1 Chronicles 7
1 Chronicles 7 is a chapter that records the genealogies of the northern tribes of Israel, especially among the twelve tribes of Israel. It mainly mentions the descendants of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher—tribes that could be said to be relatively forgotten—showing that although they are not closely connected to kings or priests, they are still an important part of Israel's composition.
1verseOf the sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four.
2verseThe sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their fathers’ houses, of Tola; mighty men of valor in their generations. Their number in the days of David was twenty-two thousand six hundred.
3verseThe son of Uzzi: Izrahiah. The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah, five; all of them chief men.
4verseWith them, by their generations, after their fathers’ houses, were bands of the army for war, thirty-six thousand; for they had many wives and sons.
5verseTheir brothers among all the families of Issachar, mighty men of valor, listed in all by genealogy, were eighty-seven thousand.
6verseThe sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, and Jediael, three.
7verseThe sons of Bela: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of fathers’ houses, mighty men of valor; and they were listed by genealogy twenty-two thousand thirty-four.
8verseThe sons of Becher: Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these were the sons of Becher.
9verseThey were listed by genealogy, after their generations, heads of their fathers’ houses, mighty men of valor, twenty thousand two hundred.
10verseThe son of Jediael: Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan: Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar.
11verseAll these were sons of Jediael, according to the heads of their fathers’ households, mighty men of valor, seventeen thousand two hundred, who were able to go out in the army for war.
12verseSo were Shuppim, Huppim, the sons of Ir, Hushim, and the sons of Aher.
13verseThe sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, Shallum, and the sons of Bilhah.
14verseThe sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his concubine the Aramitess bore. She bore Machir the father of Gilead.
15verseMachir took a wife of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister’s name was Maacah. The name of the second was Zelophehad; and Zelophehad had daughters.
16verseMaacah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she named him Peresh. The name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.
17verseThe sons of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.
18verseHis sister Hammolecheth bore Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah.
19verseThe sons of Shemida were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam.
20verseThe sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son,
21verseZabad his son, Shuthelah his son, Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath who were born in the land killed, because they came down to take away their livestock.
22verseEphraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him.
23verseHe went in to his wife, and she conceived and bore a son, and he named him Beriah, because there was trouble with his house.
24verseHis daughter was Sheerah, who built Beth Horon the lower and the upper, and Uzzen Sheerah.
25verseRephah was his son, Resheph his son, Telah his son, Tahan his son,
26verseLadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,
27verseNun his son, and Joshua his son.
28verseTheir possessions and settlements were Bethel and its towns, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer with its towns; Shechem also and its towns, to Azzah and its towns;
29verseand by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Beth Shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, and Dor and its towns. The children of Joseph the son of Israel lived in these.
30verseThe sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Serah was their sister.
31verseThe sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith.
32verseHeber became the father of Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and Shua their sister.
33verseThe sons of Japhlet: Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet.
34verseThe sons of Shemer: Ahi, Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.
35verseThe sons of Helem his brother: Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal.
36verseThe sons of Zophah: Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, Imrah,
37verseBezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera.
38verseThe sons of Jether: Jephunneh, Pispa, and Ara.
39verseThe sons of Ulla: Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia.
40verseAll these were the children of Asher, heads of the fathers’ houses, choice and mighty men of valor, chief of the princes. The number of them listed by genealogy for service in war was twenty-six thousand men.
Main Structure and Connections
- Issachar, Benjamin, and Naphtali (verses 1–13): lists of their descendants and their offspring are mentioned. A comparatively detailed description of the descendants of Issachar stands out.
- Manasseh, the tribes of Ephraim, and Asher (verses 14–40): Manasseh and Ephraim are the two sons of Joseph, representing Northern Israel. The records continue with their descendants and the lands each one held. Asher is also mentioned in detail, with an emphasis on the strength of the tribe and the number of its warriors.
The Meaning of the Whole Chapter and Theological Emphasis
1 Chronicles 7 contains many names, and it repeatedly mentions population and family lines, yet this serves to remind us again of each tribe's identity and of the unity of Israel as a community. By carefully recording even tribes that may not have drawn as much attention, the author shows that God's promises are valid for all twelve tribes, and that even the smallest tribe is not excluded from God's history.
Meditation Points
- From the fact that each individual name is recorded, let us reflect on the point that God values every member of the community.
- Also, let us think about the significance of this genre, which emphasizes that even tribes that do not receive others' attention are still God's covenant people.
Try Applying It to Yourself
In our lives, we may feel that we are being left out or that we are not important, but God remembers each one of us and regards us as an important part of the community. Frequently look back on how your name is recorded before God, and check whether you are faithful to your own role in your relationship with God.
