1 Chronicles 7 Study Notes: Issachar, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Asher
The genealogies continue with Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher, often counting their fighting men. Ephraim grieves two sons killed by the men of Gath while raiding their livestock and names a later son for the trouble, and his line leads down to Joshua.
General
Why did Ephraim name his son Beriah (1 Chronicles 7:21-23)?
Answer: Because disaster had struck his family
The list of Ephraim’s descendants pauses for a sad story. Two of Ephraim’s sons, Ezer and Elead, lost their lives at the hands of the men of Gath when they went to raid livestock (7:21). Ephraim grieved for a long time, and relatives gathered to console him (7:22). When another son was born, Ephraim called him Beriah, since calamity had come on the household (7:23); the verse itself links the name to the family’s loss. Ephraim’s grief echoes that of his grandfather Jacob, who mourned for Joseph many days while his children sought in vain to console him (Genesis 37:34-35). It also recalls Eve, who named Seth as a son God gave after Abel was killed (Genesis 4:25).
- 1 Chronicles 7:21-22 (BSB)“Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son. Ezer and Elead were killed by the natives of Gath, because they went down to steal their livestock. Their father Ephraim mourned for many days, and his relatives came to comfort him.”Two of Ephraim’s sons were killed by the men of Gath, and Ephraim mourned while relatives comforted him.
- 1 Chronicles 7:23 (BSB)“And again he slept with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. So he named him Beriah, because tragedy had come upon his house.”Ephraim named a later son Beriah because of the tragedy that had struck his house.
- Genesis 37:34-35 (BSB)“Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.”Jacob likewise mourned his son for many days while his children tried to comfort him.
- Genesis 4:25 (BSB)“And Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another seed in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.””Eve named Seth as a son God granted after Abel’s death, another name tied to family loss.
Theological
What reason does 1 Chronicles 7:23 give for the name Ephraim gave his son Beriah?
Answer: Because disaster had struck his family
Ephraim’s genealogy is interrupted by a narrative: his sons Ezer and Elead died at the hands of the men of Gath during a raid on livestock (7:21); Ephraim grieved a long time, and his kin came to console him (7:22); and when another son was born he called him Beriah, the verse tying the name to the calamity that had befallen his house (7:23). The scene echoes Jacob’s prolonged mourning for Joseph amid his children’s attempts at comfort (Genesis 37:34-35) and Eve’s naming of Seth as a son given after Abel’s death (Genesis 4:25). The genealogy records grief honestly and sets new life beside it.
- 1 Chronicles 7:21-22 (BSB)“Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son. Ezer and Elead were killed by the natives of Gath, because they went down to steal their livestock. Their father Ephraim mourned for many days, and his relatives came to comfort him.”Two of Ephraim’s sons were killed by the men of Gath, and Ephraim mourned while relatives comforted him.
- 1 Chronicles 7:23 (BSB)“And again he slept with his wife, and she conceived and gave birth to a son. So he named him Beriah, because tragedy had come upon his house.”Ephraim named a later son Beriah because of the tragedy that had struck his house.
- Genesis 37:34-35 (BSB)“Then Jacob tore his clothes, put sackcloth around his waist, and mourned for his son many days. All his sons and daughters tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “No,” he said. “I will go down to Sheol mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him.”Jacob likewise mourned his son for many days while his children tried to comfort him.
- Genesis 4:25 (BSB)“And Adam again had relations with his wife, and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, “God has granted me another seed in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.””Eve named Seth as a son God granted after Abel’s death, another name tied to family loss.
General
Which well-known leader does Ephraim’s genealogy in 1 Chronicles 7:25-27 lead to?
Answer: Joshua son of Nun
After the account of Ephraim’s loss, the family line continues through several generations down to Nun and his son Joshua (7:25-27). This is the Joshua who led Israel into the promised land. Numbers names him as the Ephraimite spy Hoshea, Nun’s son, whom Moses renamed Joshua (Numbers 13:8, 13:16). After Moses died, the LORD addressed Joshua and sent him to bring the people over the Jordan to the land He was giving them (Joshua 1:1-2). A family that had known deep sorrow became the line through which God raised up Israel’s leader in the conquest, and Joseph’s descendants settled in towns such as Bethel and Shechem (7:28-29).
