בראשית, פרק מ״ו, פסוק כ״ג

The migration to Egypt involves a careful accounting of Jacob's family, tracing the roots of the future nation. When recording the descendants of Dan, a curious detail emerges: a plural introduction is immediately followed by the name of only a single individual, Hushim.

The primary approach among commentators is that this reflects a standard way of speaking in ancient times. It was common practice to use a plural form even when referring to a single child [אבן עזרא, רד״ק, פענח רזא, נתינה לגר, קרני אור]. This pattern appears in other biblical genealogies as well [רד״ק, פני דוד, פענח רזא]. In ancient cultures, this usage stemmed from the deep understanding that a single child holds the potential for a vast multitude of future descendants [אם למקרא]. Alternatively, a more literal reading suggests that Dan originally had two sons, but one passed away. Consequently, only the surviving son was named, even though the plural introduction remained [אבן עזרא, חזקוני, יהל אור].

Another perspective shifts the focus from the immediate family to the distant future. Although Hushim was an only son, he eventually produced a massive lineage that became a large family, justifying the plural description [ביאור שטיינזלץ, תורה תמימה]. This concept is beautifully captured in the meaning of the name Hushim itself, which is associated with densely clustered reeds. Just as a reed starts as a single stem at its base but branches out widely at the top, Dan's single son multiplied into numerous families [קיצור בעל הטורים, מנחת שי, תורה תמימה]. The name also evokes the image of unified warriors rushing into battle, tightly bound together so that no enemy can divide them [קיצור בעל הטורים]. Furthermore, the plural form can simply be understood as encompassing Dan's grandchildren, since grandchildren are often equated with sons [נתינה לגר, מנחת שי].

Finally, the plural phrasing connects to the overall count of the family. According to one tradition, Hushim was counted as two individuals to complete the tally of seventy souls who descended to Egypt [מנחת שי]. In contrast, a unique historical tradition notes that in the personal Torah scroll of Rabbi Meir, a scholar known for his exactness, the text was written in the singular. Because he disagreed with the idea of counting Hushim as two people, his version strictly reflected the reality of a single son [מנחת שי, פרדס יוסף].