1 Chronicles 4:29-31
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This isn't a typo; it's a list. These names, tucked away in the genealogies, highlight how every person, even those not making grand pronouncements, plays a part in God's unfolding story. Their inclusion reminds us that lineage and seemingly small details matter in the grand tapestry of salvation history.
Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David reigned.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse appears in a long, detailed genealogy that traces the descendants of Israel. Right before this, it describes the family of Simeon, and immediately following, it continues listing more families and their settlements. These verses are less about individual stories and more about God's faithfulness in preserving and multiplying the people of Israel through generations, linking them to their land.
Ever feel like your family history is just a list of names? This passage dives deep into one specific family tree. What does it reveal about God's faithfulness?
This verse, seemingly just a name in a long genealogy, is actually a powerful testament to God's enduring promises. The names listed here are direct descendants of Simeon, one of Jacob's twelve sons.
God Remembers His Covenants
While many genealogies in Chronicles focus on the kings and priests, this passage highlights the ordinary families. The fact that these specific lines are preserved shows that God doesn't forget His people, even the seemingly 'small' ones. He remembers His covenant promises made to Abraham and his descendants, ensuring their lineage continues. This is a profound reminder that every life has purpose and place in God's grand plan.
Generations of people lived and died, their stories largely unrecorded. Yet, their names echo in Scripture. What can we learn from these 'ordinary' lives?
Chronicles, while focusing on the grand narrative of Israel's kings and worship, also pauses to record the quieter, yet equally vital, family lines.
God's Plan Through Every Person
These names – Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad – represent countless individuals who lived out their days, raising families, and participating in God's unfolding plan. They weren't kings or prophets, but their existence was essential for the continuation of God's chosen people and the eventual coming of the Messiah.
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This reminds us that God's work is accomplished not just through the 'great' and 'famous,' but through the faithfulness of everyday believers. Our lives, too, are part of a lineage of faith, and God uses each of us, in our unique circumstances, to carry His purposes forward.
Understand the original words
‘iyr · Hebrew Noun
A Hebrew term referring to a permanent residence, town, or city, often implying a fortified or significant inhabited place.
David · Hebrew Noun
An anointed king of Israel, prefiguring the Messiah, who established the throne in Jerusalem and consolidated the kingdom.
This passage lists the same individuals, but in the context of Jacob's family going down to Egypt, highlighting their lineage and connection to the broader Israelite story.
Genesis 46:20This verse also mentions these names, specifically as the sons of Joseph, connecting them to a pivotal moment in Israel's history and the fulfillment of God's promises.
Numbers 26:38Here, the descendants of these men are listed during the census in the plains of Moab, showing how their family lines continued to grow and were counted among the people of Israel.
1 Chronicles 7:14This verse provides more genealogical detail, linking these names back to the tribe of Manasseh, demonstrating how 1 Chronicles meticulously traces these important family histories.
This isn't a typo; it's a list. These names, tucked away in the genealogies, highlight how every person, even those not making grand pronouncements, plays a part in God's unfolding story. Their inclusion reminds us that lineage and seemingly small details matter in the grand tapestry of salvation history.
This verse appears in a long, detailed genealogy that traces the descendants of Israel. Right before this, it describes the family of Simeon, and immediately following, it continues listing more families and their settlements. These verses are less about individual stories and more about God's faithfulness in preserving and multiplying the people of Israel through generations, linking them to their land.
This verse appears in a long, detailed genealogy that traces the descendants of Israel. Right before this, it describes the family of Simeon, and immediately following, it continues listing more families and their settlements. These verses are less about individual stories and more about God's faithfulness in preserving and multiplying the people of Israel through generations, linking them to their land.
"Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David reigned." — This isn't a typo; it's a list. These names, tucked away in the genealogies, highlight how every person, even those not making grand pronouncements, plays a part in God's unfolding story. Their inc…
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Last reviewed October 2026
