Serah

devotions by Jefferson Vann # 2345

Numbers 26:41-51

Num 26:41 These are the sons of Benjamin according to their clans, and those listed were 45,600.
Num 26:42 These are the sons of Dan according to their clans: of Shuham, the clan of the Shuhamites. These are the clans of Dan according to their clans.
Num 26:43 All the clans of the Shuhamites, as they were listed, were 64,400.
Num 26:44 The sons of Asher according to their clans: of Imnah, the clan of the Imnites; of Ishvi, the clan of the Ishvites; of Beriah, the clan of the Beriites.
Num 26:45 Of the sons of Beriah: of Heber, the clan of the Heberites; of Malchiel, the clan of the Malchielites.
Num 26:46 And the name of the daughter of Asher was Serah.
Num 26:47 These are the clans of the sons of Asher as they were listed, 53,400.
Num 26:48 The sons of Naphtali according to their clans: of Jahzeel, the clan of the Jahzeelites; of Guni, the clan of the Gunites;
Num 26:49 of Jezer, the clan of the Jezerites; of Shillem, the clan of the Shillemites.
Num 26:50 These are the clans of Naphtali according to their clans, and those listed were 45,400.
Num 26:51 This was the list of the people of Israel, 601,730.

Serah

All these sons are mentioned, and out of nowhere comes this reference to a daughter — Serah, daughter of Asher. It is the same in the genealogy list of 1 Chronicles 7 (Asher’s sons: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah, with their sister Serah (1 Chronicles 7:30)). Why was she mentioned? We do not know. Perhaps there was some inheritance issue like Zelophehad’s daughters, but the Bible does not elaborate.

Maybe this is another hint from God that he really does not have a favorite gender. Perhaps Serah became famous for her devotion even in an age when few women did.

LORD, teach us to respect and love all of your children.