Ahisamach: Edit history

Biblical Record

Ahisamach appears only in Exodus. All three references take the same form, "Aholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan," and he is mentioned solely to identify his son Aholiab.

• Exodus 31:6: God tells Moses who will make the tabernacle, saying that He has appointed Aholiab together with Bezaleel of the tribe of Judah.
• Exodus 35:34: God is said to have given Bezaleel and Aholiab the ability to teach others.
• Exodus 38:23: Aholiab is described as skilled in engraving and embroidery.

Apart from these three verses, Scripture records nothing of Ahisamach's life or deeds. His Hebrew name is often interpreted as meaning "(my) brother supports."

Significance in Scripture

In ancient Israel, a person was identified as "the son of" someone to indicate his family and tribe. The name Ahisamach likewise serves to establish Aholiab's origins. The record thus shows that the two men in charge of making the tabernacle came from the tribe of Judah and the tribe of Dan, respectively. Ahisamach is not mentioned in the New Testament.

Interpretation and Discussion

There is almost no interpretive tradition devoted to Ahisamach himself; commentators focus instead on his son Aholiab. Jewish commentary tradition notes that Aholiab belonged to the tribe of Dan, whose ancestor was the son of a handmaid. One well-known interpretation reads the appointment of a man from such a tribe alongside Bezaleel of the great tribe of Judah as a sign that God uses people without partiality. The text offers no basis for claims about Ahisamach's own occupation or faith.

In the Korean Church

In the Korean church, Ahisamach is rarely treated as a subject in his own right. His name generally comes up only when the relevant passages are read in sermons and Bible studies on the building of the tabernacle or on Bezaleel and Aholiab.