What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 7:16? Machir’s wife Maacah • Machir is the firstborn of Manasseh (Numbers 26:29; Joshua 17:1), the tribe later settling the rich territory of Gilead. • By naming his wife, the writer pauses to honor a woman through whom God continues the covenant line—something Scripture does sparingly and therefore purposefully (cf. Genesis 35:23; Ruth 4:13). • The detail grounds the genealogy in real history. A literal reading reminds us that God’s promises to Abraham move forward through identifiable people, places, and marriages (Genesis 12:7; 50:23). Gave birth to a son • Every birth in Chronicles signals God’s ongoing faithfulness to His word; the Chronicler is showing that exile did not cancel the covenant. • Psalm 127:3 calls children “a heritage from the LORD,” echoing how the Chronicler expects his readers to view this moment. • From Isaac (Genesis 21:1-2) to Samuel (1 Samuel 1:20), Scripture repeatedly ties God’s redemptive plan to actual births, underscoring that salvation history is lived out in families. She named him Peresh “Machir’s wife Maacah gave birth to a son, and she named him Peresh.” • Mothers often name children in the Old Testament (Genesis 29-30), signaling both affection and prophetic insight. • The act of naming testifies that God works through ordinary parental choices to steer extraordinary outcomes (Exodus 2:10; Matthew 1:21). • Including Peresh in the record affirms that no individual in God’s family tree is forgotten, even if Scripture says little else about him. His brother was named Sheresh “His brother was named Sheresh” • Chronicles regularly mentions siblings to highlight the breadth of a clan, not only its primary heir (Genesis 4:2; 1 Chronicles 7:14-15). • Recording Sheresh shows that God’s blessing is not confined to a single line; multiple branches can bear fruit for His purposes (Joshua 17:3-6). • The verse reminds readers that in God’s people, prominence is secondary to belonging; every brother counts. His sons were Ulam and Rekem “…and his sons were Ulam and Rekem.” • The grammar points back to Sheresh, marking Ulam and Rekem as the third generation after Machir. This precision reassures post-exilic readers that their own genealogies matter. • 1 Chronicles 7:17 immediately continues with “The son of Ulam: Bedan,” extending the lineage further. God preserves the family tree step by step. • These names, though unfamiliar, will later surface among mighty warriors and leaders (cf. 1 Chronicles 8:39-40), hinting that faithfulness in small details often precedes visible impact. summary 1 Chronicles 7:16 is more than a footnote; it is a snapshot of God’s covenant care expressed through one family’s marriages, births, and names. By recording Maacah, Peresh, Sheresh, Ulam, and Rekem, the Chronicler assures returning exiles—and us—that the Lord keeps meticulous track of His people, advances His promises through everyday family life, and values every generation in the unfolding story of redemption. |
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