What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 7:12? The Shuppites and Huppites • “The Shuppites and Huppites” recalls the families listed among Benjamin’s sons in Genesis 46:21 (“Muppim and Huppim”) and Numbers 26:38-39 (“Shuphamites and Huphamites”). • These slight name variations trace the same clan, showing how God preserved them through centuries, even after the tribe’s near-destruction in Judges 20-21. • Their survival fulfills God’s promise that Benjamin would remain a distinct tribe (Jeremiah 33:22). Were descendants of Ir • Ir (called Iri in 1 Chronicles 8:18) heads a specific Benjamite branch. • By tying Shuppites and Huppites to Ir, the Chronicler safeguards their legal claim to land assigned in Joshua 18:21-28. • The precision echoes Numbers 1:18, where God ordered each tribe to keep exact genealogies. And the Hushites • “Hushites” connects to “Hushim” in Genesis 46:21 and to the “Shuhamites” of Numbers 26:42, again marking a Benjamite offshoot. • Mentioning them alongside Shuppites and Huppites highlights parallel family branches that together formed a robust tribe after exile (Nehemiah 11:31-36). • Their inclusion testifies to God’s faithfulness in multiplying Benjamin despite past judgments. Were descendants of Aher • Aher (“another”) appears as a proper name here and as Aharah in 1 Chronicles 8:1, denoting a second Benjamite line. • Linking the Hushites to Aher clarifies who held certain territories and temple duties later described in 1 Chronicles 9:1-3; 23:24-32. • Even lesser-known clans mattered to God’s unfolding plan, underscoring the literal reliability of every word recorded. summary 1 Chronicles 7:12 records that two related clans, the Shuppites and Huppites, sprang from the Benjamite forefather Ir, while the Hushites descended from Aher. The verse preserves legal lineage, demonstrates God’s meticulous care for every family in His covenant, and confirms the seamless continuity of His promises from Genesis through Israel’s post-exilic restoration. |
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