1Now the sonsH1121 of IssacharH3485 were, TolaH8439, and PuahH6312, JashubH3437, and ShimronH8110, fourH702. 2And the sonsH1121 of TolaH8439; UzziH5813, and RephaiahH7509, and JerielH3400, and JahmaiH3181, and JibsamH3005, and ShemuelH8050, headsH7218 of their father’sH1 houseH1004, that is, of TolaH8439: they were valiant menH1368 of mightH2428 in their generationsH8435; whose numberH4557 was in the daysH3117 of DavidH1732 twoH8147 and twentyH6242 thousandH505 and sixH8337 hundredH3967. 3And the sonsH1121 of UzziH5813; IzrahiahH3156: and the sonsH1121 of IzrahiahH3156; MichaelH4317, and ObadiahH5662, and JoelH3100, IshiahH3449, fiveH2568: all of them chief menH7218. 4And with them, by their generationsH8435, after the houseH1004 of their fathersH1, were bandsH1416 of soldiersH6635 for warH4421, sixH8337 and thirtyH7970 thousandH505 men: for they had manyH7235 wivesH802 and sonsH1121. 5And their brethrenH251 among all the familiesH4940 of IssacharH3485 were valiantH1368 men of mightH2428, reckoned in all by their genealogiesH3187 eightyH8084 and sevenH7651 thousandH505. 6The sons of BenjaminH1144; BelaH1106, and BecherH1071, and JediaelH3043, threeH7969. 7And the sonsH1121 of BelaH1106; EzbonH675, and UzziH5813, and UzzielH5816, and JerimothH3406, and IriH5901, fiveH2568; headsH7218 of the houseH1004 of their fathersH1, mightyH1368 men of valourH2428; and were reckoned by their genealogiesH3187 twentyH6242 and twoH8147 thousandH505 and thirtyH7970 and fourH702. 8And the sonsH1121 of BecherH1071; ZemiraH2160, and JoashH3135, and EliezerH461, and ElioenaiH454, and OmriH6018, and JerimothH3406, and AbiahH29, and AnathothH6068, and AlamethH5964. All these are the sonsH1121 of BecherH1071. 9And the numberH3187 of them, after their genealogy by their generationsH8435, headsH7218 of the houseH1004 of their fathersH1, mighty menH1368 of valourH2428, was twentyH6242 thousandH505 and two hundredH3967. 10The sonsH1121 also of JediaelH3043; BilhanH1092: and the sonsH1121 of BilhanH1092; JeushH3274, and BenjaminH1144, and EhudH164, and ChenaanahH3668, and ZethanH2133, and TharshishH8659, and AhishaharH300. 11All these the sonsH1121 of JediaelH3043, by the headsH7218 of their fathersH1, mightyH1368 men of valourH2428, were seventeenH7651 H6240 thousandH505 and two hundredH3967 soldiers, fit to go outH3318 for warH6635 and battleH4421. 12ShuppimH8206 also, and HuppimH2650, the childrenH1121 of IrH5893, and HushimH2366, the sonsH1121 of AherH313. 13The sonsH1121 of NaphtaliH5321; JahzielH3185, and GuniH1476, and JezerH3337, and ShallumH7967, the sonsH1121 of BilhahH1090. 14The sonsH1121 of ManassehH4519; AshrielH844, whom she boreH3205: (but his SyrianH761 concubineH6370 boreH3205 MachirH4353 the fatherH1 of GileadH1568: 15And MachirH4353 tookH3947 for a wifeH802 the sister of HuppimH2650 and ShuppimH8206, whose sister’sH269 nameH8034 was MaachahH4601;) and the nameH8034 of the secondH8145 was ZelophehadH6765: and ZelophehadH6765 had daughtersH1323. 16And MaachahH4601 the wifeH802 of MachirH4353 boreH3205 a sonH1121, and she calledH7121 his nameH8034 PereshH6570; and the nameH8034 of his brotherH251 was ShereshH8329; and his sonsH1121 were UlamH198 and RakemH7552. 