Naashon

Naashon (also called Naasson, and rendered Nahshon in the Updated Bible Version) is the son of Amminadab and a prince of the tribe of Judah in the wilderness generation. He stands at the head of Judah's camp during the journey from Sinai, brings the first tribal offering when the tabernacle is dedicated, and reappears in both New Testament genealogies of Jesus.

Family and Marriage Connection to Aaron

Naashon's parentage is fixed in the Pentateuch and repeated in Chronicles. Ex 6:23 records the marriage that links his line to the priesthood: "And Aaron took to himself Elisheba, the daughter of Amminadab, the sister of Nahshon, as wife; and she bore him Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar." Naashon is therefore the brother of the high priest's wife and the uncle of Aaron's four sons. His own descent appears in 1Ch 2:10: "And Ram begot Amminadab, and Amminadab begot Nahshon, prince of the sons of Judah."

Prince and Captain of Judah

Throughout the wilderness narrative, Naashon represents Judah at the head of the tribes. At the first census he is named as Judah's man: Nu 1:7 — "Of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab." When the tribes are arranged around the tabernacle, his post is on the east side, the place of the sunrise. Nu 2:3 reads: "And those who encamp on the east side toward the sunrising will be those of the standard of the camp of Judah, according to their hosts: and the prince of the sons of Judah will be Nahshon the son of Amminadab." When the camp moves, his standard goes first: Nu 10:14 — "And in the first [place] the standard of the camp of the sons of Judah set forward according to their hosts: and over his host was Nahshon the son of Amminadab."

Liberality at the Dedication of the Tabernacle

When the princes bring oblations for the dedication of the altar, Naashon offers on the opening day. Nu 7:12 records: "And he who offered his oblation the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah." His peace-offering, listed at the close of his portion, is summarized in Nu 7:17 — "and for the sacrifice of peace-offerings, two oxen, five rams, five he-goats, five he-lambs a year old: this was the oblation of Nahshon the son of Amminadab." His peace-offering falls under the heading "(7) Peace," placing his gift among the seven categories of sacrifice the tribal princes bring at the dedication.

In the Lineage of Christ

Both New Testament genealogies of Jesus carry Naashon's name forward into the messianic line. Mt 1:4 lists him in the descending Davidic chain: "and Ram begot Amminadab; and Amminadab begot Nahshon; and Nahshon begot Salmon." Lu 3:32, ascending through Joseph, names him in the same place: "the [son] of Jesse, the [son] of Obed, the [son] of Boaz, the [son] of Sala, the [son] of Nahshon." In both genealogies of Christ, Naashon's name stands between Amminadab and Salmon in the chain that Matthew opens by naming Jesus "Son of David, Son of Abraham" (Mt 1:1).