1 Chronicles 5:23-24 describes the half-tribe of Manasseh east of the Jordan, who grew numerous across the land from Bashan to Baal-hermon, Senir, and Mount Hermon, and lists seven heads of households who were mighty men of valor and famous men.
1 Chronicles 5:23-24 describes how the third eastern tribe held the far north. Verse 23 states, Now the sons of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land; from Bashan to Baal-hermon and Senir and Mount Hermon they were numerous (v 23). Their territory ran from the plateau of Bashan up to Mount Hermon, the great peak that marked the northern limit of the land Israel took beyond the Jordan (Joshua 12:1). Deuteronomy 3:9 notes that the Amorites called Hermon by the name Senir, so the stacked names--Baal-hermon, Senir, Mount Hermon--trace one mountain region by the titles its various peoples gave it.
Bashanis a region first introduced in Numbers. The LORD gave Israel a decisive victory over King Og of Bashan (Numbers 21:33-35). When it came about that Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh desired the land east of the Jordan in Gilead for their flocks, the kingdoms Moses gave them was that of Bashan and the Amorites (Numbers 32:33). Bashan is remembered throughout Scripture as a major conquest of the LORD for Israel when they first entered the land He promised them (Deuteronomy 3:1,Joshua 9:9-10,Nehemiah 9:22,Psalm 135:10-11).
The words, they were numerous, reach back to Jacob's blessing. Jacob had promised of Manasseh that "he also will become a people and he also will be great" (Genesis 48:19). Half the tribe settled west of the Jordan (along with Reuben and Gad), and by the time of this record the promise of growth was visible on the ground. The prophet Micah even prophesied ultimate redemption for Israel by looking to the land of Bashan:
"Shepherd Your people with Your scepter, The flock of Your possession Which dwells by itself in the woodland, In the midst of a fruitful field. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead As in the days of old. 'As in the days when you came out from the land of Egypt, I will show you miracles'" (Micah 7:14-15).
At the end of the chapter, Micah prophesies that just as Israel had peace and plenty when they initially grazed their flocks in Bashan, an eternal peace would come because of God's unchanging love for His people (Micah 7:18-20). The ultimate fulfillment of the promises to Abraham and Israel's forefathers was Jesus, whose sacrifice covered all sin so that those who believe in Him may have eternal life. The relief of finally coming into the abundant Promised Land will not be fully realized until Jesus returns in glory.
Verse 24 then shows seven men who carry the tribe's leadership: These were the heads of their fathers' households, even Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, heads of their fathers' households (v 24). These men are framed on both sides by the phrase, heads of their fathers' households (v 24). Their credentials stack up: strength in war, public reputation, and family authority. Apart from this verse, these seven are unknown to us; their memory survives because Israel kept its records.
The chronicler sets this portrait of strength and fame immediately before the account of exile in 1 Chronicles 5:25-26. Valor, numbers, and famousmen filled the land; in the very next verses, Assyria empties it. The order of the record teaches what the battle account already showed: the tribes' security rested on the God they trusted (1 Chronicles 5:20), and it stood or fell with their faithfulness to Him.
1 Chronicles 5:23-24
23 Now the sons of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land; from Bashan to Baal-hermon and Senir and Mount Hermon they were numerous.
24 These were the heads of their fathers' households, even Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, heads of their fathers' households.
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1 Chronicles 5:23-24 meaning
1 Chronicles 5:23-24 describes how the third eastern tribe held the far north. Verse 23 states, Now the sons of the half-tribe of Manasseh lived in the land; from Bashan to Baal-hermon and Senir and Mount Hermon they were numerous (v 23). Their territory ran from the plateau of Bashan up to Mount Hermon, the great peak that marked the northern limit of the land Israel took beyond the Jordan (Joshua 12:1). Deuteronomy 3:9 notes that the Amorites called Hermon by the name Senir, so the stacked names--Baal-hermon, Senir, Mount Hermon--trace one mountain region by the titles its various peoples gave it.
Bashan is a region first introduced in Numbers. The LORD gave Israel a decisive victory over King Og of Bashan (Numbers 21:33-35). When it came about that Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh desired the land east of the Jordan in Gilead for their flocks, the kingdoms Moses gave them was that of Bashan and the Amorites (Numbers 32:33). Bashan is remembered throughout Scripture as a major conquest of the LORD for Israel when they first entered the land He promised them (Deuteronomy 3:1, Joshua 9:9-10, Nehemiah 9:22, Psalm 135:10-11).
The words, they were numerous, reach back to Jacob's blessing. Jacob had promised of Manasseh that "he also will become a people and he also will be great" (Genesis 48:19). Half the tribe settled west of the Jordan (along with Reuben and Gad), and by the time of this record the promise of growth was visible on the ground. The prophet Micah even prophesied ultimate redemption for Israel by looking to the land of Bashan:
"Shepherd Your people with Your scepter,
The flock of Your possession
Which dwells by itself in the woodland,
In the midst of a fruitful field.
Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead
As in the days of old.
'As in the days when you came out from the land of Egypt,
I will show you miracles'"
(Micah 7:14-15).
At the end of the chapter, Micah prophesies that just as Israel had peace and plenty when they initially grazed their flocks in Bashan, an eternal peace would come because of God's unchanging love for His people (Micah 7:18-20). The ultimate fulfillment of the promises to Abraham and Israel's forefathers was Jesus, whose sacrifice covered all sin so that those who believe in Him may have eternal life. The relief of finally coming into the abundant Promised Land will not be fully realized until Jesus returns in glory.
Verse 24 then shows seven men who carry the tribe's leadership: These were the heads of their fathers' households, even Epher, Ishi, Eliel, Azriel, Jeremiah, Hodaviah and Jahdiel, mighty men of valor, famous men, heads of their fathers' households (v 24). These men are framed on both sides by the phrase, heads of their fathers' households (v 24). Their credentials stack up: strength in war, public reputation, and family authority. Apart from this verse, these seven are unknown to us; their memory survives because Israel kept its records.
The chronicler sets this portrait of strength and fame immediately before the account of exile in 1 Chronicles 5:25-26. Valor, numbers, and famous men filled the land; in the very next verses, Assyria empties it. The order of the record teaches what the battle account already showed: the tribes' security rested on the God they trusted (1 Chronicles 5:20), and it stood or fell with their faithfulness to Him.