Overlooked, sidelined, unfaithful, forgotten. As I typed out that list, I caught myself saying “check, check, check, and check.” I’m certainly no stranger to unfaithfulness, and feeling overlooked has been my long-term insecurity. I have a feeling I’m not alone in relating to any of these themes, right alongside you. And for the tribes in today’s reading, they were all too familiar.
In our reading over the past few days, the Chronicler brought us through creation to the return of the exiles from Babylonian captivity. We read the genealogies of those who will take center stage in the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles—the tribe of Judah and the Levitical priests. But today we are given the history of several other tribes.
The nation of Israel, twelve tribes united under David, split into two during a civil war in 931 BC. The tribes in today’s reading comprise a portion of northern Israel—Issachar, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher. These were the tribes first exiled, taken into captivity in Assyria 148 years before the southern kingdom was defeated by Babylon. These northern tribes continually rejected the Lord as the God of their nation—in both word and practice.
But there’s one other tribe mentioned here who wasn’t a part of the northern kingdom—the tribe of Benjamin. Together, Benjamin and Judah, the tribe we read about on Day 2, comprised the southern kingdom. In this expanded history of the tribe of Benjamin, the Chronicler established Benjamin not only as a tribe with a physical claim to Israel’s history, but also a royal one. The first king of Israel, Saul, was from the tribe of Benjamin.
When the Chronicler told Israel’s history, he wrote about these tribes—the northern tribes who were the first to be exiled and a southern tribe where the first unfaithful king of Israel descended.
From the beginning of creation, God preserved a people as His own possession despite rebellion and unfaithfulness. And here, beyond the exile, God was still working. These small, often overlooked tribes had not been erased. The Chronicler had not forgotten these sons of Israel, and neither had their Creator. The story was not over.
While physical exiles and returns may be far removed from our daily lives, the feeling of being overlooked, sidelined, unfaithful, or forgotten is not. The Chronicler maintained that these tribes of Israel had a place in the people’s history. During the season of Lent, we too remember and rejoice that God has invited us into His story.
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85 thoughts on "The Genealogies of the Northern and Central Tribes"
So wonderful Kristin Duffey. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
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Amen
It is interesting to read through Deuteronomy 33 and have Moses details on the men and women listed in Chronicles genealogy come together.
I am really intrigued. So the northern and central tribes were mighty warriors and they were rounded up first….I wonder if they were placed to insulate Judah and Benjamin tribes? The map i have looks like the invasion happened from the south. From what I understand, the Levites were southern as well….does anyone have insight on this?
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Kristen Duffy – what a wonderful way to honor those who have gone before as we walk through a cemetery. It is so true that many of those names have not been spoken in years. It’s also wonderful to know that God knows my name. And he speaks it. I am so honored by the fact that the God who sees, sees me and loves me.
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When I read the names(in-correctly, of course), it reminds me that God sees all of us. The most insignificant person in the world’s eyes matters to God. He sees us! Me! Someone who is no one special but He still sees me and has a plan and a purpose for me!
Amen
this is such a great reminder!!
Kristin Duffey-tY for your post that elicited a deeper perspective and honor of the genealogies listed in Chronicles. I’m FLABBERGASTED!
Thank you, dear She’s for all the perceptive and enlightening reflections today ❤️
Kristin! Thank you for sharing that!
That is such a beautiful way of showing our love for others and faith.
Wonderful thoughts Kristin. Thanks for sharing.
That’s beautiful Kristin Duffey… I love that thought. On another note, I also find that it seems a bit daunting reading the names but as you think about the big picture of the purpose they’re listed, it makes it feel manageable to me. I’ve also read through the Bible with The Bible Recap the last 2 years and it gets more enjoyable each time.
That’s beautiful Kristin Duffey… I love that thought.
I want to draw near right now. It feels harder in this season, but I’m so thankful for this devo and community ❤️ praise God
Would definitely recommend listening to this week’s podcast by the way!
When reading these names it brings the reality how important each of are to our Heavenly Father. He knows each of our names.AND our stories.
@Abi praying for you in your grief. I am so sorry for your loss of your mother. My friends recently lost their sweet mother and my heart aches for them. My grief looks a little different than yours but I know sometimes it feels like you’ve been punched in the gut by it. Praying for you and your sweet little one.
I agree that having all the names can be a little exhausting, but there’s one thing I learned from my church family that helps me get through it. I read through the names using nicknames because I know I can’t pronounce the names properly. It keeps me engaged in the reading (listening to an audio version doesn’t help me as I’m not an audible learner) and also some lightheartedness at times. It’s not always about the details and perfect pronunciation with these passages, it’s about the big picture surrounding the importance of the passage.
I love this! What a great way to show honor.
Oh Molly! I didn’t realize that your Dad has Parkinson’s. I’ll be praying. Matt’s Mom was recently diagnosed. Love, hugs and prayers!
Something that I wanted to share with you all of what got me through the reading of all these names.
My dad is a historian in our little town, and he always says when he goes to a cemetery he honors the people who he walks by by saying their name out loud. He said who knows the last time their names were spoken into the world. They shouldn’t be forgotten. I always would get goose bumps thinking about that.
So the last two days reading I spoke these names out loud. I laughed to myself thinking of them listening to me in heaven laughing at me butchering the pronunciations, but I wanted them to be remembered. God loved them enough to write them names, I want to honor them.
All these names are just confusing. I tried connecting them all and drawing it out but it only gave me a headache. I know there is a purpose in it all but it is very hard to read.
@Mercy–I read your comment to me out loud to my husband and he said “that’s about YOU?!! Bahahahha! Apparently I don’t shine my light as bright as you say! lol. But honestly, that was really sweet and touching! I glean much from you as well my friend! Thank you so much! SRT is such a special place!
God has invited us into His story. amen
Today I read along the Chronicles with an audio playing from my Youversion Bible app. The KJV audio I had was a stoic male voice (I couldn’t figure out how to change to women so I rolled with it), very much like a Viking man’s voice (not complaining lol). Thank you so much ladies for this great tip. It was a smooth flow for me to do it this way.
@Dorothy: praying for the girls and the neighbour man downstairs.
@Abi: comfort and strength for you dear mama in this season of grief.
@Rhonda: happy belated birthday, I hope you had a fantastic one! You already left an impact on those who you shared your life with, virtually us. I can’t imagine how much MORE your family members who get to see you in real life, hearing your snippets/journeys, witnessing your godly habits and sacrificial living, joyful spirit and contagious warmth permeating them- it’s a fragrance of Jesus really that you give out now that I think about it. You are a wonderful blessing.
@Molly R: will continue to keep your family in prayers, may the Lord take the burden and yoke off and give you rest.
(haven’t finished reading your comments today yet… will come back to read/ pray for more. I love praying for you and your families <3)
Have a lovely Thursday dear beautiful she’s.
Be blessed and please remember our names are written in God’s book of genealogy.
When I was reading the devotion and read that the kingdom of Israel was divided in 931 BC, I looked at the timeline in my life application study Bible, and saw that the temple in Jerusalem was completed only 29 years earlier. So the people weren’t even in the temple very long before Israel was divided. That makes me sad.
My husband is studying with the HRT book and he is having a difficult time going through all of the genealogy, and I can’t blame him. I told him some thing that was mentioned in the devotions here. The thing that God cares enough to know all of us by name, and to say all of our names. I think that is incredible and I think about that every single time I look at these names. Thank you Lord! 
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Sisters I forgot to ask for prayer for several people; Finley, the little girl I’ve been with the longest, has upper respiratory congestion and not sure what caused it — it started Tuesday; Kaylee, the other little girl I care for was sick last week and had to have some surgery and her internal feeding routine is totally changed plus her father has the flu; then there’s young man who lives below me, I forgot to get his name, when I got home last night I tried to jump his car and it didn’t take so I took him to work so he has transportation problems — he’s helped with bringing things in from my car before. Thanks. I may not mention it but as I read the prayer concerns I do pray for them.
