And the sons of Ulam: Bedan ,.... See 1 Samuel 12:11 . these were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh ; that is, were of his posterity, or belonged to his family; for Ulam and Rakem were sons of a brother of Gilead, 1 Chronicles 7:16 . read more
Bedan . While all the names of the preceding verse are strange to us, this name excites much interest, as possibly to be identified with the Bedan ( 1 Samuel 12:11 ) who is placed after Jerubbaal ( i.q. Gideon ), and before Jephthah and Samuel. Who in the Book of Judges is to answer to this Bedan of the Book of Samuel it is impossible to say. See Bishop Cotton's excellent short article. These were the sons of Gilead (see verse 14). The name Gilead surpassed the name Machir, and... read more
These were the sons of Gilead - i. e. these descendants of Machir were reckoned to the family of Gilead. The name “Gilead” prevailed above all others in the line of Manasseh, the term “Gileadite” almost taking the place of “Manassite.” 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
Bedan. The name of a judge (1 Samuel 12:11 ). 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
(17) Bedan (i.e., ben Dan “the Danite” in 1 Samuel 12:11 is a judge between Jerubbaal and Jephthah. Here a clan is meant, not a person.These were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.—These words appear to refer to a series of names which has dropped out of the text, but which may be inferred from Numbers 26:30-32 to have included Abiezer (of which Jeezer is a contraction) and Shemidah. (See the genealogy, 1 Chronicles 7:14, Note.) 1 Chronicles 7:17 b and 1 Chronicles 7:18... read more
Get Bible verse every day in your inbox
Read on Mobile
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