1 Chronicles 7: Group Study Handout

How to use: read 1 Chronicles 7 aloud together, then take the questions in order. One page is enough for an evening.

Overview

The sons of Issachar are Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron. Tola's descendants, including Uzzi and others, were mighty men of valor. They counted twenty-two thousand six hundred during David's reign (vv. 1-2). The sons of Benjamin include Bela, Becher, and Jediael, with Bela's descendants numbering twenty-two thousand thirty-four (vv. 6-9). Jediael's son Bilhan had seventeen thousand two hundred who could serve in the army (vv. 10-11). The sons of Naphtali were Jahziel, Guni, Jezer, and Shallum. Manasseh's lineage includes Machir and his children (vv. 13-19). Ephraim's sons were Shuthelah and Beriah; Ephraim mourned for the loss of his sons, and his daughter Sheerah built cities (vv. 20-24). The sons of Asher are listed, including Heber and Malchiel, with the total for service in war at twenty-six thousand men (vv. 30-40).

Key verse

“Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brothers came to comfort him.”
1 Chronicles 7:22 (WEB)

Outline

1 Chronicles 7:1–5 Sons of Issachar
1 Chronicles 7:6–12 Sons of Benjamin
1 Chronicles 7:13–19 Sons of Naphtali and Manasseh
1 Chronicles 7:20–29 Sons of Ephraim
1 Chronicles 7:30–40 Sons of Asher

Discussion questions

In v2, who are described as 'mighty men of valor'?
What act does Ephraim perform in v21 that leads to mourning?
In v24, how does Sheerah's action of building relate to her family's legacy?
What does the mention of Zelophehad's daughters in v15 suggest about inheritance practices?
When have you felt a strong connection to your family's history or lineage?

Go deeper

Passages that echo 1 Chronicles 7: Numbers 26, Genesis 46, Joshua 16.

Before next time: read 1 Chronicles 8.