2 Kings 7
1 Chronicles 7 is a chapter that records the genealogies of the northern tribes of Israel, especially among the twelve tribes of Israel. It mainly mentions the descendants of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher—tribes that could be said to be relatively forgotten—showing that although they are not closely connected to kings or priests, they are still an important part of Israel's composition.
1verseElisha said, “Hear the LORD’s word. The LORD says, ‘Tomorrow about this time a seah of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two seahs of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.’”
2verseThen the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, “Behold, if the LORD made windows in heaven, could this thing be?” He said, “Behold, you will see it with your eyes, but will not eat of it.”
3verseNow there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate. They said to one another, “Why do we sit here until we die?
4verseIf we say, ‘We will enter into the city,’ then the famine is in the city, and we will die there. If we sit still here, we also die. Now therefore come, and let’s surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they save us alive, we will live; and if they kill us, we will only die.”
5verseThey rose up in the twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians. When they had come to the outermost part of the camp of the Syrians, behold, no man was there.
6verseFor the Lord had made the army of the Syrians to hear the sound of chariots and the sound of horses, even the noise of a great army; and they said to one another, “Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us.”
7verseTherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life.
8verseWhen these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and ate and drank, then carried away silver, gold, and clothing and went and hid it. Then they came back, and entered into another tent and carried things from there also, and went and hid them.
9verseThen they said to one another, “We aren’t doing right. Today is a day of good news, and we keep silent. If we wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let’s go and tell the king’s household.”
10verseSo they came and called to the city gatekeepers; and they told them, “We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, not even a man’s voice, but the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were.”
11verseThen the gatekeepers called out and told it to the king’s household within.
12verseThe king arose in the night, and said to his servants, “I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore they have gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city.’”
13verseOne of his servants answered, “Please let some people take five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are left in it. Behold, they are like all the multitude of Israel who are consumed. Let’s send and see.”
14verseTherefore they took two chariots with horses; and the king sent them out to the Syrian army, saying, “Go and see.”
15verseThey went after them to the Jordan; and behold, all the path was full of garments and equipment which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. The messengers returned and told the king.
16verseThe people went out and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a seah of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the LORD’s word.
17verseThe king had appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to be in charge of the gate; and the people trampled over him in the gate, and he died as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him.
18verseIt happened as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, “Two seahs of barley for a shekel, and a seah of fine flour for a shekel, shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria;”
19verseand that captain answered the man of God, and said, “Now, behold, if the LORD made windows in heaven, might such a thing be?” and he said, “Behold, you will see it with your eyes, but will not eat of it.”
20verseIt happened like that to him, for the people trampled over him in the gate, and he died.
Main Structure and Connections
- Issachar, Benjamin, and Naphtali (verses 1–13): lists of their descendants and their offspring are mentioned. A comparatively detailed description of the descendants of Issachar stands out.
- Manasseh, the tribes of Ephraim, and Asher (verses 14–40): Manasseh and Ephraim are the two sons of Joseph, representing Northern Israel. The records continue with their descendants and the lands each one held. Asher is also mentioned in detail, with an emphasis on the strength of the tribe and the number of its warriors.
The Meaning of the Whole Chapter and Theological Emphasis
1 Chronicles 7 contains many names, and it repeatedly mentions population and family lines, yet this serves to remind us again of each tribe's identity and of the unity of Israel as a community. By carefully recording even tribes that may not have drawn as much attention, the author shows that God's promises are valid for all twelve tribes, and that even the smallest tribe is not excluded from God's history.
Meditation Points
- From the fact that each individual name is recorded, let us reflect on the point that God values every member of the community.
- Also, let us think about the significance of this genre, which emphasizes that even tribes that do not receive others' attention are still God's covenant people.
Try Applying It to Yourself
In our lives, we may feel that we are being left out or that we are not important, but God remembers each one of us and regards us as an important part of the community. Frequently look back on how your name is recorded before God, and check whether you are faithful to your own role in your relationship with God.
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