King James Version
What Does 1 Chronicles 7:15 Mean?
“And Machir took to wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister's name was Maachah;) and the name of the second was Zelophehad: and Zelophehad had daughters.”
Context
13
The sons of Naphtali; Jahziel, and Guni, and Jezer, and Shallum, the sons of Bilhah.
14
The sons of Manasseh; Ashriel, whom she bare: ( but his concubine the Aramitess bare Machir the father of Gilead:
15
And Machir took to wife the sister of Huppim and Shuppim, whose sister's name was Maachah;) and the name of the second was Zelophehad: and Zelophehad had daughters.
16
And Maachah the wife of Machir bare a son, and she called his name Peresh; and the name of his brother was Sheresh; and his sons were Ulam and Rakem.
17
And the sons of Ulam; Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(15) **And Machir took** to **wife.**—The Hebrew cannot mean this. Translate, *now Machir took a wife of Huppim and of Shuppim* (the two Benjamite clans of 1Chronicles 7:12); *and the name of the first* (read *‘ahath*)* was Maachah, and the name of the second* (read *shēnîth*)* was*. . . .” (the name is omitted). It is tempting to make Zeiophehad the other wife, who had only daughters, whereas Maachah bore a son (1Chronicles 7:16); but Numbers, *l.c.,* and Josh., *l.c.,* make Zelophehad a man. We must, therefore, suppose a *lacuna* of some few words, which gave the name of Machir’s second wife, and the descent of Zelophehad from her. The expression “of Huppim and of Shuppim” is literally “to Huppim and to Shuppim,” that is, belonging to. So “of Tola,” (1Chronicles 7:2).
We have no means of further elucidating the import of this curious tribal record. That it relates to West Manasseh is inferred from its position here, as well from the fact that 1Chronicles 5:23-24 treated of East Manasseh. (See also Joshua 17:1-5.) The name of Gilead, however, points to the transjordanic half of the tribe. The whole passage seems to assert an Aramean and a Benjamite element in the population of Western Manasseh.
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
Historical Context
This verse is found in the book of 1 Chronicles. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
Theological Significance
1 Chronicles 7:15 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Cross-References
Verses related to 1 Chronicles 7:15
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge