The name Ammihud appears in the Bible as the progenitor of several key figures, linking him to the leadership of various tribes during the wilderness wandering and the subsequent settlement of the land of Canaan.
👑 Ammihud of Ephraim
The most important Ammihud is the father of Elishama, who was chosen to be the leader (chief) of the tribe of Ephraim during the wilderness journey.
- Leader of the Host: Elishama, the son of Ammihud, played a prominent role in the organization and census of Israel. He was named as the captain of the people of Ephraim (Numbers 1:16, KJV), and his tribe formed part of the second division, which marched on the west side of the tabernacle.
- Dedication Offerings: Elishama, as the representative of his tribe, brought significant offerings for the dedication of the tabernacle altar. The record states: “On the seventh day Elishama the son of Ammihud, prince of the children of Ephraim, offered.” (Numbers 7:48, KJV).
🗺️ Ammihud of Simeon
A second Ammihud is mentioned as the father of Shemuel. Shemuel the son of Ammihud was appointed by God to serve as the representative from the tribe of Simeon, tasked with dividing the land of Canaan among the tribes after the conquest.
- Divider of the Land: God commanded Moses to set aside specific men for this crucial, post-conquest task: “And these are the names of the men which shall divide the land unto you: Eleazar the priest, and Joshua the son of Nun. And ye shall take one prince of every tribe, to divide the land by inheritance.” (Numbers 34:17-18, KJV).
- A Key Appointee: Shemuel, the son of Ammihud, was named among these twelve leaders, confirming that this Ammihud was the father of a highly trusted and divinely appointed figure from the tribe of Simeon (Numbers 34:20, KJV).
🛡️ Other Men Named Ammihud
The KJV records Ammihud in the genealogies of two other tribes:
- Ammihud of Naphtali: He was the father of Pedahel, the man chosen to represent the tribe of Naphtali in the same group responsible for dividing the land of Canaan (Numbers 34:28, KJV).
- Ammihud of Judah: He is listed in the genealogy of King David, as the grandfather of Elishama (not the same Elishama as above) and the father of Talmai, King of Geshur, whose daughter Maacah was one of David’s wives and the mother of Absalom (2 Samuel 13:37, KJV).
While Ammihud himself is generally not described in action, his repeated appearance as the father of tribal leaders, military captains, and land dividers emphasizes his standing as a man of respected lineage whose descendants played foundational roles in the establishment of the Israelite nation.