17And the sonsH1121 of UlamH198; BedanH917. These were the sonsH1121 of GileadH1568, the sonH1121 of MachirH4353, the sonH1121 of ManassehH4519. 18And his sisterH269 HammolekethH4447 boreH3205 IshodH379, and AbiezerH44, and MahalahH4244. 19And the sonsH1121 of ShemidaH8061 were, AhianH291, and ShechemH7928, and LikhiH3949, and AniamH593. 20And the sonsH1121 of EphraimH669; ShuthelahH7803, and BeredH1260 his sonH1121, and TahathH8480 his sonH1121, and EladahH497 his sonH1121, and TahathH8480 his sonH1121, 21And ZabadH2066 his sonH1121, and ShuthelahH7803 his sonH1121, and EzerH5827, and EleadH496, whom the menH582 of GathH1661 that were bornH3205 in that landH776 slewH2026, because they came downH3381 to take awayH3947 their cattleH4735. 22And EphraimH669 their fatherH1 mournedH56 manyH7227 daysH3117, and his brethrenH251 cameH935 to comfortH5162 him. 23And when he went inH935 to his wifeH802, she conceivedH2029, and boreH3205 a sonH1121, and he calledH7121 his nameH8034 BeriahH1283, because it went evilH7451 with his houseH1004. 24(And his daughterH1323 was SherahH7609, who builtH1129 BethhoronH1032 the lowerH8481, and the upperH5945, and UzzensherahH242.) 25And RephahH7506 was his sonH1121, also ReshephH7566, and TelahH8520 his sonH1121, and TahanH8465 his sonH1121, 26LaadanH3936 his sonH1121, AmmihudH5989 his sonH1121, ElishamaH476 his sonH1121, 27NonH5126 his sonH1121, JehoshuaH3091 his sonH1121. 28And their possessionsH272 and habitationsH4186 were, BethelH1008 and its townsH1323, and eastwardH4217 NaaranH5295, and westwardH4628 GezerH1507, with its townsH1323, ShechemH7927 also and its townsH1323, to GazaH5804 and its townsH1323: 29And by the bordersH3027 of the childrenH1121 of ManassehH4519, BethsheanH1052 and its townsH1323, TaanachH8590 and its townsH1323, MegiddoH4023 and its townsH1323, DorH1756 and its townsH1323. In these dweltH3427 the childrenH1121 of JosephH3130 the sonH1121 of IsraelH3478. 30The sonsH1121 of AsherH836; ImnahH3232, and IsuahH3438, and IshuaiH3440, and BeriahH1283, and SerahH8294 their sisterH269. 31And the sonsH1121 of BeriahH1283; HeberH2268, and MalchielH4439, who is the fatherH1 of BirzavithH1269. 32And HeberH2268 begatH3205 JaphletH3310, and ShomerH7763, and HothamH2369, and ShuaH7774 their sisterH269. 33And the sonsH1121 of JaphletH3310; PasachH6457, and BimhalH1118, and AshvathH6220. These are the childrenH1121 of JaphletH3310. 34And the sonsH1121 of ShamerH8106; AhiH277, and RohgahH7303, JehubbahH3160, and AramH758. 35And the sonsH1121 of his brotherH251 HelemH1987; ZophahH6690, and ImnaH3234, and SheleshH8028, and AmalH6000. 36The sonsH1121 of ZophahH6690; SuahH5477, and HarnepherH2774, and ShualH7777, and BeriH1275, and ImrahH3236, 37BezerH1221, and HodH1936, and ShammaH8037, and ShilshahH8030, and IthranH3506, and BeeraH878. 38And the sonsH1121 of JetherH3500; JephunnehH3312, and PispahH6462, and AraH690. 39And the sonsH1121 of UllaH5925; ArahH733, and HanielH2592, and ReziaH7525. 40All these were the childrenH1121 of AsherH836, headsH7218 of their father’sH1 houseH1004, choiceH1305 and mighty menH1368 of valourH2428, chiefH7218 of the princesH5387. And the numberH4557 throughout the genealogyH3187 of them that were fit for warH6635 and for battleH4421 was twentyH6242 and sixH8337 thousandH505 menH582.
Matthew Henry - Complete Commentary 1 We have here a short view given us,
I. Of the tribe of Issachar, whom Jacob had compared to a
strong ass, couching between two burdens (
Gen 49:14), an industrious tribe, that minded their country business very closely and
rejoiced in their tents, Deut 33:18. And here it appears, 1. That they were a numerous tribe; for they had many wives. So fruitful their country was that they saw no danger of over-stocking the pasture, and so ingenious the people were that they could find work for all hands. Let no people complain of their numbers, provided they suffer none to be idle. 2. That they were a valiant tribe,
men of might (
1Chr 7:2,
1Chr 7:5),
chief men, 1Chr 7:3. Those that were inured to labour and business were of all men the fittest to serve their country when there was occasion, The number of the respective families, as taken in the days of David, is here set down, amounting in the whole to above 145,000 men fit for war. The account, some think, was taken when Joab numbered the people, 2 Sa. 24. But I rather think it refers to some other computation that was made, perhaps among themselves, because it is said (
1Chr 27:24) that that account was not inserted in the chronicles of king David, it having offended God.
II. Of the tribe of Benjamin. Some account is here given of this tribe, but much larger in the next chapter. The militia of this tribe scarcely reached to 60,000; but they are said to be
mighty men of valour, 1Chr 7:7,
1Chr 7:9,
1Chr 7:11.
Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf, Gen 49:27. It was the honour of this tribe that it produced Saul the first king, and more its honour that it adhered to the rightful kings of the house of David when the other tribes revolted. Here is mention (
1Chr 7:12) of Hushim the sons of Aher. The sons of Dan are said to be
Hushim (
Gen 46:23), and therefore some read Aher appellatively,
Hushim - the
sons of another (that is, another of Jacob's sons) or the sons of a stranger, which Israelites should not be, but such the Danites were when they set up Micah's graven and molten image among them.
III. Of the tribe of Naphtali,
1Chr 7:13. The first fathers only of that tribe are named, the very same that we shall find,
Gen 46:24, only that
Shillem there is
Shallum here. None of their descendents are named, perhaps because their genealogies were lost.
IV. Of the tribe of Manasseh, that part of it which was seated within Jordan; for of the other part we had some account before,
1Chr 5:23, etc. Of this tribe observe, 1. That one of them married an Aramitess, that is, a Syrian,
1Chr 7:14. This was during their bondage in Egypt, so early did they begin to mingle with the nations. 2. That, though the father married a Syrian, Machir, the son of that marriage, perhaps seeing the inconvenience of it in his father's house, took to wife a daughter of Benjamin,
1Chr 7:15. It is good for the children to take warning by their father's mistakes and not stumble at the same stone. 3. Here is mention of Bedan (
1Chr 7:17), who perhaps is the same with that Bedan who is mentioned as one of Israel's deliverers,
1Sam 12:11. Jair perhaps, who was of Manasseh (
Judg 10:3), was the man.
