서론
無標題
英文原文
In this chapter we have some account of the genealogies, I. Of Issachar, 1Ch 7:1-5. II. Of Benjamin, 1Ch 7:6-12. III. Of Naphtali, 1Ch 7:13. IV. Of Manasseh, 1Ch 7:14-19. V. Of Ephraim, 1Ch 7:20-29. VI. Of Asher, 1Ch 7:30-40. Here is no account either of Zebulun or Dan. Why they only should be omitted we can assign no reason; only it is the disgrace of the tribe of Dan that idolatry began in that colony of the Danites which fixed in Laish, and called Dan, and there one of the golden calves was set up by Jeroboam. Dan is omitted, Re 7:4-8
1-19
Genealogies (1689 BC)
家譜（主前 1689 年）
¹ 以薩迦的兒子是陀拉、普瓦、雅述、伸崙，共四人。 ² 陀拉的兒子是烏西、利法雅、耶勒、雅買、伊伯施、示母利，都是陀拉的族長，是大能的勇士；到了大衛年間，他們的人數共有二萬二千六百名。 ³ 烏西的兒子是伊斯拉希；伊斯拉希的兒子是米迦勒、俄巴底、約珥、伊示雅，共五人，都是族長。 ⁴ 他們之外，照著宗族、按著父家計算，還有率領軍隊打仗的大能勇士，共有三萬六千人；因為他們的妻子和兒子很多。 ⁵ 他們的弟兄在以薩迦各族中，都是大能的勇士，按著家譜計算，共有八萬七千人。 ⁶ 便雅憫的兒子是比拉、比結、耶疊，共三人。 ⁷ 比拉的兒子是以斯本、烏西、烏薛、耶利摩、以利，共五人，都是宗族的族長，是大能的勇士；按著家譜計算，共有二萬二千零三十四人。 ⁸ 比結的兒子是細米拉、約阿施、以利以謝、以利約乃、暗利、耶利摩、亞比雅、亞拿突、亞拉米。這都是比結的兒子。 ⁹ 按著家譜計算，他們的數目，按著宗族、按著父家作族長的、大能的勇士，共有二萬零二百人。 ¹⁰ 耶疊的兒子是比罕；比罕的兒子是耶烏施、便雅憫、以忽、基拿拿、細坦、他施、亞希沙哈。 ¹¹ 這都是耶疊的兒子，照著父家作族長，是大能的勇士，共一萬七千二百人，能出去打仗。 ¹² 還有書品、戶平，都是伊的兒子；又有亞黑的兒子戶伸。 ¹³ 拿弗他利的兒子是雅薛、沽尼、耶色、沙龍，都是辟拉的子孫。 ¹⁴ 瑪拿西的兒子亞斯列，是他瑪迦夫人所生的；（瑪拿西的妾亞蘭人生了基列之父瑪吉； ¹⁵ 瑪吉娶了戶平、書平的妹子為妻，這妹子的名字叫瑪迦；）瑪拿西次子的名字叫西羅非哈；西羅非哈只有女兒。 ¹⁶ 瑪吉的妻瑪迦生了一個兒子，起名叫毗利施；他兄弟的名字叫示利施；示利施的兒子是烏蘭和利金。 ¹⁷ 烏蘭的兒子是比但。這都是基列的兒子；基列是瑪吉的兒子；瑪吉是瑪拿西的兒子。 ¹⁸ 基列的妹子哈摩利吉生了伊施荷、亞比以謝、瑪拉。 ¹⁹ 示米大的兒子是亞希安、示劍、勒克、亞尼安。
我們在此可以看到一個簡短的概覽：
一、以薩迦支派。雅各曾將這支派比作「強壯的驢，臥在羊圈之間」（創四十九14），是個勤勞的支派，專心於農務，並「在他帳棚裏可以快樂」（申三十三18）。這裏顯明，1. 這是個人數眾多的支派；因為他們有許多妻子。他們的地土如此肥沃，以至於不愁牧場過度放牧；百姓又如此勤巧，以至於人人都有工可作。只要不容人閒懶，便不必抱怨人數太多。2. 這是個勇武的支派，「大能的勇士」（代上七2、5），「都是族長」（代上七3）。那些慣於勞作和辦事的人，到了必要的時候，最適合為國效力。各家族的人數，乃是大衛年間所統計的，總數超過十四萬五千名能上陣的勇士。有人認為這統計是約押數點百姓之時所進行的（撒下二十四1-25）。但我倒認為它指的是另一項統計，也許是他們內部自行作的，因為經上說（代上二十七24）那次統計因為得罪了神，並沒有記在大衛王的年代誌上。
二、便雅憫支派。此處對這支派有簡略記載，但下一章記載得更為詳盡。這支派的常備軍幾乎不超過六萬人；但他們被稱為「大能的勇士」（代上七7、9、11）。「便雅憫是個撕掠的狼」（創四十九27）。這支派的尊榮在於它產生了第一位君王掃羅；而更值得誇耀的是，當其他支派叛離之時，它仍然忠於大衛家正統的君王。此處提到（代上七12）「亞黑的兒子戶伸」。但的兒子據說是「戶伸」（創四十六23），因此有人將「亞黑」按其字面意義譯作形容詞理解──「戶伸──另一個（雅各兒子）的兒子」，或是「外人的兒子」──這是以色列人不當有的身分，但當但人在他們中間設立了米迦的雕刻偶像和鑄像之時，他們便成了這樣的人。
三、拿弗他利支派（代上七13）。此處只記載了這支派的先祖，與我們在創四十六24所見相同，只是那裏的「示冷」，此處作「沙龍」。他們的後代沒有被記下，也許是因為他們的家譜已經失傳了。
四、瑪拿西支派，即住在約但河以內的那一部分；因為另一部分我們在前文已有一些記載（代上五23-26等）。關於這支派當留意，1. 其中一人娶了亞蘭人為妻（代上七14）。這事發生在他們寄居埃及為奴之時，可見他們與外邦混雜之早。2. 雖然父親娶了亞蘭人，那婚姻所生的兒子瑪吉──也許是因為在自己父家看見了這樁婚姻的不便之處──卻娶了便雅憫支派的一個女兒為妻（代上七15）。兒女能因父親的錯失而受警惕，不在同一塊石頭上絆倒，這是好的。3. 此處提到比但（代上七17），他也许就是撒母耳記上十二11所提及作以色列拯救者之一的比但。瑪拿西支派的睚珥（士十3）也許就是此人。
