1 Chronicles 7 24

1 Chronicles 7:24 kjv

(And his daughter was Sherah, who built Bethhoron the nether, and the upper, and Uzzensherah.)

1 Chronicles 7:24 nkjv

Now his daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon and Uzzen Sheerah;

1 Chronicles 7:24 niv

His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon as well as Uzzen Sheerah.

1 Chronicles 7:24 esv

His daughter was Sheerah, who built both Lower and Upper Beth-horon, and Uzzen-sheerah.

1 Chronicles 7:24 nlt

He had a daughter named Sheerah. She built the towns of Lower and Upper Beth-horon and Uzzen-sheerah.

1 Chronicles 7 verses

1 Chronicles 7 24 Meaning

1 Chronicles 7:24 reveals a specific and remarkable detail within the genealogy of the tribe of Ephraim: a daughter named Sheerah, who is credited with the significant act of building or fortifying three key settlements – Lower Beth-horon, Upper Beth-horon, and a town named Uzzen-sheerah, after herself. This verse highlights a female individual's prominent role in establishing critical infrastructure and securing land for her people.

1 Chronicles 7 24 Context

This verse is situated within a lengthy series of tribal genealogies that open the book of 1 Chronicles (chapters 1-9). Specifically, 1 Chronicles 7 provides lists for the tribes of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher. Verse 24 follows immediately after an account of a tragic incident in Ephraim's lineage, where some male descendants were killed while attempting to seize livestock from Gath (1 Chron 7:21-22). The subsequent birth of Beriah and his descendants leads to the mention of Sheerah. The Chronicler, writing after the Babylonian exile, meticulously recorded these genealogies to reaffirm tribal identities, land inheritance rights, and the continuity of the covenant people of Israel. The inclusion of Sheerah, a woman, as a builder of strategic cities is an unusual and significant detail in a patriarchal genealogical record, underscoring resilience, foundational work, and perhaps even divine provision through unexpected means amidst the history of the Ephraimites. Beth-horon, both Upper and Lower, was a strategically crucial location controlling a key pass between the coastal plain and the central highlands.

1 Chronicles 7 24 Word analysis

• וּבִתּוֹ (ū-ḇittō) – "and his daughter." This introduces Sheerah as a female descendant within a largely patrilineal genealogical list. The possessive suffix "his" (וֹ) refers to Ephraim, tracing her direct lineage back. The rare prominence given to a daughter as an agent in building highlights her unique contribution.
• שֶׁאֱרָה (Še’ĕrâ) – "Sheerah." A proper noun found only here in the biblical text. Her name carries an air of distinction simply by being named and attributed with such a significant deed. Its etymological root, if connected to the Hebrew word for "remnant" or "remaining" (שׁאר), could subtly hint at a role in preserving or building up what remained of the tribe after the prior loss mentioned.
• בָּנְתָה (bānetāh) – "she built." This verb (root: בָּנָה, bānah) signifies construction, establishing, or founding. The feminine singular suffix clearly attributes the action to Sheerah herself. "Building" cities often implies planning, organizing labor, and establishing permanent structures and social order, indicative of leadership and foresight.
• אֶת־בֵּית חוֹרוֹן תַּחְתּוֹן (et-Bêt Hôrôn Taḥtôn) – "Lower Beth-horon."
  • בֵּית חוֹרוֹן (Bêt Hôrôn): "Beth-horon" literally means "house of Horon," likely referring to a local deity or a hollow/cave. It was a well-known strategic site in Ephraim's territory (Jos 16:3, 5).
  • תַּחְתּוֹן (Taḥtôn): "Lower," indicating its geographical position relative to its counterpart.
• וְאֶת־בֵּית חוֹרוֹן עֶלְיוֹן (wə’et-Bêt Hôrôn ‘Elyôn) – "and Upper Beth-horon."
  • עֶלְיוֹן (‘Elyôn): "Upper," referring to its higher elevation. Together, Lower and Upper Beth-horon commanded the ascent from the coastal plain to the central highlands, making them highly strategic for defense and trade.
• וְאֶת־אוּזֵן שֶׁאֱרָה (wə’et-’Ûzên Še’ĕrâ) – "and Uzzen-sheerah."
  • אוּזֵן (’Ûzên): "Uzzen." Its meaning is uncertain but has been suggested to mean "portion," "provision," or "ear" (in context of irrigation, though speculative).
  • שֶׁאֱרָה (Še’ĕrâ): "Sheerah." The city being named after her highlights her central role in its foundation and signifies her personal legacy, an honor often reserved for prominent male founders in the ancient world.

Words-group by words-group analysis

• "His daughter was Sheerah": The immediate identification of a specific female in this context stands out against the general pattern of focusing on male lines in genealogies. It highlights Sheerah's individual significance and her direct connection to the tribal heritage.
• "who built": This phrase directly attributes agency and accomplishment to Sheerah. "Built" indicates not just construction but the establishment and securing of human settlement, demanding skill, leadership, and foresight, and resulting in lasting communal benefit.
• "Lower and Upper Beth-horon and Uzzen-sheerah": These are tangible, specific achievements. The Beth-horons were crucial for defensive and strategic purposes, later recognized and fortified by King Solomon. Uzzen-sheerah, bearing her name, reinforces her indelible mark on the landscape and within her tribe. Her work provided essential infrastructure, security, and a lasting heritage for her kin.

1 Chronicles 7 24 Bonus section

The uniqueness of Sheerah's story is further underscored by the fact that the biblical record rarely attributes city-founding to women. This departure from conventional genealogical narrative implies her contribution was truly exceptional and merited specific mention. The Chronicler, in his post-exilic writing, placed significant emphasis on the secure possession of land and established settlements as part of God's covenant blessings and a foundation for the returning community's identity. Sheerah's building achievements directly contribute to this theme, linking past tribal strength with future hopes. The strategic importance of Beth-horon, frequently mentioned as a military stronghold or key travel route in other biblical texts (e.g., Joshua, 1 Samuel, 2 Chronicles), attests to the long-term value of the cities Sheerah helped to establish, solidifying her legacy far beyond her direct lifetime.

1 Chronicles 7 24 Commentary

1 Chronicles 7:24 offers a brief but powerful glimpse into the constructive agency of a woman in ancient Israel. In the context of the lengthy genealogies, primarily tracking male lines and their exploits or fates, Sheerah stands out for her proactive contribution. Her act of "building" Beth-horon, both Lower and Upper, and establishing Uzzen-sheerah (named for herself) was not a passive inheritance but an active shaping of the tribal territory. This demonstrates remarkable leadership, resourcefulness, and a commitment to her people's stability and security. Coming after the account of Ephraimite losses, her constructive acts signify resilience and foundational work that ensured the ongoing presence and well-being of the tribe, a vital message for the post-exilic audience the Chronicler addressed. Sheerah's inclusion quietly celebrates how God uses diverse individuals, male and female, in significant ways to achieve His purposes for His people.Example: Like Sheerah, who contributed concretely to the welfare of her community, believers are called to use their gifts and resources actively to build up the church and serve their communities, securing a stable and prosperous environment for future generations.