1 Chronicles 7:4 kjv
And with them, by their generations, after the house of their fathers, were bands of soldiers for war, six and thirty thousand men: for they had many wives and sons.
1 Chronicles 7:4 nkjv
And with them, by their generations, according to their fathers' houses, were thirty-six thousand troops ready for war; for they had many wives and sons.
1 Chronicles 7:4 niv
According to their family genealogy, they had 36,000 men ready for battle, for they had many wives and children.
1 Chronicles 7:4 esv
And along with them, by their generations, according to their fathers' houses, were units of the army for war, 36,000, for they had many wives and sons.
1 Chronicles 7:4 nlt
All of them had many wives and many sons, so the total number of men available for military service among their descendants was 36,000.
1 Chronicles 7 4 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference (Point) |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 13:16 | "I will make your offspring as the dust of the earth..." | Promise of innumerable descendants. |
| Gen 15:5 | "Look toward heaven, and count the stars... So shall your offspring be." | Covenant promise of vast posterity. |
| Gen 22:17 | "...I will multiply your offspring as the stars...and as the sand..." | Abrahamic blessing of multiplied descendants. |
| Num 1:3 | "...number all the able-bodied men twenty years old or more..." | Census for military service. |
| Num 1:29 | "...from Issachar, their registered men were 54,400." | Earlier tribal census showing large numbers. |
| Num 26:23 | "The clans of Issachar: Tola... Puvah... Jashub... Shimron." | Names key clans within Issachar's lineage. |
| Deut 1:10 | "The Lord your God has multiplied you, so that today you are as numerous as the stars of heaven." | Divine blessing leading to population growth. |
| Deut 17:17 | "He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray." | Caution against kings having many wives. |
| 1 Sam 8:12 | "He will make them serve as commanders of thousands and commanders of fifties..." | King's need for military leadership. |
| 2 Sam 24:9 | "...Israel had 800,000 fighting men...Judah had 500,000." | Account of a national military census. |
| 1 Chron 1:1-9:44 | "Adam, Seth, Enosh...Issachar..." | Extensive genealogies forming the book's foundation. |
| 1 Chron 5:18 | "The Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh...were valiant men, expert in war..." | Example of tribal military strength and skill. |
| 1 Chron 7:2 | "The sons of Tola: Uzzi, Rephaiah, Jeriel, Jahmai, Ibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their fathers’ households..." | Immediate context naming Tola's descendants. |
| 1 Chron 7:5 | "All of them, from Issachar, were valiant warriors...men registered for battle, numbering 87,000." | Total military strength of Issachar. |
| 1 Chron 7:9 | "All these were heads of fathers’ households from their families, valiant warriors..." | Reinforces the importance of strong family units. |
| 1 Chron 12:32 | "From Issachar, men who understood the times..." | Issachar's characteristic wisdom and foresight. |
| 1 Chron 27:1 | "Now this is the roster of the people of Israel..." | Further details on military organization. |
| Psa 127:3-5 | "Children are a heritage from the Lord...Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth." | Prolific offspring seen as a blessing and strength. |
| Prov 14:28 | "In a multitude of people is the glory of a king, but without subjects a prince is ruined." | Significance of population size for national strength. |
| Isa 9:7 | "Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end..." | Prophetic increase in a ruler's domain. |
| Jer 30:19 | "I will multiply them, and they will not be few..." | Promise of future national multiplication. |
| Eze 37:10 | "...a vast army." | Vision of a great multitude, perhaps spiritual or literal. |
| Heb 11:12 | "So from one man, and him as good as dead, descended as many as the stars..." | Affirmation of God's power to multiply. |
1 Chronicles 7 verses
1 Chronicles 7 4 Meaning
1 Chronicles 7:4 details that within the tribal lineage of Issachar, specifically a branch related to their ancestral households, there were numerous trained soldiers ready for battle, totaling thirty-six thousand men. This large military contingent is explicitly attributed to their practice of having many wives and, consequently, many sons, signifying the tribe's fruitfulness and formidable strength.