英文原文
Genealogies (1689 BC)
¹ Now the sons of Issachar were, Tola, and Puah, Jashub, and Shimron, four.
² And the sons of Tola; Uzzi, and Rephaiah, and Jeriel, and Jahmai, and Jibsam, and Shemuel, heads of their father's house, to wit, of Tola: they were valiant men of might in their generations; whose number was in the days of David two and twenty thousand and six hundred.
³ And the sons of Uzzi; Izrahiah: and the sons of Izrahiah; Michael, and Obadiah, and Joel, Ishiah, five: all of them chief men.
⁴ 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.
⁵ And their brethren among all the families of Issachar were valiant men of might, reckoned in all by their genealogies fourscore and seven thousand.
⁶ The sons of Benjamin; Bela, and Becher, and Jediael, three.
⁷ And the sons of Bela; Ezbon, and Uzzi, and Uzziel, and Jerimoth, and Iri, five; heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour; and were reckoned by their genealogies twenty and two thousand and thirty and four.
⁸ And the sons of Becher; Zemira, and Joash, and Eliezer, and Elioenai, and Omri, and Jerimoth, and Abiah, and Anathoth, and Alameth. All these are the sons of Becher.
⁹ And the number of them, after their genealogy by their generations, heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valour, was twenty thousand and two hundred.
¹⁰ The sons also of Jediael; Bilhan: and the sons of Bilhan; Jeush, and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah, and Zethan, and Tharshish, and Ahishahar.
¹¹ All these the sons of Jediael, by the heads of their fathers, mighty men of valour, were seventeen thousand and two hundred soldiers, fit to go out for war and battle.
¹² Shuppim also, and Huppim, the children of Ir, and Hushim, the sons of Aher.
¹³ The sons of Naphtali; Jahziel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.
¹⁴ The sons of Manasseh; Ashriel, whom she bare: (but his concubine the Aramitess bare Machir the father of Gilead:
¹⁵ And Machir took to wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister's name was Maachah;) and the name of the second was Zelophehad: and Zelophehad had daughters.
¹⁶ And Maachah the wife of Machir bare a son, and she called his name Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.
