Who was Ammishaddai in the Bible?

Ammishaddai was the father of Ahiezer, who served as the leader of the tribe of Dan during the Israelites' journey through the wilderness after the Exodus from Egypt (Numbers 1:12). His name means 'my kinsman is the Almighty,' highlighting a relationship with God.

Why is Ammishaddai mentioned in the Bible?

Ammishaddai is mentioned to establish the lineage and leadership of the tribe of Dan. His significance comes entirely through his son, Ahiezer, who was chosen as a tribal leader to help Moses with the census and military organization (Numbers 2:25).

What does the name Ammishaddai mean?

The name Ammishaddai is Hebrew and translates to 'my kinsman is the Almighty' or 'the Almighty is my relative.' It is a compound of 'am' (people/kinsman) and 'Shaddai' (a name for God), reflecting a personal and covenantal connection to God.

Ammishaddai

Old TestamentEgypt & WildernessMaleLeaderFather

Ammishaddai was the father of Ahiezer, the leader of the tribe of Dan during the wilderness journey.

Ammishaddai

Biography

Ammishaddai, whose name beautifully combines the Hebrew terms for 'my kinspeople' and 'Almighty God' (El Shaddai), was the father of Ahiezer, the appointed tribal leader and military commander of Dan during Israel's wilderness journey (Numbers 1:12; 2:25). Ahiezer led a Danite contingent of sixty-two thousand seven hundred men according to the Sinai census and commanded the rearguard position in Israel's marching formation (Numbers 10:25). Ahiezer also presented the tribal dedication offering at the tabernacle consecration (Numbers 7:66-71). Though Ammishaddai himself is never directly described in action, his name's theological weight, invoking the covenant name El Shaddai used prominently in the patriarchal narratives, is itself remarkable.

Significance

Ammishaddai's theophoric name is his most significant feature: the incorporation of 'Shaddai,' the name by which God revealed himself to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (Exodus 6:3), suggests a family deeply rooted in patriarchal covenant piety. Through his son Ahiezer, Ammishaddai's lineage was entrusted with the rearguard of Israel's march through the wilderness, a position of strategic responsibility protecting the entire nation. This placement may carry symbolic weight, as the tribe of Dan would later occupy geographic and spiritual borderlands in Israel's history. Ammishaddai thus represents the continuity of patriarchal faith carried forward into the organizational structures of the new Mosaic covenant community.

Verse Appearances (5)

Numbers

Numbers 1:12 Numbers 2:25 Numbers 7:66 Numbers 7:71 Numbers 10:25

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]
Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

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