And his sister Hammoleketh ,.... The sister of Gilead so named; though the Targum renders it "that reigned"; and so Kimchi, that reigned in some part of Gilead; and the Vulgate Latin version translates it, "a queen bare Ishod, and Abiezer, and Mahalah"; Abiezer is the same with Jeezer, from whom a family sprung of that name, Numbers 26:30 , of which Gideon was, Judges 6:11 . read more
Abiezer . He is the nephew, then, of Gilead, and grandson of Machir. Gideon sprang from him ( 6:11 ; 8:32 ). The name of the mother, Hammoleketh , is compounded of the article and Moleketh, or Meleketh, a Chaldee form, found several times in the Book of Jeremiah, of the word for "queen." Of Ishod and Mahalah nothing is known, but the latter name is identical with Mahlah, one of the five daughters of Zelophehad. read more
Abiezer - His descendants formed one of the most important branches of the Manassites. They furnished to Israel the greatest of the Judges, Gideon Judges 6:11, Judges 6:24, Judges 6:34, and were regarded as the leading family among the so-called “sons of Gilead. read more
1 Chronicles 7:17-18. These were the sons of Gilead Namely, Ashriel and Zelophehad, named 1 Chronicles 7:14-15, the relative being here referred to the remoter antecedent, as is frequent in the Hebrew. His Gilead’s sister. Mahalah Understand, and Shemidah, out of the next verse. read more
Genealogies of the remaining tribes (7:1-8:40)Although the lists here are incomplete and in places difficult to follow, it seems that the tribes dealt with are Issachar (7:1-5), parts of Benjamin and Dan (6-12), Naphtali (13), the portion of Manasseh not listed earlier (14-19; cf. 5:23-24), Ephraim (20-29) and Asher (30-40).Benjamin is given in greater detail, possibly because it included Jerusalem in its tribal territory. Also this was the only tribe that joined Judah in the southern kingdom,... read more
his sister: i.e. Gilead's sister. Mahalah. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis , "Mahalah [and Shemidah] and the sons". The name of one of the daughters of Zelophehad (Numbers 26:33 ). read more
5. The remaining families of Israel ch. 7The tribes the writer listed were Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher. Why did he omit Dan and Zebulun? The inclusion of these tribes would have resulted in a total of 14 tribes since he had counted Levi and had dealt with both halves of Manasseh separately. Evidently to keep the whole number of tribes at 12 he omitted these. [Note: John Sailhamer, First and Second Chronicles, p. 26.] Another possibility is that perhaps the tribes... read more
Genealogies (continued)This chapter traces the descendants of Issachar, Benjamin (Dan), Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher.2. Of Tola] The numbers given in this v. are those of Tola’s descendants by his younger sons as contrasted with his descendants through his firstborn Uzzi: 1 Chronicles 7:3, 1 Chronicles 7:4.11. By the heads of their fathers] RV ’according to the heads of their fathers’ houses’: and so elsewhere. They were divided into a number of patriarchal clans. 12. Sons of Aher]... read more
Qualification and Duty 1 Chronicles 7:11 I. 'Fit.' We must be fit for whatever the times are fit. Some have lived in controversial times; they have been fit for controversy, strong in argument, defiant in spirit, intrepid and courageous in the last degree. Others have been born in times of suffering, deprivation, persecution, and yet they may, by the mercy and lovingkindness and condescension of God, have been fit; the fight has gone out of them, but the endurance has come into their blood,... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 7:1-19
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... read more