1 Chronicles 7 4 Context
1 Chronicles 7 is part of a series of genealogies that make up the initial chapters of the book, focusing on the tribes of Israel, primarily post-exile. These lists were vital for the returning exiles to re-establish their identity, tribal claims, and communal organization. Within this framework, 1 Chronicles 7 details the lineages of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher. The recurring emphasis in these chapters is not just on names, but often on the number of valiant warriors each family or tribe could field, signaling strength and preparedness for re-establishing the nation in the Promised Land. Verse 4 specifically highlights the prolific nature of certain Issacharite families as a source of military power, a crucial element for survival and prosperity in the ancient Near East.
1 Chronicles 7 4 Word analysis
- And with them: This phrase connects the specific group described to the lineage previously mentioned in 1 Chronicles 7:2-3, referring to the descendants of Tola, Issachar's firstborn son.
- by their generations (בְּתוֹלְדֹתָם, b'toldotam): Refers to the lineage, offspring, or genealogical sequence. It emphasizes continuity and the systematic tracking of descendants from ancestral roots. This word is foundational to the Chronicler's genealogical project.
- after the house of their fathers (לְבֵית אֲבוֹתָם, l'beit avotam): Points to the patriarchal family units or ancestral households as the organizing principle. In ancient Israel, identity, inheritance, and social structure revolved around these paternal houses. It underscores that military strength originated from within these established family lines.
- were bands of soldiers (צְבָא חָמוּשׁ, ts'va chāmûš): This translates to "armed host" or "armed army." It indicates organized groups of men equipped and prepared for military conflict. The focus is on active warriors, not just males.
- for war (לַמִּלְחָמָה, lamilchamah): Explicitly states their purpose. These were not just large numbers, but trained and equipped fighting men, highlighting a constant state of readiness.
- six and thirty thousand men (שִׁשָּׁה וּשְׁלֹשִׁים אֶלֶף אִישׁ, shishah u'shloshim elef ish): A specific census figure. This high number signifies considerable military potential, a source of tribal pride, and evidence of God's blessing. It stands out in contrast to other tribal counts in Chronicles 7, underscoring the remarkable fruitfulness of this specific Issacharite line.
- for they had many wives and sons (כִּי רַבּוּ לָהֶם נָשִׁים וּבָנִים, ki rabu lahem nashim u'vanim): This is the direct explanation given for the impressive numbers. "Many wives" (נָשִׁים רַבּוֹת) indicates the practice of polygamy. While the Torah has cautions regarding polygamy for kings, it was practiced among Israelites and viewed here through the pragmatic lens of increasing offspring, especially sons, who would become soldiers. This highlights a cultural value where large families contributed directly to tribal strength and perpetuation.
1 Chronicles 7 4 Bonus section
The Chronicler's focus on military registers (similar to Numbers chapters 1 and 26) suggests a particular interest in the functional aspects of the tribes for defense and national stability. These details served not only as historical records but also likely encouraged hope among the post-exilic community regarding their numerical strength and divine protection. The repeated references to "valiant warriors" and "heads of their fathers' households" throughout Chronicles 7 underscore the importance of both individual strength and organized familial units for the nation's well-being. The mention of polygamy, while not critiqued here, simply serves to explain the practical means of achieving the observed high population growth necessary for such military numbers, reflecting a pragmatic societal reality rather than a theological endorsement or condemnation.
1 Chronicles 7 4 Commentary
1 Chronicles 7:4 provides a specific and concise account of military strength within the tribe of Issachar, linking it directly to the cultural practice of having large families through multiple wives. The Chronicler's primary aim in detailing such genealogies, especially those including military rosters, was to demonstrate the vitality and continuous legacy of Israel post-exile. The mention of "bands of soldiers for war" indicates a formidable and organized fighting force. This verse highlights how population size and structure directly contributed to a tribe's ability to defend itself and potentially expand. The emphasis on "many wives and sons" is a practical acknowledgment of the method by which such numerous progeny were achieved in a patriarchal society, underscoring the direct correlation between procreation and military manpower in ancient Israel. This served as a testament to God's continued faithfulness in multiplying His people and providing them with strength for their inheritance and national purpose.