CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
1 Chronicles 7
Chapter 7 of 29
Chapter Overview
What happens in 1 Chronicles 7
This chapter records the family lines of several tribes: Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher. It also includes a sad story about some of Ephraim's sons who were killed while raiding cattle.
Scripture
1 Chronicles 7
The Tribe of Issachar
Study note
Issachar was a large tribe known for its fighting men. The tribe had 87,000 warriors by the time of David. Their military strength helped defend the northern borders of Israel.
1 Issachar had four sons: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron. Now the sons of Issachar were, Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four.
2 Tola's sons were Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel. These men led their family groups. During David's reign, Tola's descendants numbered 22,600 fighting men. And the sons of Tola; Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father's house, to wit, of Tola: they were valiant men of might in their generations; whose number was in the days of David two and twenty thousand and six hundred.
3 Uzzi had a son named Izrahiah. Izrahiah's sons were Michael, Obadiah, Joel, and Isshiah. All five held leadership positions. And the sons of Uzzi; Izrahiah: and the sons of Izrahiah; Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Ishiah, five: all of them chief men.
4 Their official records showed they could send 36,000 soldiers to battle. This was because they had large families with many wives and children. And with them, by their generations, after the house of their fathers, were bands of soldiers for war, six and thirty thousand men: for they had many wives and sons.
5 When all of Issachar's clans were counted, they had 87,000 fighting men in the records. And their brethren among all the families of Issachar were valiant men of might, reckoned in all by their genealogies fourscore and seven thousand.
The Tribe of Benjamin
Study note
Benjamin was a small but fierce tribe. Their warriors were known as skilled fighters. The total fighting force from Benjamin's clans was about 59,434 men. This tribe would later produce Israel's first king, Saul.
6 Benjamin had three sons: Bela, Becher, and Jediael. The sons of Benjamin; Bela, and Becher, and Jediael, three.
7 Bela had five sons who led their family groups: Ezbon, Uzzi, Uzziel, Jerimoth, and Iri. They were all strong warriors, and their descendants numbered 22,034. And the sons of Bela; Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour; and were reckoned by their genealogies twenty and two thousand and thirty and four.
8 Becher's sons were Zemirah, Joash, Eliezer, Elioenai, Omri, Jeremoth, Abijah, Anathoth, and Alemeth. And the sons of Becher; Zemira, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jerimoth, and Abiah, and Anathoth, and Alameth. All these are the sons of Becher.
9 Their family records listed 20,200 fighting men. These were family leaders and strong warriors. And the number of them, after their genealogy by their generations, heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour, was twenty thousand and two hundred.
10 Jediael had a son named Bilhan. Bilhan's sons were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar. The sons also of Jediael; Bilhan: and the sons of Bilhan; Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar.
11 All of Jediael's family members were family leaders. They had 17,200 soldiers ready for battle. All these the sons of Jediael, by the heads of their fathers, mighty men of valour, were seventeen thousand and two hundred soldiers, fit to go out for war and battle.
12 Shuppim and Huppim were sons of Ir. Hushim was the son of Aher. Shuppim also, and Huppim, the children of Ir, and Hushim, the sons of Aher.
The Tribes of Naphtali and Manasseh
Study note
Naphtali's family is briefly listed. The tribe of Manasseh is given more detail, including the story of Zelophehad, who had only daughters. In Numbers 27, these daughters famously argued for their right to inherit land, and God agreed with them.
13 Naphtali's sons were Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum. They all descended from Bilhah. The sons of Naphtali; Jahziel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.
14 Manasseh's sons included Asriel. His Aramean concubine gave birth to Machir, who became the founder of the region of Gilead. The sons of Manasseh; Ashriel, whom she bare: (but his concubine the Aramitess bare Machir the father of Gilead:
15 Machir found wives from among the Huppite and Shuppite families. He had a sister named Maacah. Another descendant was Zelophehad, who had only daughters. And Machir took to wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister's name was Maachah;) and the name of the second was Zelophehad: and Zelophehad had daughters.
16 Maacah, Machir's wife, gave birth to a son and called him Peresh. His brother was named Sheresh, and Sheresh had sons named Ulam and Rakem. And Maachah the wife of Machir bare a son, and she called his name Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.
17 Ulam had a son named Bedan. These were the descendants of Gilead, grandson of Machir, great-grandson of Manasseh. And the sons of Ulam; Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.
