What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 7:15? Machir took a wife from among the Huppites and Shuppites • Machir is the firstborn of Manasseh (Numbers 26:29; Joshua 17:1), the head of a clan noted for valor and territory on the east side of the Jordan (Deuteronomy 3:13). • By marrying into the Huppites and Shuppites—two sub-clans within Manasseh (1 Chronicles 7:12)—Machir strengthens internal tribal bonds rather than forging outside alliances. This keeps covenant identity intact, echoing the call for Israel to remain distinct (Deuteronomy 7:3-4). • The verse underscores God’s faithfulness to enlarge Manasseh just as Jacob prophesied in Genesis 48:19, showing lines multiplying through sanctioned marriages within the tribe. The name of his sister was Maacah • Chronicles rarely pauses to name sisters, so Maacah’s mention draws attention. Similar spotlighted women—Tamar in 1 Chronicles 2:4 or Sheerah in 1 Chronicles 7:24—signal that God values every member of His covenant family. • Maacah may serve as an ancestral link to later figures bearing the same name (e.g., 1 Kings 15:13), reminding us how one faithful generation influences the next (Psalm 145:4). • Her placement in the genealogy also helps clarify inheritance lines, much like the daughters of Zelophehad do in the next phrase. Another descendant was named Zelophehad, who had only daughters • Zelophehad’s story appears in Numbers 26:33; 27:1-7 and Joshua 17:3-6, where his five daughters plead for—and receive—an inheritance because there are no sons. • Chronicles mentions him to highlight: – God’s justice: “You are not to show partiality in judgment” (Deuteronomy 1:17). – The permanence of tribal allotments: land must remain within the assigned tribe (Numbers 36:7-9). – The role of courageous faith: these daughters trusted God’s promise enough to speak up, modeling Proverbs 31:25’s strength and dignity. • Their inclusion testifies that God’s covenant promises reach men and women alike, foreshadowing later affirmations such as Joel 2:29 and Acts 2:17-18. summary 1 Chronicles 7:15 weaves together marriage, sibling, and descendant details to show God faithfully growing and preserving the tribe of Manasseh. Machir’s intra-tribal marriage safeguards covenant identity, Maacah’s naming honors women within God’s plan, and Zelophehad’s daughters illustrate the Lord’s just provision when ordinary inheritance paths seem blocked. The verse quietly but powerfully affirms that every clan member—male or female—is part of the unfolding fulfillment of God’s promises to His people. |
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