¹⁷ And the sons of Ulam; Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.
¹⁸ And his sister Hammoleketh bare Ishod, and Abiezer, and Mahalah.
¹⁹ And the sons of Shemida were, Ahian, and Shechem, and Likhi, and Aniam.
We have here a short view given us,
I. Of the tribe of Issachar, whom Jacob had compared to a strong ass, couching between two burdens (Ge 49:14), an industrious tribe, that minded their country business very closely and rejoiced in their tents, De 33:18. And here it appears, 1. That they were a numerous tribe; for they had many wives. So fruitful their country was that they saw no danger of over-stocking the pasture, and so ingenious the people were that they could find work for all hands. Let no people complain of their numbers, provided they suffer none to be idle. 2. That they were a valiant tribe, men of might (1Ch 7:2,5), chief men, 1Ch 7:3. Those that were inured to labour and business were of all men the fittest to serve their country when there was occasion, The number of the respective families, as taken in the days of David, is here set down, amounting in the whole to above 145,000 men fit for war. The account, some think, was taken when Joab numbered the people, 2Sa 24:1-25 But I rather think it refers to some other computation that was made, perhaps among themselves, because it is said (1Ch 27:24) that that account was not inserted in the chronicles of king David, it having offended God.
II. Of the tribe of Benjamin. Some account is here given of this tribe, but much larger in the next chapter. The militia of this tribe scarcely reached to 60,000; but they are said to be mighty men of valour, 1Ch 7:7,9,11. Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf, Ge 49:27. It was the honour of this tribe that it produced Saul the first king, and more its honour that it adhered to the rightful kings of the house of David when the other tribes revolted. Here is mention (1Ch 7:12) of Hushim the sons of Aher. The sons of Dan are said to be Hushim (Ge 46:23), and therefore some read Aher appellatively, Hushim—the sons of another (that is, another of Jacob's sons) or the sons of a stranger, which Israelites should not be, but such the Danites were when they set up Micah's graven and molten image among them.
III. Of the tribe of Naphtali, 1Ch 7:13. The first fathers only of that tribe are named, the very same that we shall find, Ge 46:24, only that Shillem there is Shallum here. None of their descendents are named, perhaps because their genealogies were lost.
