Huppim
Huppim, also known as Hupham or Huram, was a descendant of Benjamin mentioned in the genealogies of Genesis, Numbers, and 1 Chronicles.
Biography
Huppim was a son of Benjamin, the youngest of Jacob's twelve sons, and appears in three separate genealogical passages under slightly variant names: Huppim in Genesis 46:21 (among those who went to Egypt with Jacob), Hupham in Numbers 26:39 (where his descendants are called Huphamites), and possibly identified with Huram in 1 Chronicles 8:5. This variation in spelling across the Pentateuch and Chronicles reflects the complex transmission history of ancient genealogical lists but affirms his consistent identification as a Benjaminite ancestor. As one of the sons of Benjamin, Huppim was among the foundational figures of the tribe that would later produce Israel's first king, Saul, and the apostle Paul, who identified himself as 'of the tribe of Benjamin' (Philippians 3:5).
Significance
Huppim's significance lies in his role as a tribal ancestor within the lineage of Benjamin, a tribe whose history in Scripture is marked by both tragedy, the near-extinction recounted in Judges 19-21, and extraordinary resurgence. Benjamin produced the Israelite monarchy's founding king, Saul, and later gave the world Paul of Tarsus, the apostle whose missionary work shaped the early church. The Huphamites descended from Huppim are listed in Numbers 26:39 among the Benjaminite clans counted in the wilderness census, placing him among those whose descendants would inherit the promised land. His genealogical preservation testifies to God's faithfulness in maintaining the twelve-tribe structure of Israel through centuries of migration, slavery, and wandering.
Verse Appearances (3)
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]
