And Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in that land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.

1 CHRONICLES 7:21KJV
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1 Chronicles 7:21 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 7:21 mean?

1 Chronicles 7:21 describes how two men, Ezer and Elead, sons in the family line of Ephraim, were killed by men from Gath because they tried to take cattle from that region. The verse is part of a genealogy, but it pauses to mention this violent event in the family’s history.

The setting is a list of descendants of Ephraim, one of the tribes of Israel. The verse briefly tells a story within the genealogy, highlighting a tragic incident where family members were killed during a raid or conflict over livestock. This detail gives a glimpse into the dangers and conflicts faced by the Israelites during their early history, especially with neighboring peoples like those from Gath.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 7:21

  • "Men" (אֲנָשִׁים, ʾanashim): This word emphasizes that it was the local men of Gath, not outsiders, who killed Ezer and Elead. It points to a local conflict rather than a foreign invasion.
  • "Gath" (גַּת, Gat): Gath was a Philistine city, so this detail shows the ongoing tensions between Israelites and Philistines even in personal or family matters.
  • "Slew" (הָרַג, harag): This word means to kill or slay, making it clear that Ezer and Elead died violently, not by accident or natural causes.
  • "Cattle" (מִקְנֶה, miqneh): The word refers to livestock, which were valuable property. The attempt to take cattle shows the economic motivations behind the conflict and the risks involved in such actions.

Why 1 Chronicles 7:21 matters

  • This verse interrupts a genealogy with a story, showing that the chronicler sometimes included significant family events, not just names, to give context and meaning to the family line.
  • The mention of Gath and the killing over cattle highlights the everyday struggles and dangers faced by Israelite families, especially in border areas with hostile neighbors.
  • By naming the victims and the reason for their deaths, the verse preserves a memory of loss and conflict that shaped the tribe’s history, making the genealogy more personal and relatable.

Where else these words appear

“Shuthelah” Hebrew H7803 · used in 4 verses

  • Numbers 26:35 These are the sons of Ephraim after their families: of Shuthelah, the family of the Shuthalhites: of Becher, the family of the Bachrites: of Tahan, the family of the Tahanites.
  • Numbers 26:36 And these are the sons of Shuthelah: of Eran, the family of the Eranites.
  • 1 Chronicles 7:20 And the sons of Ephraim; Shuthelah, and Bered his son, and Tahath his son, and Eladah his son, and Tahath his son,

“Zabad” Hebrew H2066 · used in 8 verses

  • 1 Chronicles 2:36 And Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad,
  • 1 Chronicles 11:41 Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,
  • Ezra 10:27 And of the sons of Zattu; Elioenai, Eliashib, Mattaniah, and Jeremoth, and Zabad, and Aziza.

“Gath” Hebrew H1661 · used in 31 verses

  • Joshua 11:22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.
  • 1 Samuel 27:3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.
  • 2 Kings 12:17 Then Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath, and took it: and Hazael set his face to go up to Jerusalem.

“cattle” Hebrew H4735 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 4:20 And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have cattle.
  • Exodus 9:3 Behold, the hand of the LORD is upon thy cattle which is in the field, upon the horses, upon the asses, upon the camels, upon the oxen, and upon the sheep: there shall be a very grievous murrain.
  • Judges 6:5 For they came up with their cattle and their tents, and they came as grasshoppers for multitude; for both they and their camels were without number: and they entered into the land to destroy it.