IV. Of the tribe of Manasseh, that part of it which was seated within Jordan; for of the other part we had some account before, 1Ch 5:23-26, etc. Of this tribe observe, 1. That one of them married an Aramitess, that is, a Syrian, 1Ch 7:14. This was during their bondage in Egypt, so early did they begin to mingle with the nations. 2. That, though the father married a Syrian, Machir, the son of that marriage, perhaps seeing the inconvenience of it in his father's house, took to wife a daughter of Benjamin, 1Ch 7:15. It is good for the children to take warning by their father's mistakes and not stumble at the same stone. 3. Here is mention of Bedan (1Ch 7:17), who perhaps is the same with that Bedan who is mentioned as one of Israel's deliverers, 1Sa 12:11. Jair perhaps, who was of Manasseh (Jdg 10:3), was the man.
20-40
Genealogies (1630 BC)
家譜（主前 1630 年）
²⁰ 以法蓮的兒子是書提拉；書提拉的兒子是比列；比列的兒子是他哈；他哈的兒子是以拉大；以拉大的兒子是他哈； ²¹ 他哈的兒子是撒拔；撒拔的兒子是書提拉。又有以謝、以列；這二人被那地的本地人迦特人殺了，因為他們下去要奪他們的牲畜。 ²² 他們的父親以法蓮為他們悲哀多日，他的弟兄都來安慰他。 ²³ 他與妻子同房，妻子就懷孕，生了一個兒子；他給他起名叫比利亞，因為他家遭了患難。 ²⁴ （他的女兒是舍伊拉，就是建造上伯和崙、下伯和崙、和烏羨舍伊拉的。） ²⁵ 利法是他的兒子，利悉也是；他的兒子是他拉；他拉的兒子是他罕； ²⁶ 他罕的兒子是拉但；拉但的兒子是亞米忽；亞米忽的兒子是以利沙瑪； ²⁷ 以利沙瑪的兒子是嫩；嫩的兒子是約書亞。 ²⁸ 他們的產業和住處是伯利恆和屬伯利恆的村莊；向東是拿蘭，向西是迦色和屬迦色的村莊；又有示劍和屬示劍的村莊，直到迦薩和屬迦薩的村莊。 ²⁹ 靠近瑪拿西人的邊界，有伯善和屬伯善的村莊、他納和屬他納的村莊、米吉多和屬米吉多的村莊、多珥和屬多珥的村莊。以色列的兒子約瑟的子孫就住在這些地方。 ³⁰ 亞設的兒子是音拿、亦施瓦、亦施韋、比利亞，又有他們的妹子西拉。 ³¹ 比利亞的兒子是希別、瑪結；瑪結就是比撒威之父。 ³² 希別生雅弗勒、示米、何坦，又有一個妹子書雅。 ³³ 雅弗勒的兒子是巴薩、賓哈、亞斯瓦。這都是雅弗勒的兒女。 ³⁴ 示米的兒子是亞希、羅迦、耶戶巴、亞蘭。 ³⁵ 他兄弟希連的兒子是瑣法、音那、示利施、亞抹。 ³⁶ 瑣法的兒子是蘇亞、哈尼弗、書阿、比利、音拉， ³⁷ 比瑟、朔得、沙瑪、施拉、益蘭、比拉。 ³⁸ 益帖的兒子是耶孚尼、毗斯巴、亞拉。 ³⁹ 烏拉的兒子是亞拉、哈尼業、利細雅。 ⁴⁰ 這些都是亞設的兒子，都是宗族的族長，是精選大能的勇士，是首領中的首領。按家譜計算，能上陣打仗的共有二萬六千人。
我們在此讀到：
一、以法蓮支派。這支派成熟之時，我們讀到關於它的大事。此處我們讀到它在幼年時期所遭遇的災難──那時看來是在埃及；因為這些事發生之時，以法蓮本人還活着；然而若按此處計算已有七代，這便難以想像。所以我傾向於認為，那不是另一位以法蓮，就是被殺的人乃是以法蓮──約瑟的兒子──的親生兒子。這段記載只見於此處，其中我們讀到：1. 以法蓮家族所受的極大打擊。迦特人──非利士人、巨人──殺了那家族中許多兒子，「因為他們下去要奪他們的牲畜」（代上七21）。這裏誰先動手，不得而知。有人認為迦特人是侵犯者──那些「生在那地」（埃及）的人，如今住在迦特；他們下到歌珊地，要趕走以法蓮人的牲畜，又因牲畜的主人起來保護，便將他們殺了。許多人的性命因自己的財富而被暴露、被斷送；財富實在算不得堅固的城。另有人認為是以法蓮人下到迦特人那裏去搶掠，以為他們得迦南為業的時候已到；卻因他們的急躁和魯莽而付出了慘重的代價。凡不願等候神時間的人，不能指望神的賜福。我倒認為是迦特人下來攻擊以法蓮人，因為以色列人在埃及是牧人，不是兵卒，自己牲畜繁多，不太可能為鄰舍的牲畜冒生命危險；而且經文可以讀作：「迦特人殺了他們，因為他們（迦特人）下來要奪他們的牲畜。」以法蓮的孫子撒拔、書提拉、以謝、以列，照萊特富特博士的看法，就是被殺的人。雅各曾預言以法蓮的後裔將成為「多族」（創四十八19），然而那植物竟在萌芽之時便被摘掉。神的護理常常似乎與他的應許相悖；但當如此之時，實際上是在高舉應許，使應許的成就在這情形下更加輝煌。以法蓮人是約瑟的後裔，然而約瑟的權勢卻不能保護他們──雖然有人認為約瑟那時還活着。刀劍吞滅此人也吞滅那人。2. 這位家族之父因此所受的極大悲痛：「以法蓮為他們悲哀多日。」沒有甚麼比白髮人送黑髮人更使老年人悲傷地進入墳墓，尤其是若死於血泊之中。活到老年的人常有的重擔，就是看見那些他們曾說「這些人將要安慰我們」的人先他們而去。他的弟兄來「安慰他」，這是兄弟般友愛之舉，向他表達同情和關懷，並向他提出一些能在這悲傷的護理之下支持他、使他安靜的話。也許他們提醒他，雅各當日將右手按在他頭上祝福他時所賜的「增多」之應許。雖然他的家並不如他所盼望的那樣蒙神賜福，反而成了悲哀之家、破碎之家，但那應許卻是確定的（撒下二十三5）。3. 這項打擊在某種程度上的補救──在他年老之時，家族中又添了一個兒子（代上七23），正如塞特代替了該隱所殺的亞伯──「另一個苗裔」（創四25）。