1 Chronicles 7: Tribes of the North
Issachar, Benjamin, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher are counted as mighty men of valor, their families recorded among the people of God.
1 Chronicles 7 (WEB)
1 Of the sons of Issachar: Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four.
2 The sons of Tola: Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Ibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their fathers’ houses, of Tola; mighty men of valor in their generations: their number in the days of David was twenty-two thousand six hundred.
3 The sons of Uzzi: Izrahiah. The sons of Izrahiah: Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Isshiah, five; all of them chief men.
4 With them, by their generations, after their fathers’ houses, were bands of the army for war, thirty-six thousand; for they had many wives and sons.
5 Their brothers among all the families of Issachar, mighty men of valor, reckoned in all by genealogy, were eighty-seven thousand.
6 The sons of Benjamin: Bela, and Becher, and Jediael, three.
7 The sons of Bela: Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of fathers’ houses, mighty men of valor; and they were reckoned by genealogy twenty-two thousand thirty-four.
8 The sons of Becher: Zemirah, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jeremoth, and Abijah, and Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these were the sons of Becher.
9 They were reckoned by genealogy, after their generations, heads of their fathers’ houses, mighty men of valor, twenty thousand two hundred.
10 The sons of Jediael: Bilhan. The sons of Bilhan: Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tarshish, and Ahishahar.
11 All these were sons of Jediael, according to the heads of their fathers’ households, mighty men of valor, seventeen thousand and two hundred, who were able to go out in the army for war.
12 Shuppim also, and Huppim, the sons of Ir, Hushim, the sons of Aher.
13 The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.
14 The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his concubine the Aramitess bore: she bore Machir the father of Gilead:
15 and Machir took a wife of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister’s name was Maacah; and the name of the second was Zelophehad: and Zelophehad had daughters.
16 Maacah the wife of Machir bore a son, and she named him Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.
17 The sons of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.
18 His sister Hammolecheth bore Ishhod, and Abiezer, and Mahlah.
19 The sons of Shemida were Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam.
20 The sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eleadah his son, and Tahath his son,
21 and Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath who were born in the land killed, because they came down to take away their livestock.
22 Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him.
23 He went in to his wife, and she conceived, and bore a son, and he named him Beriah, because it went evil with his house.
24 His daughter was Sheerah, who built Beth Horon the lower and the upper, and Uzzen Sheerah.
25 Rephah was his son, and Resheph, and Telah his son, and Tahan his son,
26 Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,
27 Nun his son, Joshua his son.
28 Their possessions and habitations were Bethel and its towns, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with its towns; Shechem also and its towns, to Azzah and its towns;
29 and by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Beth Shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, Dor and its towns. In these lived the children of Joseph the son of Israel.
30 The sons of Asher: Imnah, and Ishvah, and Ishvi, and Beriah, and Serah their sister.
31 The sons of Beriah: Heber, and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith.
32 Heber became the father of Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister.
33 The sons of Japhlet: Pasach, and Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet.
34 The sons of Shemer: Ahi, and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.
35 The sons of Helem his brother: Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.
36 The sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
37 Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran, and Beera.
38 The sons of Jether: Jephunneh, and Pispa, and Ara.
39 The sons of Ulla: Arah, and Hanniel, and Rizia.
40 All these were the children of Asher, heads of the fathers’ houses, choice and mighty men of valor, chief of the princes. The number of them reckoned by genealogy for service in war was twenty-six thousand men.
1 Chronicles 7 (KJV)
1 Now the sons of Issachar were, Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four.
2 And the sons of Tola; Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father’s house, to wit, of Tola: they were valiant men of might in their generations; whose number was in the days of David two and twenty thousand and six hundred.
3 And the sons of Uzzi; Izrahiah: and the sons of Izrahiah; Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Ishiah, five: all of them chief men.
4 And with them, by their generations, after the house of their fathers, were bands of soldiers for war, six and thirty thousand men: for they had many wives and sons.
5 And their brethren among all the families of Issachar were valiant men of might, reckoned in all by their genealogies fourscore and seven thousand.
6 The sons of Benjamin; Bela, and Becher, and Jediael, three.
7 And the sons of Bela; Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour; and were reckoned by their genealogies twenty and two thousand and thirty and four.
8 And the sons of Becher; Zemira, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jerimoth, and Abiah, and Anathoth, and Alameth. All these are the sons of Becher.
9 And the number of them, after their genealogy by their generations, heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour, was twenty thousand and two hundred.
10 The sons also of Jediael; Bilhan: and the sons of Bilhan; Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar.
11 All these the sons of Jediael, by the heads of their fathers, mighty men of valour, were seventeen thousand and two hundred soldiers, fit to go out for war and battle.
