1 Chronicles 7 28

1 Chronicles 7:28 kjv

And their possessions and habitations were, Bethel 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:

1 Chronicles 7:28 nkjv

Now their possessions and dwelling places were Bethel and its towns: to the east Naaran, to the west Gezer and its towns, and Shechem and its towns, as far as Ayyah and its towns;

1 Chronicles 7:28 niv

Their lands and settlements included Bethel and its surrounding villages, Naaran to the east, Gezer and its villages to the west, and Shechem and its villages all the way to Ayyah and its villages.

1 Chronicles 7:28 esv

Their possessions and settlements were Bethel and its towns, and to the east Naaran, and to the west Gezer and its towns, Shechem and its towns, and Ayyah and its towns;

1 Chronicles 7:28 nlt

The descendants of Ephraim lived in the territory that included Bethel and its surrounding towns to the south, Naaran to the east, Gezer and its villages to the west, and Shechem and its surrounding villages to the north as far as Ayyah and its towns.

1 Chronicles 7 verses

1 Chronicles 7 28 Meaning

1 Chronicles 7:28 details the geographic possessions and habitations of the tribe of Ephraim within the promised land. It specifically lists significant cities and their surrounding towns that comprised Ephraim's inheritance: Bethel and its dependencies in the east, Naaran, Gezer and its towns to the west, and Shechem and its towns stretching as far as Ayyah and its associated settlements. This verse describes the actual dwelling places and inherited territories allotted to Ephraim, emphasizing the fulfillment of God's promise to Israel regarding the land.

1 Chronicles 7 28 Context

1 Chronicles 7 focuses primarily on the genealogies of various tribes, specifically Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher, before briefly mentioning Levi (who had no tribal land). This chapter, following the comprehensive genealogical records in chapters 1-9, emphasizes the legitimate lineage and territorial claims of these tribes. Verses 20-27 meticulously list the descendants of Ephraim, concluding with Joshua, an essential figure who led Israel into the Promised Land. Verse 28, therefore, naturally follows the lineage, illustrating the materialization of God's promises in the form of actual land ownership and settlement for Ephraim's descendants. This particular list of cities serves to delineate the boundaries and key centers of Ephraim's "possessions and habitations," reinforcing their divinely granted inheritance. Historically and culturally, the accurate documentation of tribal territories was vital in ancient Israel, serving as a legal record for inheritance, identity, and tribal sovereignty. This attention to detail reflects the Chronicler's broader purpose of reaffirming God's faithfulness to His covenant promises and demonstrating the stability of the Israelite community, even in a post-exilic context where identity and land ownership were critical concerns.

1 Chronicles 7 28 Word analysis

• And their possessions and habitations:
  • And their possessions: From Hebrew achuzzatam (אֲחֻזָּתָם). Achuzzah signifies a permanent holding, an inheritance, an unalienable property right, especially concerning land. It points to a secured, legitimate claim over territory. This is not temporary occupancy but permanent ownership, divinely granted.
  • and habitations: From Hebrew umoshvotham (וּמֹשְׁבֹתָם). Moshav refers to a dwelling place, a settled residence, indicating the actual places where people live and dwell. Together with achuzzatam, it stresses both the legal ownership and the physical occupancy of the land by Ephraim.
• were Bethel and its towns,
  • Bethel: Hebrew Beit-'El (בֵּית־אֵל), meaning "House of God." A city of profound spiritual significance (Jacob's ladder, Gen 28:10-22), serving as a crucial religious and geographic marker.
  • its towns: From Hebrew u’venoteha (וּבְנֹתֶיהָ), literally "and her daughters." This common idiom in biblical geography refers to the smaller villages or dependent settlements surrounding a major city, indicating the influence and dominion of the primary city over its region.
• and to the east Naaran,
  • Naaran: Hebrew Na'aran (נַעֲרָן). Likely corresponds to Naarah (Josh 16:7), situated near Jericho, indicating the eastern extent of Ephraim's territory, moving towards the Jordan valley. Its position is given relative to other listed cities, pinpointing an important border.
• and to the west Gezer with its towns,
  • Gezer: Hebrew Gezer (גֶּזֶר). A historically strategic Canaanite city on the coastal plain, later strongly fortified (Josh 10:33, 1 Kgs 9:16). Though Ephraim did not fully dispossess the Canaanites from Gezer (Judg 1:29), its inclusion here implies Ephraim's ultimate control or claim over the territory in which Gezer was situated.
• Shechem also and its towns,
  • Shechem: Hebrew Shechem (שְׁכֶם). A deeply significant site in Israelite history, where Abraham first built an altar (Gen 12:6-7) and where Joshua gathered Israel for covenant renewal (Josh 24). It was centrally located within Ephraim's heartland.
• as far as Ayyah with its towns;
  • Ayyah: Hebrew Ayyah (עַיָּה). This city, also appearing as "Ai" (Neh 11:31), marks the final geographical point, establishing a northern or central boundary for Ephraim, often connected to a town of similar name but distinct from the Ai conquered by Joshua in Benjamin's territory. It serves to further define the limits of Ephraim's dominion.

1 Chronicles 7 28 Bonus section

The detailed city list in 1 Chronicles 7:28 (and similar lists elsewhere in 1 Chronicles and Joshua) highlights a core theological point of the Chronicler: the persistent faithfulness of God. Even amidst historical failures or periods of loss (like the exile), these meticulous records of tribal lands and genealogies served to affirm that God's covenant promises (especially concerning the land and a secure dwelling for His people) remained valid and had, in large part, been fulfilled. This provided hope and continuity for a community looking back to their heritage and forward to restoration. Furthermore, the inclusion of "towns" or "daughters" with each major city implies a concept of comprehensive control over the regional sphere, not just isolated fortresses. This echoes God's intention for His people to possess the entire breadth of the land He swore to give them, establishing secure and broad areas of settlement.

1 Chronicles 7 28 Commentary

1 Chronicles 7:28 serves as a concise yet powerful testament to the fulfillment of God's land promises to Israel, specifically through the inheritance of the tribe of Ephraim. Following a detailed lineage, this verse maps out the tangible realization of their tribal identity: settled possession of their God-given territory. The mention of specific cities—Bethel, Gezer, Shechem, Naaran, and Ayyah—underscores the concreteness of this inheritance. Each city held significant historical or strategic importance, anchoring Ephraim's domain within the larger geography of the Promised Land. Even the inclusion of Gezer, a city not fully conquered by Ephraim initially, highlights that the Chronicler presents an ideal or achieved state of tribal claim, consistent with the perspective of God's covenant faithfulness being paramount. The term "possessions and habitations" reinforces the duality of both legal right (ownership) and practical reality (dwelling) in the land, illustrating how God's divine pledge transformed into physical reality for His people. This record was crucial for post-exilic Israel to remember their divine heritage and the ongoing reliability of God's word concerning their place in the land.