Elishama, Son of Ammihud

 “So Moses and Aaron took these men who had been designated by name.” (Numbers 1:17, NASB95)The tribe of Ephraim (son of Joseph), was led by Elishama.  By now, you recognize El, along with the personal pronoun “i” to be “My God.”  Shama is a very common word in the Hebrew text meaning “to hear.”  Thus Elishama is “My God hears.”  God chose Elishama to remind the children of Israel that, in the Promised Land, God would hear their prayers.  In fact, when the Temple was established, God said, “My ears will always be attentive to prayers offered in this place.”If you’ve been astutely following this series, you will recognize a portion of the name of Elishama’s father, Ammihud.  The tribe of Judah was represented by Nashon ben Amminadab.  The Ammi will remain the same, as “My people.”  Hud is often translated “glory” or “splendor,” as in 1 Chronicles 16:27, which speaks of the Lord and says, “Splendor and majesty are before Him, strength and joy are in His place.”  When God made the Jewish people “my people” then they also became a glorious people.  When He places them in the land of Promise, then the glory will be evident to all.In His Grace,Dr. Randy White