Numbers 34:28

Summary

Numbers 34:28 identifies the tribal leader appointed for the tribe of Naphtali, who will assist in the division of the land of Canaan among the Israelite tribes. His name is given as Pedahel, son of Ammihud.

Key words

• matteh ("[the] tribe of", H4294H) — masculine singular construct noun, opening a chain that specifies which tribal group is meant.
• benei ("[the] descendants of", H1121G) — masculine plural construct of "son," linking "tribe" to the proper name Naphtali; this construct chain (matteh benei Naftali) is the standard formula used throughout this chapter to name each tribe.
• nasi ("a leader", H5387A) — masculine singular noun, absolute (not construct) form, marking the title given to the named individual before his name follows in apposition.
• ben ("[the] son of", H1121A) — masculine singular construct, forming the patronymic that identifies Pedahel by his father's name, Ammihud.

What the text says

The verse follows the fixed formula used repeatedly in this section of Numbers to list tribal leaders: a construct chain naming the tribe (matteh benei Naftali, "the tribe of the sons/descendants of Naphtali"), followed by the title nasi ("a leader," H5387A) placed in apposition, and then the leader's personal name together with his patronymic introduced by ben ("son of," H1121A). The word nasi stands in the absolute state rather than construct, meaning it is not grammatically bound to the following name — the name simply identifies who holds that role, a common apposition structure in these tribal lists.

The verse contains no verb; it is a nominal clause consisting entirely of naming and identification, consistent with the genealogical/administrative character of the chapter, which enumerates leaders tribe by tribe for the task of allotting the land.

Differences between versions

The Vulgate renders the patronymic as Ammiud, close to the Hebrew Ammihud (H5989I) but without reflecting the he sound. The LXX diverges more significantly: it gives the father's name as Βενιαμειούδ ("Beniamioud"), which differs from the Hebrew Ammihud both in the initial element and in overall form — the Hebrew has no equivalent to a "Beni-" prefix here. The LXX also names the tribe simply as "of the tribe of Nephthali" without the "sons of" construct found in the Hebrew benei Naftali.