And the sons of Ulam; Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.

1 CHRONICLES 7:17KJV
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1 Chronicles 7:17 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 7:17 mean?

1 Chronicles 7:17 lists a descendant in the genealogy of the tribe of Manasseh, stating that Ulam had a son named Bedan, and that these are among the sons of Gilead, who was the son of Machir, who was the son of Manasseh. The verse is part of a larger record tracing the family lines of Israel’s tribes.

This verse appears in a section where the chronicler is carefully recording the descendants of Manasseh, one of the sons of Joseph, for the returned exiles of Israel. The focus is on preserving tribal identity and heritage, showing the line from Manasseh through Machir and Gilead, down to Ulam and his son Bedan. No actions or events are described—just a record of ancestry.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 7:17

  • "sons" (בְּנֵי, bənê): This word means "sons" or "descendants," and it is used repeatedly to show direct lineage, emphasizing the importance of family connections in ancient Israel.
  • "Ulam" (אוּלָם, ʾUlam): This is a personal name, and its inclusion marks a specific branch within the tribe of Manasseh.
  • "Bedan" (בְּדָן, Bədān): Another personal name, Bedan is only mentioned a few times in the Bible, and his appearance here helps clarify the genealogy.
  • "Gilead" (גִּלְעָד, Gilʿad): Both a personal name and a region, here it refers to the ancestor of this family line, grounding the genealogy in a known figure.

Why 1 Chronicles 7:17 matters

  • This verse helps clarify the family tree of Manasseh, which is important for understanding the distribution of land and tribal roles in Israel’s history.
  • By naming specific descendants, the chronicler connects later generations to their ancestors, reinforcing the continuity of God’s promises to the tribes.
  • The verse shows the chronicler’s careful attention to detail, which was significant for the returned exiles seeking to reclaim their identity and heritage after the Babylonian exile.

Where else these words appear

“Bedan” Hebrew H917 · used in 2 verses

  • 1 Samuel 12:11 And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.

“Ulam” Hebrew H198 · used in 4 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 7:16 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.
  • 1 Chronicles 8:39 And the sons of Eshek his brother were, Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
  • 1 Chronicles 8:40 And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers, and had many sons, and sons' sons, an hundred and fifty. All these are of the sons of Benjamin.

“Machir” Hebrew H4353 · used in 20 verses

  • Genesis 50:23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.
  • Deuteronomy 3:15 And I gave Gilead unto Machir.
  • 2 Samuel 9:5 Then king David sent, and fetched him out of the house of Machir, the son of Ammiel, from Lodebar.

“Gilead” Hebrew H1568 · used in 123 verses

  • Genesis 31:21 So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.
  • Judges 10:17 Then the children of Ammon were gathered together, and encamped in Gilead. And the children of Israel assembled themselves together, and encamped in Mizpeh.
  • 2 Kings 9:1 And Elisha the prophet called one of the children of the prophets, and said unto him, Gird up thy loins, and take this box of oil in thine hand, and go to Ramothgilead: