Question 1

Why does this passage list so many names and numbers of Israel’s tribes?

Accepted Answer

This passage gives detailed family lines and headcounts to record the households and fighting men of several tribes of Israel. The numbers of warriors, along with the names of fathers and sons, show how these groups were organized by families and how many were “apt to the war and to battle” in each line. It is a written record of real people, their descendants, and their strength at particular times in Israel’s history.

Question 2

What is the significance of the “mighty men of valour” mentioned several times?

Accepted Answer

The phrase “mighty men of valour” is used for men in tribes such as Benjamin and Asher to describe them as strong and capable warriors. Along with phrases like “valiant men of might” and “soldiers, fit to go out for war and battle,” it shows that many from these families were experienced in warfare and ready to defend their people. These descriptions explain why the numbers of fighting men are important in the genealogy.

Question 3

What happened to Ephraim’s sons who were killed by the men of Gath, and why is this detail included?

Accepted Answer

Two of Ephraim’s descendants, Ezer and Elead, were slain by men of Gath who were born in that land, because they came down to take away their cattle. Ephraim mourned for many days, and his brothers came to comfort him. After this, another son was born and was called Beriah, “because it went evil with his house.” This story is included in the middle of the genealogy to show that there were real events of loss and sorrow in this family line, not just names and numbers.

Question 4

Who is Beriah in this passage, and why was he given that name?

Accepted Answer

Beriah is a son born to Ephraim after the killing of Ezer and Elead by the men of Gath. Ephraim called his name Beriah “because it went evil with his house,” meaning the birth took place after a time of trouble and grief in his family. The name marks that dark season in the family’s history within the wider list of descendants.

Question 5

Who is Sherah, and what does it mean that she built Beth-horon and Uzzen-sherah?

Accepted Answer

Sherah is mentioned as a daughter in Ephraim’s line. The passage says she “built Beth-horon the nether, and the upper, and Uzzen-sherah.” This shows that she is connected with the building or establishing of those places. Her name is linked directly with those towns in the genealogy, and one of them, Uzzen-sherah, bears her name.

Question 6

What does this passage show about the tribes mentioned here?

Accepted Answer

The passage shows that tribes such as Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher had organized families and counted numbers of men ready for war. It names heads of fathers’ houses, notes when they were many in number, and records where some of them lived, such as the children of Joseph dwelling in places like Bethel, Gezer, Shechem, and other towns. Together, these details give a snapshot of their families, strength, and settlements at that time.

Question 7

How can a long genealogy like this be useful to modern readers?

Accepted Answer

A long genealogy like this can help modern readers see that the people in these accounts were real families with names, locations, and specific histories. It shows how carefully their descendants and fighting men were recorded, and how events such as sorrow in Ephraim’s house or the building of certain towns were remembered. Even if the details feel distant, they bear witness to the care taken to keep track of people, places, and family lines over many generations.

1 Chronicles 7:1

Now the sons of Issachar were, Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four.

The Descendants of Issachar

The Descendants of Benjamin

The Descendants of Naphtali

The Descendants of Manasseh

The Descendants of Ephraim

The Descendants of Asher

The Descendants of Issachar

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1 Chronicles 7:1

Now the sons of Issachar were, Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four.

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The Descendants of Issachar

The Descendants of Benjamin

The Descendants of Naphtali

The Descendants of Manasseh

The Descendants of Ephraim

The Descendants of Asher

The Descendants of Issachar

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