What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 7:1? The sons of Issachar 1 Chronicles 7:1 begins, “The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puah, Jashub, and Shimron—four in all”. By naming these men, the verse reaffirms God’s faithfulness to the tribe of Issachar, first listed in Genesis 46:13 when Jacob’s family entered Egypt. That same list reappears in Numbers 26:23–24 during Israel’s wilderness census. The repetition across centuries highlights how the Lord preserves His people generation after generation—just as He promised Abraham in Genesis 15:5 and later reaffirmed through Moses in Exodus 1:7. Tola • Tola is named first, signaling prominence. • Judges 10:1 tells us a descendant, also named Tola, rose to judge Israel for twenty-three years, bringing stability after Abimelech’s chaos (Judges 9). • This continuity from ancestor to leader shows how God often raises deliverers from faithful lines, echoing the pattern seen with Judah’s descendant David (1 Samuel 16:1). Puah • Sometimes spelled “Puvah” (Genesis 46:13) or “Pua” (Numbers 26:23), the slight spelling shifts do not threaten accuracy; they simply reflect transcription conventions over centuries. • Though Scripture gives no dramatic exploits for Puah himself, his mention underscores that every member of God’s covenant family matters, echoing 1 Corinthians 12:22 where even “the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable.” Jashub • Also called “Job” in Genesis 46:13, he reminds us that God’s people can carry more than one name without losing identity—much like Abram/Abraham or Jacob/Israel (Genesis 17:5; 32:28). • The Chronicler later notes “mighty men of valor” from Issachar who understood the times (1 Chronicles 12:32). Jashub’s line likely contributed to that discernment tradition, illustrating the long-range impact of godly households (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Shimron—four in all • Shimron rounds out the quartet, and the text explicitly says “four in all,” underlining completeness. • By recording the exact number, Scripture affirms historical precision (Luke 1:3). • Together these four sons became clan heads counted in tribal censuses (Numbers 1:28–29), fulfilling God’s promise that Israel would be “as numerous as the stars” (Deuteronomy 1:10). summary 1 Chronicles 7:1 is more than a dry genealogy. Each name testifies that God keeps covenant, preserves lineages, and uses ordinary families for extraordinary purposes. From Tola’s future judgeship to the strategic wisdom Issachar later displayed, this single verse invites us to trust that the Lord records our lives with equal care and is faithful to weave our stories into His larger redemptive plan. |
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