12 Shuppim also, and Huppim, the children of Ir, and Hushim, the sons of Aher.
13 The sons of Naphtali; Jahziel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.
14 The sons of Manasseh; Ashriel, whom she bare: (but his concubine the Aramitess bare Machir the father of Gilead:
15 And Machir took to wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister’s name was Maachah;) and the name of the second was Zelophehad: and Zelophehad had daughters.
16 And Maachah the wife of Machir bare a son, and she called his name Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.
17 And the sons of Ulam; Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.
18 And his sister Hammoleketh bare Ishod, and Abiezer, and Mahalah.
19 And the sons of Shemida were, Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam.
20 And the sons of Ephraim; Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eladah his son, and Tahath his son,
21 And Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in that land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.
22 And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him.
23 And when he went in to his wife, she conceived, and bare a son, and he called his name Beriah, because it went evil with his house.
24 (And his daughter was Sherah, who built Beth–horon the nether, and the upper, and Uzzen–sherah.)
25 And Rephah was his son, also Resheph, and Telah his son, and Tahan his son,
26 Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,
27 Non his son, Jehoshua his son.
28 And their possessions and habitations were, Beth–el and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Gaza and the towns thereof:
29 And by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Beth–shean and her towns, Taanach and her towns, Megiddo and her towns, Dor and her towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph the son of Israel.
30 The sons of Asher; Imnah, and Isuah, and Ishuai, and Beriah, and Serah their sister.
31 And the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel, who is the father of Birzavith.
32 And Heber begat Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister.
33 And the sons of Japhlet; Pasach, and Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet.
34 And the sons of Shamer; Ahi, and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.
35 And the sons of his brother Helem; Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.
36 The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
37 Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran, and Beera.
38 And the sons of Jether; Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara.
39 And the sons of Ulla; Arah, and Haniel, and Rezia.
40 All these were the children of Asher, heads of their father’s house, choice and mighty men of valour, chief of the princes. And the number throughout the genealogy of them that were apt to the war and to battle was twenty and six thousand men.
1 Chronicles 7 (ASV)
1 And of the sons of Issachar: Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four.
2 And the sons of Tola: Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Ibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their fathers’ houses, to wit, of Tola; mighty men of valor in their generations: their number in the days of David was two and twenty thousand and six hundred.
3 And the sons of Uzzi: Izrahiah. And the sons of Izrahiah: Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Isshiah, five; all of them chief men.
4 And with them, by their generations, after their fathers’ houses, were bands of the host for war, six and thirty thousand; for they had many wives and sons.
5 And their brethren among all the families of Issachar, mighty men of valor, reckoned in all by genealogy, were fourscore and seven thousand.
6 The sons ofBenjamin: Bela, and Becher, and Jediael, three.
7 And the sons of Bela: Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of fathers’ houses, mighty men of valor; and they were reckoned by genealogy twenty and two thousand and thirty and four.
8 And the sons of Becher: Zemirah, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jeremoth, and Abijah, and Anathoth, and Alemeth. All these were the sons of Becher.
9 And they were reckoned by genealogy, after their generations, heads of their fathers’ houses, mighty men of valor, twenty thousand and two hundred.
10 And the sons of Jediael: Bilhan. And the sons of Bilhan: Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tarshish, and Ahishahar.
11 All these were sons of Jediael, according to the heads of their fathers’ houses, mighty men of valor, seventeen thousand and two hundred, that were able to go forth in the host for war.
12 Shuppim also, and Huppim, the sons of Ir, Hushim, the sons of Aher.
13 The sons of Naphtali: Jahziel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.
14 The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his concubine the Aramitess bare; she bare Machir the father of Gilead.
15 And Machir took a wife of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister’s name was Maacah; and the name of the second was Zelophehad: and Zelophehad had daughters.
16 And Maacah the wife of Machir bare a son, and she called his name Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.
17 And the sons of Ulam: Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.
18 And his sister Hammolecheth bare Ishhod, and Abiezer, and Mahlah.
19 And the sons of Shemida were Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam.
20 And the sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eleadah his son, and Tahath his son,
21 and Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in the land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.
22 And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him.
23 And he went in to his wife, and she conceived, and bare a son, and he called his name Beriah, because it went evil with his house.
24 And his daughter was Sheerah, who built Beth-horon the nether and the upper, and Uzzen-sheerah.
25 And Rephah was his son, and Resheph, and Telah his son, and Tahan his son,
26 Ladan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,
27 Nun his son, Joshua his son.
28 And their possessions and habitations were Beth-el and the towns thereof, and eastward Naaran, and westward Gezer, with the towns thereof; Shechem also and the towns thereof, unto Azzah and the towns thereof;
29 and by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Beth-shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, Dor and its towns. In these dwelt the children of Joseph the son of Israel.