- 1 Chronicles 7:26-27 (BSB)“Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, Nun his son, and Joshua his son.”The line of Ephraim continues through Elishama and Nun to Joshua.
- Numbers 13:8 (BSB)“from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun;”Hoshea son of Nun was the spy chosen from the tribe of Ephraim.
- Numbers 13:16 (BSB)“These were the names of the men Moses sent to spy out the land; and Moses gave to Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.”Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.
- Joshua 1:1-2 (BSB)“Now after the death of His servant Moses, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, you and all these people, and cross over the Jordan into the land that I am giving to the children of Israel.”After Moses died, the LORD commissioned Joshua son of Nun to lead Israel across the Jordan.
Theological
To which leader of Israel does the Ephraimite genealogy of 1 Chronicles 7:25-27 trace?
Answer: Joshua son of Nun
The Ephraimite line, resumed after the account of Beriah’s birth, descends through Elishama and Nun to Joshua (7:25-27). He is Nun’s son Hoshea, chosen as Ephraim’s spy and renamed Joshua by Moses (Numbers 13:8, 13:16), whom the LORD commissioned after Moses’ death to bring Israel across the Jordan (Joshua 1:1-2). From a house marked by bereavement God raised up the leader of the conquest, and the chapter closes by locating Joseph’s descendants in towns such as Bethel and Shechem (7:28-29).
- 1 Chronicles 7:26-27 (BSB)“Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son, Nun his son, and Joshua his son.”The line of Ephraim continues through Elishama and Nun to Joshua.
- Numbers 13:8 (BSB)“from the tribe of Ephraim, Hoshea son of Nun;”Hoshea son of Nun was the spy chosen from the tribe of Ephraim.
- Numbers 13:16 (BSB)“These were the names of the men Moses sent to spy out the land; and Moses gave to Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.”Moses gave Hoshea son of Nun the name Joshua.
- Joshua 1:1-2 (BSB)“Now after the death of His servant Moses, the LORD spoke to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying, “Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore arise, you and all these people, and cross over the Jordan into the land that I am giving to the children of Israel.”After Moses died, the LORD commissioned Joshua son of Nun to lead Israel across the Jordan.
General
True or False: The genealogy of Ephraim records a woman named Sheerah as the one who built both Beth-horon towns, upper and lower.
Answer: True
This is true. Among Ephraim’s descendants, 7:24 names Sheerah, a daughter in the family, and credits her with building both Beth-horons, lower and upper, plus a town that bore her name, Uzzen-sheerah. The two Beth-horons lay on the boundaries of Ephraim’s land (Joshua 16:3, 16:5), and centuries later Solomon rebuilt them as fortified cities (2 Chronicles 8:5). The genealogy records her work right beside the names of the family’s sons.
- 1 Chronicles 7:24 (BSB)“His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth-horon, as well as Uzzen-sheerah.”Sheerah, a daughter in Ephraim’s line, is credited with building the Beth-horons and Uzzen-sheerah.
- Joshua 16:3 (BSB)“Then it descended westward to the border of the Japhletites as far as the border of Lower Beth-horon and on to Gezer, and it ended at the Sea.”Lower Beth-horon lay on the border of Joseph’s descendants.
- Joshua 16:5 (BSB)“This was the territory of the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: The border of their inheritance went from Ataroth-addar in the east to Upper Beth-horon”Upper Beth-horon marked the boundary of Ephraim’s inheritance.
- 2 Chronicles 8:5 (BSB)“He rebuilt Upper and Lower Beth-horon as fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars,”Solomon later rebuilt both Upper and Lower Beth-horon as fortified cities.
Theological
True or False: 1 Chronicles 7:24 credits Sheerah, a daughter in Ephraim’s line, with building the two Beth-horon towns.
Answer: True
This is true. The Ephraimite record names Sheerah as builder of both Beth-horons and of Uzzen-sheerah (7:24). The Beth-horons stood on the borders of Joseph’s and Ephraim’s inheritance (Joshua 16:3, 16:5) and were later refortified by Solomon (2 Chronicles 8:5). Her building work is preserved in the genealogy alongside the line of Ephraim’s sons.
