1 Chronicles 7 14

1 Chronicles 7:14 kjv

The sons of Manasseh; Ashriel, whom she bare: (but his concubine the Aramitess bare Machir the father of Gilead:

1 Chronicles 7:14 nkjv

The descendants of Manasseh: his Syrian concubine bore him Machir the father of Gilead, the father of Asriel.

1 Chronicles 7:14 niv

The descendants of Manasseh: Asriel was his descendant through his Aramean concubine. She gave birth to Makir the father of Gilead.

1 Chronicles 7:14 esv

The sons of Manasseh: Asriel, whom his Aramean concubine bore; she bore Machir the father of Gilead.

1 Chronicles 7:14 nlt

The descendants of Manasseh through his Aramean concubine included Asriel. She also bore Makir, the father of Gilead.

1 Chronicles 7 verses

1 Chronicles 7 14 Meaning

This verse records part of the genealogy of Manasseh, specifically mentioning his sons Asriel and Machir. It highlights that both these sons were born to an Aramean concubine. Machir is further identified as the "father of Gilead," emphasizing his foundational role in establishing a significant Manassehite clan and territory east of the Jordan River. The verse serves to trace the lineage and identify the tribal roots of individuals within Manasseh, important for understanding tribal distribution and historical continuity.

1 Chronicles 7 14 Context

1 Chronicles chapter 7 is predominantly a genealogical record, detailing the lineages of several Israelite tribes including Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher. The Chronicler’s purpose in compiling these detailed genealogies after the Babylonian exile was multi-faceted. It aimed to establish and confirm the identity of the returning exiles, link them to the covenant people of Israel, delineate tribal lands, and uphold the Levitical and royal lines. In this specific verse, 1 Chronicles 7:14 is embedded within the section dedicated to Manasseh. It not only traces the descendants but also specifies the mother's origin (Aramean concubine), which is a unique detail within Manasseh's genealogies elsewhere in the Bible. This emphasis served to root the present generation firmly within the historical lineage of their forefathers and highlight the unique circumstances of their progenitors, validating their tribal claims and identity.

1 Chronicles 7 14 Word analysis

• The sons of Manasseh: Hebrew: בְּנֵי מְנַשֶּׁה (B'nei Menasheh). "Manasseh" (מְנַשֶּׁה, Menasheh) means "causing to forget" or "who makes forget." He was Joseph's firstborn son in Egypt (Gen 41:51). The listing of his descendants here establishes tribal continuity.
• Asriel: Hebrew: אַשְׂרִיאֵל (Ashri'el). Meaning "my God is princely" or "God directs." He is consistently listed as a son or descendant of Manasseh in genealogies (Num 26:31, Josh 17:2), identifying a significant clan within the Manassehite tribe.
• whom his Aramean concubine bore: Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר יָלְדָה פִּילַגְשׁוֹ הָאֲרַמִּיָּה (asher yaledah pilagesho ha'Aramiya). This phrase is significant.
  • פִּילַגְשׁוֹ (pilagesho): "his concubine." A concubine (פִּילֶגֶשׁ, pilegesh) was a secondary wife, often holding a recognized, though lesser, legal status, whose children had inheritance rights.
  • הָאֲרַמִּיָּה (ha'Aramiya): "the Aramean (woman)." This denotes her ethnic origin from Aram (Syria), implying a non-Israelite background. This detail is specific to 1 Chronicles here for Machir and Asriel. While the patriarchs often took foreign wives (e.g., Abraham and Keturah, Jacob and Leah/Rachel's maidservants, Moses and Zipporah), the specific mention of an "Aramean" concubine highlights a detail about the Manassehite lineage not prominently stated elsewhere for these foundational figures, pointing to early cross-cultural relations within the ancestry of Israel.
• she bore Machir: Hebrew: יָלְדָה אֶת מָכִיר (yaledah et Machir). This phrasing suggests the Aramean concubine bore Machir. While some interpretations parse the Hebrew differently, a direct reading points to both Asriel and Machir sharing this Aramean mother, a point of uniqueness compared to other Manasseh genealogies which do not specify Machir's mother as Aramean. This unique detail by the Chronicler is notable.
  • מָכִיר (Machir): Meaning "sold" or "one who sells." Machir is repeatedly identified as the firstborn of Manasseh (Num 26:29, Josh 17:1), a very prominent figure. He played a crucial role in the conquest of Gilead east of the Jordan.
• the father of Gilead: Hebrew: אֲבִי גִלְעָד (avi Gil'ad). "Father of" here indicates he was the progenitor and leader of the clan/tribe associated with the territory of Gilead.
  • גִלְעָד (Gil'ad): Refers both to a prominent region east of the Jordan River (fertile land in Transjordan) and the tribal subdivision descending from Machir. This territorial association underlines the significant historical and geographical footprint of Machir's descendants.

1 Chronicles 7 14 Bonus section

The Chronicler’s attention to detailed genealogies in chapters 1-9 serves a restorative and legitimizing function for the post-exilic community returning to the land. By tracing lines back to Adam, then Noah, and extensively through the tribes of Israel, he reminds them of their covenantal roots and God's consistent purpose for His people. The inclusion of an "Aramean concubine" for Machir in 1 Chronicles, distinct from accounts where Machir is simply stated as Manasseh's son, subtly highlights the mixed ethnic origins of some Israelite clans. This would have been particularly pertinent to a community reintegrating from Babylon, where various degrees of intermarriage had occurred. The Chronicler validates various aspects of the "true Israel" through such detailed lists, even when they include non-Israelite mothers for pivotal figures, ensuring a comprehensive historical account of who comprised "all Israel" at various stages. The prominence of Gilead, a Transjordanian territory, through Machir further demonstrates the Chronicler's interest in the entire tribal landscape of Israel, east and west of the Jordan.

1 Chronicles 7 14 Commentary

This concise genealogical entry for Manasseh's lineage reveals several important aspects. First, it underscores the Chronicler's commitment to meticulously recording Israel's heritage, essential for the post-exilic community in re-establishing identity, land claims, and religious purity. The specificity of naming "Asriel" and "Machir" as sons borne by an "Aramean concubine" for Manasseh is unique within biblical genealogies for these specific figures. Machir is often regarded as Manasseh's firstborn by his main wife. This detailed inclusion in Chronicles might indicate the Chronicler's awareness of multiple traditions, or it specifically highlights the early incorporation of foreign bloodlines within the founding tribes of Israel, showing God's plan often extended beyond strict ethnic purity, while maintaining focus on the covenant with Abraham's descendants. The emphasis on "Machir, the father of Gilead," highlights the importance of territorial possession and tribal establishment, particularly of the lands east of the Jordan which were integral to Israel's expanded territory. The genealogies serve as a historical anchor, affirming the past faithfulness of God in growing a nation, even through diverse unions.