Sometimes we miss look on the past to when God has shown up, to give us hope for the future. ❤️
Today’s devotional really hit me as I often feel like the stage of life I am that I have been overlooked. Like maybe God forgot I’d like to be a mom but I know that’s far from the truth. These passages are hard to read but it goes to show we are all called by name. Such a great reminder. @Taylor thank you for your prayers! I pray for you girls often! @Sarah D. I’m glad to hear your video chat went well. Praying it continues to go that way. I read through all these comments and I’m praying for all you sweet ladies!
Thank you for this reading gave me something to pray on.
So once again I noticed some items in Scripture I’ve not “paid attention to” in the past: 1Chronicles 7:20-24 “20 The descendants of Ephraim were Shuthelah, Bered, Tahath, Eleadah, Tahath, 21 Zabad, Shuthelah, Ezer, and Elead. These two were killed trying to steal livestock from the local farmers near Gath. 22 Their father, Ephraim, mourned for them a long time, and his relatives came to comfort him. 23 Afterward Ephraim slept with his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. Ephraim named him Beriah because of the tragedy his family had suffered. 24 He had a daughter named Sheerah. She built the towns of Lower and Upper Beth-horon and Uzzen-sheerah.” the first item that I noticed was that Ezer and Elead were “killed trying to steal livestock.” The next item I noticed was the mention of Ephraim’s daughter and that she built several towns, which in those days was unheard of because the women were considered second class and almost property. A matter of fact I noticed in much of today’s scripture there were multiple women mentioned. But I do agree with my sister that said it’s strange that Rehab wasn’t mentioned a few days ago nor was Ruth — I wonder if it was because they weren’t Israelite women. But Matthew does mention them both as well as Tamar in his linage of Christ. So even back in the time of the Chronicler women played a part in the history of the Israelites, the Jews and the Christians.
Hannah points out “the feeling of being overlooked, sidelined, unfaithful, or forgotten is not.” How I can at times relate to that, I believe we all can. The one thing we need to remember is God, Christ and the Holy Spirit are always, Always, ALWAYS WITH US. All we need to do is believe and have faith.
Almighty Father Creator of ALL THINGS, there are times when I think I can handle things on my own but I really need Your help. Nudge me to call on You for the help I need. Amen.
Sisters be blessed and listen and feel the Lord’s nudging you.
I thought the same! What a good message!
Good Morning She’s!
I’m not sure who originally recommended listening to these chapters, but I thank you. What a difference! Loved it. Just turned on the little speaker on my YouVersion app. I have no idea who was reading but it sounded great.
Hannah thank you for a great devo this morning. And thank all of you for your faithfulness in commenting & praying. It makes such a difference. Hugs & love y’all ❤️
I love this! It caught my eye as well, but I wasn’t able to put much time into digging deeper. Thanks for sharing your findings!
Reading the Deuteronomy passage here gave me a wonderful new insight I didn’t see in other translations: “The High God surrounds [her] all day long, and dwells between [her] shoulders. I carry all of the trauma and stress of life in my neck and shoulders, so it is especially beautiful to me to imagine the Lord dwelling there, bearing me up and healing me.
Thanks Janey Smith for the research on Sheerah. That city building reference caught my attention too. Praying for you and your husband Tara B.
Yes! Me too! I thought that was an interesting detail!
As I have come across each woman mentioned in these genealogies and then reading the devotional content for today, “overlooked, sidelined, unfaithful, forgotten” I thought to myself, “what would the line or two with my genealogy look like as part of this list. Certainly it would include all for of those descriptors but as with each person in these geneologies, it would also include, “chosen, set apart, faithful, remembered”. Our stories become His story. I plan to take a moment later today to write my excerpt of genealogy as a matter of reflection on who God is in my story.
How crazy would that be to see your name in the genealogy of the Bible?! These names are a reminder that I might not see significance in my life right now but the Lord is working and faithful. Only He knows my plan and I can find rest in that.
Love this! Every mention of a daughter caught my eye, especially Sheerah. Thanks for the extra research.