- 1 Chronicles 7:24 (BSB)“His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth-horon, as well as Uzzen-sheerah.”Sheerah, a daughter in Ephraim’s line, is credited with building the Beth-horons and Uzzen-sheerah.
- Joshua 16:3 (BSB)“Then it descended westward to the border of the Japhletites as far as the border of Lower Beth-horon and on to Gezer, and it ended at the Sea.”Lower Beth-horon lay on the border of Joseph’s descendants.
- Joshua 16:5 (BSB)“This was the territory of the descendants of Ephraim by their clans: The border of their inheritance went from Ataroth-addar in the east to Upper Beth-horon”Upper Beth-horon marked the boundary of Ephraim’s inheritance.
- 2 Chronicles 8:5 (BSB)“He rebuilt Upper and Lower Beth-horon as fortified cities with walls, gates, and bars,”Solomon later rebuilt both Upper and Lower Beth-horon as fortified cities.
General
What does 1 Chronicles 7:15 note about Zelophehad, a descendant of Manasseh?
Answer: He had daughters but no sons
In the middle of Manasseh’s family list, 7:15 mentions that Zelophehad had only daughters. That short note recalls a well-known story. In Moses’ day, Zelophehad’s daughters came forward and asked for a share of the land, since their father had no sons (Numbers 27:1). The LORD said they were right and that they must receive their father’s inheritance (Numbers 27:7). When the land was divided, Joshua gave them their portion among their father’s relatives, just as the LORD had commanded (Joshua 17:3-4). The genealogy keeps this family in Israel’s memory, along with God’s just answer to their request.
- 1 Chronicles 7:15 (BSB)“Machir took a wife from among the Huppites and Shuppites. The name of his sister was Maacah. Another descendant was named Zelophehad, who had only daughters.”Among Manasseh’s descendants, Zelophehad is noted as having only daughters.
- Numbers 27:1 (BSB)“Now the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached”Zelophehad’s daughters, of the clans of Manasseh, came forward with their request.
- Numbers 27:7 (BSB)““The daughters of Zelophehad speak correctly. You certainly must give them property as an inheritance among their father’s brothers and transfer their father’s inheritance to them.”The LORD ruled that the daughters spoke correctly and must receive their father’s inheritance.
- Joshua 17:3-4 (BSB)“But Zelophehad son of Hepher (the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh) had no sons but only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, in keeping with the command of the LORD.”Joshua later gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, as the LORD had commanded.
Theological
What detail does 1 Chronicles 7:15 record about Zelophehad of Manasseh?
Answer: He had daughters but no sons
The Manassite genealogy notes that Zelophehad had only daughters (7:15), a detail that recalls their petition to Moses for an inheritance (Numbers 27:1). The LORD judged that they spoke rightly and that their father’s inheritance must pass to them (Numbers 27:7), and Joshua carried out that ruling at the allotment of the land (Joshua 17:3-4). The brief notice preserves within the genealogy the memory of God’s just provision, so that this family’s portion in the land was not lost.
- 1 Chronicles 7:15 (BSB)“Machir took a wife from among the Huppites and Shuppites. The name of his sister was Maacah. Another descendant was named Zelophehad, who had only daughters.”Among Manasseh’s descendants, Zelophehad is noted as having only daughters.
- Numbers 27:1 (BSB)“Now the daughters of Zelophehad son of Hepher, the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh, belonged to the clans of Manasseh son of Joseph. These were the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached”Zelophehad’s daughters, of the clans of Manasseh, came forward with their request.
- Numbers 27:7 (BSB)““The daughters of Zelophehad speak correctly. You certainly must give them property as an inheritance among their father’s brothers and transfer their father’s inheritance to them.”The LORD ruled that the daughters spoke correctly and must receive their father’s inheritance.
- Joshua 17:3-4 (BSB)“But Zelophehad son of Hepher (the son of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh) had no sons but only daughters. These are the names of his daughters: Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah. They approached Eleazar the priest, Joshua son of Nun, and the leaders, and said, “The LORD commanded Moses to give us an inheritance among our brothers.” So Joshua gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, in keeping with the command of the LORD.”Joshua later gave them an inheritance among their father’s brothers, as the LORD had commanded.