20 We have here an account,
I. Of the tribe of Ephraim. Great things we read of that tribe when it came to maturity. Here we have an account of the disasters of its infancy, while it was in Egypt as it should seem; for Ephraim himself was alive when those things were done, which yet is hard to imagine if it were, as is here computed, seven generations off. Therefore I am apt to think that either it was another Ephraim or that those who were slain were the immediate sons of that Ephraim that was the son of Joseph. In this passage, which is related here only, we have, 1. The great breach that was made upon the family of Ephraim. The men of Gath, Philistines, giants, slew many of the sons of that family,
because they came down to take away their cattle, 1Chr 7:21. It is uncertain who were the aggressors here. Some make the men of Gath the aggressors, men
born in the land of Egypt, but now resident in Gath, supposing that they came down into the land of Goshen, to drive away the Ephraimites' cattle, and slew the owners, because they stood up in the defence of them. Many a man's life has been exposed and betrayed by his wealth; so far is it from being a strong city. Others think that the Ephraimites made a descent upon the men of Gath to plunder them, presuming that the time had come when they should be put in possession of Canaan; but they paid dearly for their rashness and precipitation. Those that will not wait God's time cannot expect God's blessing. I rather think that the men of Gath came down upon the Ephraimites, because the Israelites in Egypt were shepherds, not soldiers, abounded in cattle of their own, and therefore were not likely to venture their lives for their neighbours' cattle: and the words may be read,
The men of Gath slew them, for they came down to take away their cattle. Zabad the son of Ephraim, and Shuthelah, and Ezer, and Elead (his grandchildren), were, as Dr. Lightfoot thinks, the men that were slain. Jacob had foretold that the seed of Ephraim should become a
multitude of nations (
Gen 48:19), and yet that plant is thus nipped in the bud. God's providences often seem to contradict his promises; but, when they do so, they really magnify the promise, and make the performance of it, notwithstanding, so much more illustrious. The Ephraimites were the posterity of Joseph, and yet his power could not protect them, though some think he was yet living. The sword devours one as well as another. 2. The great grief which oppressed the father of the family hereupon:
Ephraim mourned many days. Nothing brings the aged to the grave with more sorrow than their following the young that descend from them to the grave first, especially if in blood. It is often the burden of those that live to be old that they see those go before them of whom they said,
These same shall comfort us. It was a brotherly friendly office which his brethren did, when
they came to comfort him under this great affliction, to express their sympathy with him and concern for him, and to suggest that to him which would support and quiet him under this sad providence. Probably they reminded him of the promise of increase which Jacob had blessed him when he laid his right hand upon his head. Although his house was not so with God as he hoped, but a house of mourning, a shattered family, yet that promise was sure,
2Sam 23:5. 3. The repair of this breach, in some measure, by addition of another son to his family in his old age (
1Chr 7:23), like Seth,
another seed instead of that of Abel whom Cain slew, Gen 4:25. When God thus restores comfort to his mourners,
makes glad according to the days wherein he afflicted, setting the mercies over against the crosses, we ought therein to take notice of the kindness and tenderness of divine Providence; it is as if
it repented God concerning his servants, Pss 90:13,
Pss 90:15. Yet joy that a man was born into his family could not make him forget his grief; for he gives a melancholy name to his son,
Beriah -
in trouble, for he was born when the family was in mourning, when
it went evil with his house. It is good to have in remembrance the affliction and the misery, the wormwood and the gall, that our souls may be
humbled within us, Lam 3:19,
Lam 3:20. What name more proper for
man that is born of a woman than
Beriah, because born into a troublesome world? It is added, as a further honour to the house of Ephraim, (1.) That a daughter of that tribe,
Sherah by name, at the time of Israel's setting in Canaan, built some cities, either at her own charge or by her own care; one of them bore her name,
Uzzen-sherah, 1Chr 7:24. A virtuous woman may be as great an honour and blessing to a family as a mighty man. (2.) That a son of that tribe was employed in the conquest of Canaan,
Joshua the son of Nun, 1Chr 7:27. In this also the breach made on Ephraim's family was further repaired; and perhaps the resentment of this injury formerly done by the Canaanites to the Ephraimites might make him more vigorous in the war.
II. Of the tribe of Asher. Some men of note of that tribe are here named. Their militia was not numerous in comparison with some other tribes, only 26,000 men in all; but their princes were
choice and mighty men of valour, chief of the princes (
1Chr 7:40), and perhaps it was their wisdom that they coveted not to make their trained bands numerous, but rather to have a few, and those apt to the war and serviceable men.