1 Chronicles 7:37
*“Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran and Beera.”* (v.37) This verse continues the genealogical record of the sons of Asher in 1 Chronicles 7, showing the extended lineage of a tribal family group. As part of a broader register of tribal descendants, these names serve as a reminder of the meticulous way Israel tracked its heritage. By including even those who do not appear in many narratives, Scripture underscores that each individual, no matter how briefly mentioned, has a place in the unfolding story of God’s people. It also shows that no lineage is forgotten in the divine plan of redemption, which traces all the way forward to Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:1-17 NASB-95).
Within this brief verse, we see multiple names that highlight the diversity of the tribe of Asher. While details about Bezer, Hod, Shamma, Shilshah, Ithran, and Beera remain scarce, they are woven into the tapestry of Israel’s ancestry. Genealogies like these carried significant weight in establishing tribal identities, inheritance rights, and the fulfillment of promises God made to Abraham centuries earlier (Genesis 17:6 NASB-95). The Chronicler, writing after the Babylonian exile (roughly 5th century BC), was seeking to remind the returning exiles of their spiritual heritage, linking them to the patriarchs and reaffirming God’s ongoing covenant with Israel despite generations of disruption.
Their inclusion in the genealogy symbolizes continuity, especially for those returning from captivity who sought to reestablish their ancestral lines. It also points to the broader idea that each clan and house had a specific role in maintaining the worship, culture, and integrity of the entire nation. From the earliest times, biblical genealogies pointed forward in hope, ultimately culminating in the coming of Jesus the Messiah (Luke 3:23-38 NASB-95). Even though these particular men are not expounded upon elsewhere, their presence in Scripture testifies to the comprehensive nature of God’s unfolding story and how He values each and every life.
They remind us that God sees and values each individual, no matter how small their role in the greater narrative.
This quick synopsis was AI autogenerated utilizing existing TheBibleSays commentaries as the primary source material. To read a related commentary that has been fully developed, see the list below. If there is an issue with this summary please let us know by emailing:[email protected]
Other Relevant Commentaries:
- Joshua 2:1-7 meaning. Joshua sends two men to scout out Jericho. While they stay in the house of a prostitute named Rahab, the king of Jericho sends word to her, asking her to deliver them into his hands. Rahab hides the men, and as soon as the king’s agents leave her house, watchmen shut the city gate for the night.
- Hosea 7:13-16 meaning. The LORD pronounces woe on Israel. The nation will be destroyed because she has strayed from God and broken her covenant promise. Now the covenant provisions for breaking her promise will be enforced.
- Zechariah 7:8-14 meaning. Zechariah spells out four requirements that sum up the ethical teaching of the prophets prior to Judah’s exile to Babylon. He reminds the post-exilic community of Judah that their forefathers’ rejection of that teaching was why God punished them severely by scattering them abroad at the mercy of foreign nations, consistent with the provision of God’s covenant/treaty with Israel.