Lexical Summary Uzzen Sheerah: Uzzen Sheerah Original Word: אֻזֵּן שֶׁאֱרָה Strong's Exhaustive Concordance Uzzen-sherah From 'azan and She'erah; plat of Sheerah (i.e. Settled by him); Uzzen-Sheerah, a place in Palestine -- Uzzen-sherah. see HEBREW 'azan see HEBREW She'erah NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom azan and Sheerah Definition "portion of Sheerah," a place in Pal. NASB Translation Uzzen-sheerah (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs אֻזֵּן שֶׁאֱרָה proper name, of a location (portion — weighed & measured — of She'§ra, BlauZMG 1873, 296), place built by ׳שׁ, daughter of Ephraim 1 Chronicles 7:24. אֲזִקִּים see זקק. Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence Uzzen Sheerah appears once in Scripture, in 1 Chronicles 7:24: “His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon, as well as Uzzen Sheerah”. The verse places the town among the settlements of Ephraim’s descendants, linking it directly to the remarkable accomplishments of a woman whose engineering skill and faith are quietly honored in the genealogical record. Eponymous Founder: Sheerah Sheerah, a daughter of Ephraim, is singled out for founding three towns. Her role is exceptional in a patriarchal genealogy, underscoring that God’s purposes advance through both men and women who exercise faith and initiative. By naming a town after her, the chronicler preserves her legacy and signals the enduring impact of godly enterprise (compare Proverbs 31:31). Geographical Setting Lower and Upper Beth Horon sit on the ascent from the coastal plain to the hill country of Benjamin and Ephraim, commanding a key pass into the heartland of Israel. Uzzen Sheerah is mentioned alongside these sites, suggesting proximity within the same strategic corridor. The location would have enjoyed the military advantages of Beth Horon while serving agrarian and residential needs for Ephraimite clans. Historical Significance within Israelite Settlement 1 Chronicles 7 catalogs the growth of Joseph’s house during the era of the conquest and settlement. By inserting Uzzen Sheerah into this record, the chronicler testifies that Ephraim fulfilled the divine mandate to possess the land (Joshua 17:14-18). The naming of towns after family members reflects covenantal inheritance: the land is allotted, cultivated, and memorialized under Yahweh’s sovereign gift. Theological and Ministry Insights 1. Divine Enablement. Sheerah’s building projects mirror Nehemiah’s later work: ordinary believers can receive extraordinary vision and skill for kingdom tasks (Nehemiah 2:18). Archaeological and Traditional Identifications While Beth Horon is firmly located at modern Beit Ur, Uzzen Sheerah’s precise site remains uncertain. Proposals range from nearby ruins east of Upper Beth Horon to tells overlooking the Aijalon Valley. This uncertainty invites ongoing research and reminds interpreters to hold geographical conclusions with humility. Practical Application for the Church • Encourage believers, including women and youth, to pursue God-given visions for ministry infrastructure—church plants, missionary bases, educational institutions—trusting the Lord to supply wisdom and resources (James 1:5). Forms and Transliterations שֶׁאֱרָֽה׃ שארה׃ še’ĕrāh še·’ĕ·rāh sheeRahLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Chronicles 7:24 HEB: וְאֵ֖ת אֻזֵּ֥ן שֶׁאֱרָֽה׃ NAS: Beth-horon, also Uzzen-sheerah. KJV: and the upper, and Uzzensherah.) INT: lower and upper Uzzen-sheerah 1 Occurrence |
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