當神如此將安慰賜給他的哀傷者，「使他們因受苦的日子得著喜樂」，將恩慈擺在苦難的對面，我們就當在其中留意神護理的恩慈和體恤；彷彿「神為他的僕人後悔了」（詩九十13、15）。然而因家中添了一個人而得的喜樂，並不能使他忘記憂傷；因為他給兒子起了一個憂鬱的名字──「比利亞」──「在患難中」，因為他出生時家族正在哀悼，「他家遭了患難」。記念困苦和患難、苦艾和茵陳，是好的，好叫我們的心「在我們裏面謙卑」（哀三19、20）。對於「婦人所生的人」，還有甚麼名字比「比利亞」更恰當呢？因為他生到這個多災多難的世界。經上又加上一筆，作為以法蓮家族的進一步尊榮：（1）這支派中有一位女子，名叫「舍伊拉」，在以色列人定居迦南之時，建造了幾座城──或由她出資，或由她親自主持；其中一座以她的名字命名，叫「烏羨舍伊拉」（代上七24）。一個有德的女子對一個家族而言，可能如同勇士一樣，是極大的尊榮和祝福。（2）這支派中有一位被用在征服迦南的事上，就是「嫩的兒子約書亞」（代上七27）。以法蓮家族所受的打擊，也因此得到了進一步的補救；也許從前迦南人加於以法蓮人的這項傷害，使他更加在爭戰中踴躍。
二、亞設支派。此處記載了這支派中幾位名人。它的民兵與其他支派相比並不算多，總共只有二萬六千人；但他們的首領是「精選大能的勇士，是首領中的首領」（代上七40）；也許他們的智慧正在於不求擴大常備軍的人數，而是寧可人數少些，卻都是善於爭戰、可用之人。
英文原文
Genealogies (1630 BC)
²⁰ And the sons of Ephraim; Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eladah his son, and Tahath his son,
²¹ And Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in that land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.
²² And Ephraim their father mourned many days, and his brethren came to comfort him.
²³ And when he went in to his wife, she conceived, and bare a son, and he called his name Beriah, because it went evil with his house.
²⁴ (And his daughter was Sherah, who built Beth-horon the nether, and the upper, and Uzzen-sherah.)
²⁵ And Rephah was his son, also Resheph, and Telah his son, and Tahan his son,
²⁶ Laadan his son, Ammihud his son, Elishama his son,
²⁷ Non his son, Jehoshua his son.
²⁸ 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:
²⁹ And by the borders of the children of Manasseh, Beth-shean 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.
³⁰ The sons of Asher; Imnah, and Isuah, and Ishuai, and Beriah, and Serah their sister.
³¹ And the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel, who is the father of Birzavith.
³² And Heber begat Japhlet, and Shomer, and Hotham, and Shua their sister.
³³ And the sons of Japhlet; Pasach, and Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet.
³⁴ And the sons of Shamer; Ahi, and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram.
³⁵ And the sons of his brother Helem; Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal.
³⁶ The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah,
³⁷ Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran, and Beera.
³⁸ And the sons of Jether; Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara.
³⁹ And the sons of Ulla; Arah, and Haniel, and Rezia.
⁴⁰ All these were the children of Asher, heads of their father's house, choice and mighty men of valour, chief of the princes. And the number throughout the genealogy of them that were apt to the war and to battle was twenty and six thousand men.
