In theHebrew Bible,Nahshon (Hebrew:נַחְשׁוֹןNaḥšon) was a tribal leader of theJudahites during the wilderness wanderings of theBook of Numbers. In theKing James Version, the name is spelledNaashon,[1] and is within modern Rabbinical contexts often transliterated asNachshon.
According to aJewishMidrash, he was the person who initiated theHebrews'passage through the Red Sea, by walking in head-deep until the sea parted.
According to theHebrew Bible, Nahshon was a son ofAmminadab, descendant in the fifthgeneration ofJudah, and brother-in-law ofAaron.[2][3][4] According to the Greek New Testament,[5] he is also the father-in-law ofRahab. He was an Israelite and aJudahite, and a member of the Perezite and Hezronite clans, through his descent from Jacob, Judah, Perez, and Hezron, respectively.
According to theBook of Numbers, he was at least 20 years old during thecensus in theSinai, during theExodus.[6] By the same account, those of the Israelites who were among the original number that had set out from Egypt, of whom Nahshon was one, did not survive the forty-year sojourn in the wilderness to enter the Promised Land ofCanaan.
Nahshon was appointed byMoses, upon God's command, as prince and military commander of theTribe of Judah and one of theleaders of the tribes of Israel. Although his tribe was fourth in the order of the Patriarchs, at the dedication of theTabernacle he was the first to bring his dedicatory offering.[4] His title or role is translated into Modern English variously in theNew Revised Standard Version, as "leader" and census-taker,[7] one of the "heads of their ancestral houses, the leaders of the tribes",[8] "first .. over the whole company",[9] and "prince of the sons of Judah".[10]
Nahshon was, throughBoaz, the direct male ancestor ofDavid,[4] and thus ofSolomon and all of the kings of theKingdom of Judah. He was exactly halfway inthe direct male line between Judah and King David.
Nahshon is also mentioned in theNew Testament in thegenealogy of Jesus.[11]
Owing to his direct descent from Judah and to his being the progenitor of so many kings, Nahshon is extolled by therabbis as a most noble man. Nahshon's sisterElisheba married Aaron,[12] and this is especially mentioned as a hint that one should take care to select a wife whose brothers are noble.[13]
TheMidrash relates that during the Exodus, when the Israelites reached the Red Sea, it did not automatically part. The Israelites stood at the banks of the sea and wailed with despair, but Nahshon entered the waters. Once he was up to his nose in the water, the sea parted.[14] This is the origin of his name "Nahshol", that is, "stormy sea-waves". Nahshon was a model prince,[15] and was called "king".[16]
When the princes of the different tribes were required to bring their offerings, each on a separate day, Moses was embarrassed, not knowing who should be the first; but all Israel pointed at Nahshon, saying, "He sanctified the name of God by springing first into theRed Sea; he is worthy to bring down theShekhinah; therefore he shall be the first to bring the offering."[17][18]
The offering brought by Nahshon is pointed out as having been his own and not that of his tribe.[19] In the account of the offering, the wordsVa'korbano ("and his sacrifice") andEtodim each have a ו (vav), while the same words in the accounts of the other princes' offerings have no ו (vav). This letter, the numerical value of which is six, indicates that Nahshon was the ancestor of six men —David, theMessiah,Daniel,Hananiah,Mishael, andAzariah — each of whom was distinguished for six praiseworthy qualities.[20]
Nahshon is depicted as one of the ancestors of Christ in a lunette in theSistine Chapel, where a youthful Nahshon is shown wearing a red robe and reading a book.[21]
This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Singer, Isidore; et al., eds. (1901–1906)."Nahshon".The Jewish Encyclopedia. New York: Funk & Wagnalls.
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