders appointed to oversee it were instruments of that fulfillment. The tribe of Simeon received no independent territory but cities within Judah's allotment (Joshua 19:1), carrying a complex inheritance. Ammihud's family thus stands at the intersection of covenantal promise and the complex realities of its historical outworking among the twelve tribes of Israel.

Verse Appearances (1)

Numbers

Numbers 34:20

References

Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
Wikidata contributors (n.d.) Wikidata. Available at: https://www.wikidata.org. [CC0]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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