Verse 2 immediately caught my eye when it described the sons of Issachar as “mighty warriors for their generation”. Since today is national collegiate day of prayer, I’m inspired to use this verse to pray for college students to be mighty warriors for their generation.
Today while I was reading the genealogies the song, “The Blessing” came to mind.
“May His favor be upon you and a thousand generations, and your family and your children and their children and their children.” This is what we are reading! ❤️
@Abi, I’m praying for you. Grief is hard. My mom went to be with Jesus a year ago. I pray that you will lean in to Jesus and I know he will walk alongside you. I’m grateful that you’re here in this study and with this community.
@Mercy – Thank you for mentioning my dad!
Unfortunately it is becoming very clear that his Parkinson’s is advancing, and the idea of a “recovery” looks a little different. The goal now is to reevaluate his needs in the coming weeks and months, and focus on comfort and peace as much as we can. It’s been a hard month and a half, but also, as some of us know very vividly, it’s in the hard that God reveals Himself in deep and intimate ways. In that sense, we are thankful to be in His refuge and peace. Thank you, everyone, who is remembering my family during this heavy season.
What a great question to pose: what impact am I making in my family’s history, what is my legacy? All the names that have been written down in the Bible shows the impact that each individual can make in our world. What can I be doing to make a difference in faith for those around me?
HANNAH LITTLE – THANK YOU so much for the clarity in this devo! That is just the kind of devo I need!!!
I was thinking as I read these verses that God protected His chosen ones during their exile (and anywhere else life took them) and protected His line to the cross. What LOVE! I look at these passages as sort of a ‘role call’ for God’s people after they come back together. So inspiring!
TRACI GENDRON – I am reading the Bible through, as you are, and had similar feelings about doing this at the same time, but I am enjoying digging a little deeper on some of these folks, so I am going to try to hang on! :)
Me too!!
Thank you for all for the recommendations on listening to the genealogies. I will give that a try. One thing that I noticed is I always study with SRT books. I was waiting for mine to be shipped to me from Colorado as I am in Florida right now. I received it yesterday and it made a huge difference! I cannot read these studies on my phone. I’m a little ADHD.
As I was saying my prayers this morning, it made me think of “will people remember my son”? So I see how the genealogies are so important. I also envisioned Tanner walking with Jesus, having a conversation. I pray that it is so. Brings so much comfort to me.
I have been consistently amazed by the devos each day and all of your comments. I read and think this is just a list of names that I can’t pronounce. It feels good to come across the few that I know but they are so few and far between. I loved today’s devo!! God preserved a people despite rebellion and unfaithfulness… they had a place in His story, as do we. Amen!
Grateful to be reading through another study again after the hardest year of my life. Thankful God has given me the desire to ppen His word again. Praying over each request mentioned, healing, hope and wisdom.
Feeling alone in my grief after my Mum was called home to the Lord 8 months ago. I have a one year old and we don’t live close to family. I know the Lord is with me but I’m only now starting to actively draw close to Him again. Grateful for your prayers.
Thinking this morning about the Lord’s promise to Abraham to multiply his people like the stars in the sky. Reading through these (long) lists, every name is a fulfillment of that promise. Praying for all of you, my She’s!
Praying for you, your husband and your kids. So glad you keep showing up. We are praying for you. ❤️
Finished listening to the podcast this morning!! So good. The Lord calls us by name. We are His.
Thank you for your prayers @Taylor!! Praying for you and for others in the same stage of life we are in!
I talked with the guy I had met online through video yesterday! It was fun, we talked for a bit and he seems like a nice guy and a genuine believer from what I can tell so far. We are planning to meet in person most likely next weekend. Would love continued prayers for wisdom and discernment, and that if the Lord does not want this to continue, that he would make it evident. And that if he does want it to continue, that he would make that evident too. Have a great day everyone, almost the weekend!
Allison M- What a testimony!! Praise God!!
What impact am I making in my family’s history, what is my legacy!? These readings really put the focus on that! I think of my grandparents that my son doesn’t know or remember, and my mom that passed away when my son was only 14. So when I mention them and the things I loved about them, it’s really hard to convey in such a way that he really gets it. He doesn’t know my grandmother’s energetic, loving way when she would light up when she saw you. That, I hold in my heart, as well as a lifetime of love for my mother. Yesterday was my birthday, so the grandkids called (separately), so I got to spend some special time talking with each. One wrote me a song, and sang it to me (at my request the day before when she asked what I wanted!). It was so beautiful, and about me and God. She knows I LOVE God and so that is cool that it will be something she remembers hopefully! The 14 year old (Brayden) is really struggling with some family relationships, so I just try to impress that he is loved by us. OH the impact we can make, if we listen to the small voice of God leading us to love and pointing it to Him.
Lord, use me, let me be a vessel to share your love, but be strong in the truth of your word. Not to sugarcoat your word, but to preach that there is a choice, there is a hell OR a heaven that is OUR choice, Lord. We want to be a voice for you in a world where we are living in a Babylonian society! I grew up in the eighties, in the “bible belt,” and I miss the stronghold of the church and the fear of God that was preached! He is Love but he is Creator and the Almighty. Let us not forget that. Thank you for your mercy and grace Lord! Sin affects us Lord, and we must flee from it. YOU make a way, you seal us, we belong to you. Let us glorify YOU. Amen
Tara B- prayers for you, it hurts my heart for you. Divorce is destructive and painful, especially as you live around his family and friends. I was in that situation as well, so I pray the Lord will turn this around.
So grateful God loves us all even when we mess up. God uses imperfect people in his perfect plan.
“During the season of Lent, we too remember and rejoice that God has invited us into His story.”
May each of us find our place in God’s story.
Thank you Hannah Little for the devotional today. I love getting the history of Israel and remembering when these tribes split and when they went into exile.
Tara B – I’ve walked through your journey. My heart was hardened and I filed for a divorce last year after an 18-year marriage. Our divorce was final in August. I ran from God and moved away. But God had other plans. He is the Miracle Worker. My ex husband reached out in October and offered to go to couples counseling. Long story short, I eventually agreed and even started seeing a therapist on my own to deal with childhood trauma. Today, we are engaged and I rejoice in the changes in me and our relationship. It is possible. I will be praying for you and your family.
@Chelle Johnson– that’s so cool!! I’m glad you stayed faithful and finished your reading plan – even if it took longer than you anticipated! Maybe the Lord was using it to keep you connected to your friend more in the past two years. I’m so glad to hear :)
@Taylor – thanks friend <3
@Tara B- my heart goes out to you and your husband. Lord, I lift them up to you. I don't know what they need, but You do. Please bless them and help them understand Your best plan for their lives. Help them seek counsel if they are open to it. Help them seek You above everything else. Lord, no matter what, please touch them and remind them that You love them both so much. Please bless them and help them through this very confusing and disheartening time.
@Tara B. Praying for you and your marriage. May God restore and bless you and your husband. He is a Miracle Worker!
Praying for you Tara, your husband, your kids and your marriage
I love reading the responses. We are not alone
After reading the reflection, I found myself questioning my role in God’s story. What is my purpose? My mind went to Psalm 139. The Lord knows me. Even when I feel alone, like no one understands me… like an afterthought, he knows me. I belong. We belong. My sweet friend, Taylor Leonhardt, has a really beautiful song I would encourage you to listen to called Diamonds. “You are not an afterthought, Love Himself dreamed you up. Dressed you in diamonds, called you his star…” Praying for and sending love to the She’s this morning.
One scholar I read said it was most likely that Sheerah never married or had children, but that she was faithful to God’s call on her life to be a “mother of cities”, even though it was different than most women of her time.
This caught my eye in chapter 7 verse 24: when “His daughter was Sheerah, who built both Lower and Upper Beth-horon, and Uzzen-sheerah” and I did a little more research on who biblical scholars say Sheerah was. One author suggested that it’s most likely that Sheerah never married or had children, but that she was faithful to God’s call on her life to be “a mother of cities” instead. So encouraging to remember that God’s calling for each of us is different, but that He has a purpose for each of us and weaves us into the Story He is telling.
