1 Chronicles 7 29

1 Chronicles 7:29 kjv

And by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Bethshean 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.

1 Chronicles 7:29 nkjv

and by the borders of the children of Manasseh were 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.

1 Chronicles 7:29 niv

Along the borders of Manasseh were Beth Shan, Taanach, Megiddo and Dor, together with their villages. The descendants of Joseph son of Israel lived in these towns.

1 Chronicles 7:29 esv

also in possession of the Manassites, Beth-shean and its towns, Taanach and its towns, Megiddo and its towns, Dor and its towns. In these lived the sons of Joseph the son of Israel.

1 Chronicles 7:29 nlt

Along the border of Manasseh were the towns of Beth-shan, Taanach, Megiddo, Dor, and their surrounding villages. The descendants of Joseph son of Israel lived in these towns.

1 Chronicles 7 verses

1 Chronicles 7 29 Meaning

This verse details a list of territories, specifically towns and their surrounding settlements, that were inhabited by the descendants of Joseph – the combined tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh. It indicates their widespread presence and inheritance in strategic areas, particularly in the northern regions of the Promised Land, connecting directly to the promises of land and inheritance given to the patriarchs.

1 Chronicles 7 29 Context

1 Chronicles 7 is a comprehensive genealogical record focusing on the northern tribes of Israel: Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali (briefly), Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher. It serves to establish the lineage and territorial claims of these tribes, particularly significant for the post-exilic community. This verse, specifically, is part of a detailed description of the territories associated with the descendants of Ephraim and Manasseh (the sons of Joseph). While the tribe of Manasseh is split into eastern and western halves in other texts, 1 Chronicles 7 focuses on the western half's inheritance and the intertwined nature of Manasseh's and Ephraim's territorial claims, demonstrating their strong familial and geographical connection as "sons of Joseph." Historically, many of these cities like Beth Shan, Taanach, Megiddo, and Dor were strategic, controlling vital trade routes and valleys. Their occupation was often contested by other peoples (Canaanites, Philistines), indicating that the Chronicler, writing post-exile, might be emphasizing an idealized, God-given inheritance rather than a consistently held physical possession.

1 Chronicles 7 29 Word analysis

• And beside them: Implies continuity from the previously listed Ephraimite territories (1 Chr 7:28), suggesting additional areas settled by the same descendants.
• Geshur: (Hebrew: גְּשׁוּר, Geshur). A small Aramean kingdom east of the Jordan, but here mentioned in connection with Josephite territory, likely indicating a region bordering or within their sphere of influence in Transjordan. The mention of its inclusion signifies a broader reach of Josephite control or ancestral claim. David himself married a princess from Geshur (2 Sam 3:3).
• and its dependent villages: (Hebrew: בְּנֹותֶיהָ, bə·nō·ṯe·hā, literally "its daughters"). A common biblical idiom referring to smaller towns, hamlets, or satellite communities that were politically and economically subject to a main city. This highlights the extensive territorial control, encompassing not just the main urban centers but also their wider sphere of influence and agriculture.
• and the villages of Manasseh: Reinforces that these listings pertain specifically to the Manassite portion of Joseph's descendants, often intertwining with Ephraim's. It ensures clarity in tribal ownership within the larger Josephite context.
• Beth Shan: (Hebrew: בֵּית־שְׁאָן, Beit Shə'an). A strategically vital city in the eastern Jezreel Valley, controlling routes from the Jordan Valley to the coast. It was known for its fertility and ancient settlement. Historically, it was a strong Canaanite/Philistine city often not fully conquered by Israel (Jdg 1:27), yet listed here as part of their possession.
• Taanach: (Hebrew: תַּעְנַךְ, Ta'nakh). Another crucial city in the Jezreel Valley, west of Megiddo. Often a site of military confrontations (Jdg 5:19). Its listing emphasizes control over a significant part of the valley.
• Megiddo: (Hebrew: מְגִדּוֹ, Məḡiddō). A fortress city overlooking the western Jezreel Valley, famous for its strategic importance and numerous battles (Jdg 5:19, 2 Ki 23:29). Its name became synonymous with great battles (Armageddon in Revelation). Its inclusion denotes command over crucial crossroads.
• Dor: (Hebrew: דּוֹר, Dôr). An ancient Canaanite port city on the Mediterranean coast south of Mount Carmel. Control of Dor provided access to maritime trade routes. While initially not fully conquered by Manasseh (Jdg 1:27), the Chronicler's listing it implies an ideal, rightful possession.
• with their dependent villages: Applies collectively to Beth Shan, Taanach, Megiddo, and Dor, again signifying the full territorial control and influence extending beyond just the primary city.
• In these the sons of Joseph the son of Israel dwelt.: This concluding statement emphatically declares that these extensive territories were the permanent dwelling place (yaš·bū, to settle or inhabit) of the tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh, collectively "the sons of Joseph." The emphasis on "the son of Israel" (Jacob) roots their inheritance in the patriarchal promises, affirming their covenant right to the land.

1 Chronicles 7 29 Bonus section

The Chronicler's emphasis on detailed land allocation, especially for the northern tribes, is noteworthy as many of these territories had been lost or were controlled by foreign powers after the division of the kingdom or during the Assyrian deportations. This listing in Chronicles can be seen as an act of prophetic imagination or a statement of ideal covenant fulfillment rather than a precise contemporary geopolitical map. It functions as a powerful theological statement about divine promise and ownership. Furthermore, the recurrent phrase "its dependent villages" or "their dependent villages" illustrates a standard ancient Near Eastern urban structure where a central city governed a network of smaller agricultural or satellite communities. This organizational detail underscores the economic and administrative control implied by tribal inheritance. The Josephite claim to Geshur is intriguing, as Geshur was largely an Aramean entity, indicating either a border region or an aspirational claim based on previous periods of influence or historical memory of shared borders, potentially through intermarriage (like David and Maacah from Geshur).

1 Chronicles 7 29 Commentary

1 Chronicles 7:29, embedded within the extensive genealogies, provides a specific geographic and historical assertion: the territories of Geshur, Beth Shan, Taanach, Megiddo, and Dor, along with their surrounding settlements, were the dwelling places of the Josephite tribes (Ephraim and Manasseh). This declaration serves several key purposes for the Chronicler's post-exilic audience. Firstly, it reaffirms God's covenant faithfulness in granting land to Abraham's descendants, specifically to Joseph's sons, who effectively formed two tribes inheriting a double portion. Secondly, by listing these strategic and often contested cities (like Beth Shan, Taanach, and Megiddo, famous battlegrounds sometimes not fully conquered as per Judges 1), the Chronicler presents an idealized picture of Israelite possession, contrasting with the often-incomplete historical conquest. This would have provided hope and encouragement to the returning exiles, reminding them of their God-given heritage and legitimizing their claim to the land, regardless of current geopolitical realities. The inclusion of "dependent villages" signifies comprehensive control over regions, not just isolated cities, demonstrating the full extent of the divine promise and the tribes' ideal occupation. It underlines the belief that despite temporary setbacks or foreign domination, the land ultimately belonged to Israel by divine decree.