30 The sons of Asher: Imnah, and Ishvah, and Ishvi, and Beriah, and Serah their sister.
31 And the sons of Beriah: Heber, and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith.
32 And Heber begat Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister.
33 And the sons of Japhlet: Pasach, and Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet.
34 And the sons of Shemer: Ahi, and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.
35 And the sons of Helem his brother: Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.
36 The sons of Zophah: Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
37 Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran, and Beera.
38 And the sons of Jether: Jephunneh, and Pispa, and Ara.
39 And the sons of Ulla: Arah, and Hanniel, and Rizia.
40 All these were the children of Asher, heads of the fathers’ houses, choice and mighty men of valor, chief of the princes. And the number of them reckoned by genealogy for service in war was twenty and six thousand men.
Summary
The genealogy moves through several more tribes, counting their families and especially their fighting strength. Issachar's sons are listed as heads of their fathers' houses, mighty men of valor, numbered in the tens of thousands. Benjamin's families follow, also reckoned as valiant warriors, and Naphtali, Manasseh, and Ephraim are recorded as well. Within Ephraim's account the Chronicler preserves a poignant story: some of Ephraim's sons were killed by the men of Gath when they came down to raid their livestock, and Ephraim their father mourned many days while his brothers came to comfort him; afterward he had a son named Beriah, because evil had come on his house. The line of Ephraim runs down to Joshua son of Nun. Finally the sons of Asher are listed as choice and mighty men of valor, chief of the princes. Throughout, the Chronicler repeats that these were strong, capable people, ready for service. Even amid the grief in Ephraim's family, the message is one of a people whom God multiplied and made able, a nation of households each carrying its own joys and sorrows under God's continuing care.
Key Figures
- Issachar — A tribe whose sons are counted as heads of households and mighty men of valor, numbered in the tens of thousands.
- Ephraim — The father who mourned the sons killed by the men of Gath and was comforted, later having a son named Beriah; his line runs to Joshua.
- Joshua son of Nun — The descendant of Ephraim named at the end of his line, the great leader who brought Israel into the promised land.
- Asher — A tribe listed as choice and mighty men of valor, chief among the princes, recorded for their strength and service.
Key Verse
1 Chronicles 7:22 (WEB)
Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him.
Lessons Learned
- Every tribe and family matters to God and is worth recording, not only the famous ones.
- God's people carry real grief, like Ephraim's, and find comfort in the presence of others.
- The Lord multiplies and strengthens his people, raising up valiant men for service.
- Out of an ordinary tribal line God brings extraordinary leaders like Joshua in his own time.
- God values every household. Tribe after tribe is counted as “mighty men of valor” (1 Chronicles 7:2, WEB); the Chronicler honors families most readers overlook, for none are forgotten by God.
- Grief is real among God's people. “Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him” (1 Chronicles 7:22, WEB); faith does not erase sorrow, and God provides comfort through community.
- God brings life after loss. After the death of his sons, Ephraim has another son, Beriah (1 Chronicles 7:23, WEB); the Lord renews hope even where evil has struck.
- God raises up leaders in his time. Ephraim's line runs down to “Joshua his son” (1 Chronicles 7:27, WEB); ordinary genealogies quietly produce the deliverers God appoints.
- Why does the Chronicler repeatedly describe these tribes as mighty men of valor?
- What is striking about the story of Ephraim's grief inserted into the genealogy?
- How does the comfort Ephraim received from his brothers speak to the value of community in sorrow?
- What does it mean that Ephraim's line runs down to Joshua, the conqueror of Canaan?
- When you have walked through loss, how have others comforted you, and how might you offer that same comfort to someone grieving now?
- The repeated phrase emphasizes the strength and readiness of God's people across the tribes. For a small post-exilic community, it recalled a time when Israel was numerous and capable, encouraging them that the God who built such a people could restore them.
- The sudden, tender story of Ephraim's mourning humanizes the whole list. It reminds us that behind every name lies real joy and grief, and that the Chronicler is recording a living people, not just a roster of warriors.
- Ephraim's brothers come to comfort him in his grief, modeling the way God's people are meant to bear one another's sorrows. It shows that mourning is not meant to be carried alone and that presence itself is a gift.
- Tracing the line to Joshua reveals that the tribe touched by grief also produced one of Israel's greatest leaders. It quietly testifies that God works through ordinary, even sorrowful, families to raise up those who will accomplish his purposes.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to recall the comfort they have received in hard times and to consider someone they might come alongside now. As leader, encourage simple acts of presence and care, following the example of Ephraim's brothers.