We have here an account,
I. Of the tribe of Ephraim. Great things we read of that tribe when it came to maturity. Here we have an account of the disasters of its infancy, while it was in Egypt as it should seem; for Ephraim himself was alive when those things were done, which yet is hard to imagine if it were, as is here computed, seven generations off. Therefore I am apt to think that either it was another Ephraim or that those who were slain were the immediate sons of that Ephraim that was the son of Joseph. In this passage, which is related here only, we have, 1. The great breach that was made upon the family of Ephraim. The men of Gath, Philistines, giants, slew many of the sons of that family, because they came down to take away their cattle, 1Ch 7:21. It is uncertain who were the aggressors here. Some make the men of Gath the aggressors, men born in the land of Egypt, but now resident in Gath, supposing that they came down into the land of Goshen, to drive away the Ephraimites' cattle, and slew the owners, because they stood up in the defence of them. Many a man's life has been exposed and betrayed by his wealth; so far is it from being a strong city. Others think that the Ephraimites made a descent upon the men of Gath to plunder them, presuming that the time had come when they should be put in possession of Canaan; but they paid dearly for their rashness and precipitation. Those that will not wait God's time cannot expect God's blessing. I rather think that the men of Gath came down upon the Ephraimites, because the Israelites in Egypt were shepherds, not soldiers, abounded in cattle of their own, and therefore were not likely to venture their lives for their neighbours' cattle: and the words may be read, The men of Gath slew them, for they came down to take away their cattle. Zabad the son of Ephraim, and Shuthelah, and Ezer, and Elead (his grandchildren), were, as Dr. Lightfoot thinks, the men that were slain. Jacob had foretold that the seed of Ephraim should become a multitude of nations (Ge 48:19), and yet that plant is thus nipped in the bud. God's providences often seem to contradict his promises; but, when they do so, they really magnify the promise, and make the performance of it, notwithstanding, so much more illustrious. The Ephraimites were the posterity of Joseph, and yet his power could not protect them, though some think he was yet living. The sword devours one as well as another. 2. The great grief which oppressed the father of the family hereupon: Ephraim mourned many days. Nothing brings the aged to the grave with more sorrow than their following the young that descend from them to the grave first, especially if in blood. It is often the burden of those that live to be old that they see those go before them of whom they said, These same shall comfort us. It was a brotherly friendly office which his brethren did, when they came to comfort him under this great affliction, to express their sympathy with him and concern for him, and to suggest that to him which would support and quiet him under this sad providence. Probably they reminded him of the promise of increase which Jacob had blessed him when he laid his right hand upon his head. Although his house was not so with God as he hoped, but a house of mourning, a shattered family, yet that promise was sure, 2Sa 23:5. 3. The repair of this breach, in some measure, by addition of another son to his family in his old age (1Ch 7:23), like Seth, another seed instead of that of Abel whom Cain slew, Ge 4:25. When God thus restores comfort to his mourners, makes glad according to the days wherein he afflicted, setting the mercies over against the crosses, we ought therein to take notice of the kindness and tenderness of divine Providence; it is as if it repented God concerning his servants, Ps 90:13,15. Yet joy that a man was born into his family could not make him forget his grief; for he gives a melancholy name to his son, Beriah—in trouble, for he was born when the family was in mourning, when it went evil with his house. It is good to have in remembrance the affliction and the misery, the wormwood and the gall, that our souls may be humbled within us, La 3:19,20. What name more proper for man that is born of a woman than Beriah, because born into a troublesome world? It is added, as a further honour to the house of Ephraim, (1.) That a daughter of that tribe, Sherah by name, at the time of Israel's setting in Canaan, built some cities, either at her own charge or by her own care; one of them bore her name, Uzzen-sherah, 1Ch 7:24. A virtuous woman may be as great an honour and blessing to a family as a mighty man. (2.) That a son of that tribe was employed in the conquest of Canaan, Joshua the son of Nun, 1Ch 7:27. In this also the breach made on Ephraim's family was further repaired; and perhaps the resentment of this injury formerly done by the Canaanites to the Ephraimites might make him more vigorous in the war.
II. Of the tribe of Asher. Some men of note of that tribe are here named. Their militia was not numerous in comparison with some other tribes, only 26,000 men in all; but their princes were choice and mighty men of valour, chief of the princes (1Ch 7:40), and perhaps it was their wisdom that they coveted not to make their trained bands numerous, but rather to have a few, and those apt to the war and serviceable men.
本章我們讀到一些支派家譜的記述：一、以薩迦（代上七1–5）。二、便雅憫（代上七6–12）。三、拿弗他利（代上七13）。四、瑪拿西（代上七14–19）。五、以法蓮（代上七20–29）。六、亞設（代上七30–40）。此處沒有記載西布倫或但的家譜。為何單單這兩個支派被略去，我們不能指出原因；只是但支派的恥辱在於：偶像崇拜正是從那批在拉億定居、稱之為但的但人殖民之地開始的，耶羅波安在那裏設立了金牛犢之一。在啟示錄七章4至8節中，但支派也被略去。