Eran
Eran was a son of Shuthelah and grandson of Ephraim, who became the head of the Eranite clan.
Biography
Eran was the son of Shuthelah and the grandson of Ephraim, the son of Joseph (Numbers 26:36). He lived during the wilderness period of Israel's history, in the generation that experienced the exodus and the long sojourn before entering Canaan. Eran became the progenitor of the Eranite clan within the tribe of Ephraim, a clan recognized and counted in the second census taken by Moses near the end of the wilderness wanderings. The census in Numbers 26 was conducted to prepare for the military conquest and land distribution of Canaan, meaning that the Eranite clan, descended from Eran, was among the fighting forces of Ephraim who would eventually enter the Promised Land.
Significance
Eran's significance lies in his role as a clan founder within the tribe of Ephraim during Israel's critical transitional period from wilderness to settlement. The second census of Numbers 26 in which the Eranites are recorded was conducted with the express purpose of organizing Israel for the conquest of Canaan, the fulfillment of God's covenant promise to the patriarchs. By establishing a recognized clan, Eran ensured that his branch of Ephraim's descendants would have a defined place in the allotment of the land. His story illustrates how God's great promises were realized through the continuation of family lines, each one carrying the covenant community toward its inheritance in the Promised Land.
Verse Appearances (1)
Numbers
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]