I listened to today’s passages on audio from Biblegateway.com and it made a huge difference! Thank you sisters for the recommendations! So good to be reminded that God is always working – even in the mess, even in the confusion, even in the mundane. He is WITH us. He is near.
Love you all! Praying for my fellow young adult girls @Sarah D, @Kimberly Z, @Michelle Patire, and others :)
I love the descriptions of traits carried on in families through the line: in this one, valiant warriors.
Thankful God invited us
I love reading through the responses. Especially when the Bible passage is difficult. Your responses, She’s have kept me going and have offered wonderful outside resources to understand it all. I will look up Julien on YouTube to hear the names read- listening and reading do help tremendously. I will listen to “the Blessing”
by Kari Jobe and from Tuesday, “Promises” by Maverick City. The wisdom from the devotions and from fellow She’s is what keeps me coming back Study after Study. And your faithfulness in prayer and community. I silently pray for the requests mention, even if I don’t write it in the comments. As I am sure many do. I am asking the prayer warriors to pray for my family as well. My husband and I (of 20 years this April) drew up separation prayers last night and discussed how to split. The Lord is the only way to fix us at this point and I pray our hearts are open to His convictions. I ask for prayer for our daughters and son who will be the most closely impacted. And the extended family who will be affected as well. My father and mother have already passed and I live in my husbands home town, so I feel very alone through this at times. Thank you in advance for your prayers.
Today was day 2 of listening while also reading these Scriptures – again, me doing both is making a world of difference in being able to pay attention to the names and families instead of thinking, I have no idea how to pronounce that, or that, or … I’m using Bible gateway, NKJV, choosing Tinasha LaRaye as the reader, and several other sources for audio have been mentioned by other sisters.
TRACI GENDRON – maybe think about giving one of them a try? ❤️
The Lord showed up for me yesterday in a big way in bringing a path to my mind for research that resolved a work issue that appeared impossible. Praise the Lord!
SHARON JONES – praying for you, husband and daughter as you all work through things. And for you and your sister in finding the best care option for your parents. The role reversal of aging parents is a difficult one, and dementia is especially tough.
NANCY S – praying for you and your husband as the two of you seek answers.
KRISTIN – praying for protection for your friend/children
Praying for those who physically , emotionally or socially feel exiled
As the keeper of our very large family tree going back 7 generations and thousands of people, I love tracing the lines in these genealogies and putting question marks and wondering where in the world did this name come from? I think of the many conversations I have with older relatives where I say, “wait, who is this and where do they go?” Getting different answers from different people and having to do some digging. I know the laughter and frustration and relationships that are built around those conversations and I imagine the audience hearing these genealogies were having similar conversations and experiences. That new relationships with family members and realizations about who goes where and the stories about the people were shared over meals and afternoons spent searching for more formation. There’s a grounding that comes from knowing where you fall in that vast genealogy and a sense of belonging. It makes all the names and the people come alive, and takes away the dryness of reading the list. Enjoying it more than I have when reading these passages in the past!
Many women listed in today’s reading for those looking. Also mention of a divorce. We know it happened but I believe this is the only time a specific couple is mentioned.
Praying for all of you struggling with these lists. Hang in there with us.
HARRISON EASLER – prayers for your school application process
ERICA CHRISTIAN – praying your mom’s meds get worked out
Ouch, not sure why that got posted 3 times apologies. Reposting the full comment – it’s worth remembering the many people in our world for whom physical exiles and returns are happening right now. These things are not removed from our present day lives, let’s keep them in our prayers today & thank God that when He restores, Henrestores
It’s worth remembering the many people in our world for whom physical exiles & returns are happening right now. They are not removed at all from present day lives – be it because of wars and conflicts, or natural disasters. Let’s hold them tight in prayer today and thank God that when He restores, He always restores above and beyond.
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God calls me faithful