18 Machir's sister Hammoleketh had sons named Ishhod, Abiezer, and Mahlah. And his sister Hammoleketh bare Ishod, and Abiezer, and Mahalah.
19 Shemida's sons were Ahian, Shechem, Likhi, and Aniam. And the sons of Shemida were, Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam.
The Tribe of Ephraim
Study note
Ephraim's genealogy includes a tragic story: some of Ephraim's sons were killed by the men of Gath while trying to steal their cattle. Ephraim mourned for many days. Later, his son Beriah was born, and from Beriah's line came Joshua (here called Jehoshua), the famous leader who brought Israel into the promised land.
20 Ephraim's family line went like this: Shuthelah, then Bered, then Tahath, then Eladah, then another Tahath. And the sons of Ephraim; Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eladah his son, and Tahath his son,
21 Then Zabad, then another Shuthelah. Ephraim also had sons named Ezer and Elead, but the local men of Gath killed them when they tried to steal their cattle. And Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in that land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.
22 Ephraim was heartbroken and mourned for his sons for a long time. His family members came to comfort him. And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him.
23 Later, his wife became pregnant and had another son. Ephraim named him Beriah, which means 'trouble,' because tragedy had struck his family. And when he went in to his wife, she conceived, and bare a son, and he called his name Beriah, because it went evil with his house.
24 Ephraim's daughter Sheerah built the towns of Lower Beth-Horon, Upper Beth-Horon, and Uzzen-Sheerah. (And his daughter was Sherah, who built Beth-horon the nether, and the upper, and Uzzen-sherah.)
25 Ephraim's family line continued: Rephah, then Resheph, then Telah, then Tahan. And Rephah was his son, also Resheph, and Telah his son, and Tahan his son,
26 Then Ladan, then Ammihud, then Elishama. Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,
27 Then Nun, then Joshua. Non his son, Jehoshua his son.
28 Their land held Bethel and its nearby towns. Naaran was to the east. Gezer was to the west. Shechem and its towns reached to Gaza and its towns. And their possessions and habitations were, Beth-el and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Gaza and the towns thereof:
29 Along the border with Manasseh were the cities of Beth-Shean, Taanach, Megiddo, and Dor, with all their surrounding villages. Joseph's descendants, the people of Israel, lived in all these places. And by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Beth-shean and her towns, Taanach and her towns, Megiddo and her towns, Dor and her towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph the son of Israel.
The Tribe of Asher
Study note
Asher's tribe lived along the Mediterranean coast in the northwest part of Israel. They were known as choice warriors and leaders. Their fighting force numbered 26,000 men. The detailed listing shows the importance of every tribe in God's plan.
30 Asher's children were Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, and Beriah. Their sister was Serah. The sons of Asher; Imnah, and Isuah, and Ishuai, and Beriah, and Serah their sister.
31 Beriah's sons were Heber and Malchiel. Malchiel founded the town of Birzaith. And the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel, who is the father of Birzavith.
32 Heber's children were Japhlet, Shomer, Hotham, and their sister Shua. And Heber begat Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister.
33 Japhlet's sons were Pasach, Bimhal, and Ashvath. And the sons of Japhlet; Pasach, and Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet.
34 Shemer's sons were Ahi, Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram. And the sons of Shamer; Ahi, and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.
35 His brother Helem's sons were Zophah, Imna, Shelesh, and Amal. And the sons of his brother Helem; Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.
36 Zophah's sons were Suah, Harnepher, Shual, Beri, and Imrah. The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
37 Also Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera. Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran, and Beera.
38 Jether's sons were Jephunneh, Pispah, and Ara. And the sons of Jether; Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara.
39 Ulla's sons were Arah, Hanniel, and Rizia. And the sons of Ulla; Arah, and Haniel, and Rezia.
40 All of these people belonged to the tribe of Asher. They were family leaders, outstanding warriors, and important leaders. According to their official records, they had 26,000 men available for battle. All these were the children of Asher, heads of their father's house, choice and mighty men of valour, chief of the princes. And the number throughout the genealogy of them that were apt to the war and to battle was twenty and six thousand men.
Key Themes
Themes in 1 Chronicles 7
Every tribe has a place in God's planMilitary strength and national identityFamily heritage and tribal responsibilityUnity within diversity among God's people
Apply This Today
Living 1 Chronicles 7
God does not overlook any group or individual. Each tribe had its own identity, strengths, and role. In the same way, every person in God's family has unique gifts and a specific contribution to make. Celebrate what makes you distinct.
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