This chapter is a short record of some of the heads of the tribes of Israel highlighting the noteworthy descendants of six of the twelve tribes of Israel: Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher.

Verses 1-5 – The descendants of Issachar. The ninth son of Jacob. The name can mean “There is a reward” or “His reward will come.” They were mighty warriors. Under David, there were 22,600 of them. There were 87,000 of these mighty warriors that were recorded in the genealogy.

Verses 6-12 – The descendant of Benjamin. The youngest son of Jacob. The name is literally “son of my right hand.” It means “ravenous wolf.” The men of Benjamin were mighty warriors like Issachar. In the genealogical records, there were of these warriors from the sons of Benjamin were 22,034, and the sons of Beker were 20,200, and 17,200 of the sons of Jediael were ready to go to war.

Verses 13 – The descendants of Naphtali. Naphtali is the sixth son of Jacob. His name can mean “my struggle,” “my strife,” or “wrestling.” Nothing much was said about them nor were there any description of the tribe.

Verses 14-19 - The descendants of Manasseh. One of the sons of Joseph that his grandfather Jacob blessed. His name means “God has made me forget.” The tribe of Manasseh was divided into two groups.

Verses 20-29 – The Descendants of Ephraim. The other sons of Joseph whom Jacob his grandfather blessed. In Jacob’s blessing, His name means “to be fruitful.” Ephraim the younger son of Joseph was blessed by his grandfather with his right hand which he “switched” from Manasseh’s head when Joseph purposefully placed his father’s right hand on Manasseh’s head and his left hand on Ephraim’s head.

Verse 30-40 -The descendants of Asher. He is the eighth son of Jacob born through Leah’s servant Zilpah. Leah was happy that a son was born to Jacob through her. Asher’s name means “happiness.” They were mighty warriors and in the genealogy record, there were 26,000 of these fighting men.

In verse 24, Ephraim, “His daughter was Sheerah, who built both Lower and Upper Beth-Horon, and Uzzen-Sheerah.” Sheerah the daughter of Ephraim built not one but three cities when women in those times were considered the property of their husbands, Sheerah as a woman of her times who was told to listen and not to speak yet was able to build these cities.

The list of prominent men and mighty warriors listed in this chapter cannot stand up to this single woman who built three cities. Therefore, we must not underestimate ourselves especially if we are a woman to be used by God to contribute to those around us. May we be willing to let God use us in the building of His people in whatever ways He wants of us!

Prayer : O Lord, I will be open and willing to be used by You to build the body of Christ to bring glory and honor to Your Name. I will not underestimate myself or how You can use me O Lord, I pray!