Bered
Bered was a descendant of Ephraim through Shuthelah.
Biography
Bered appears in the Ephraimite genealogy of 1 Chronicles 7:20 as a descendant of the patriarch Ephraim through Shuthelah, one of the lineages that survived the catastrophic raid by the men of Gath recorded in the same chapter. He is listed as the son of Shuthelah and the father of Tahath, representing one generation in a chain of tribal continuity that eventually leads to Joshua, Israel's great military leader. Though Bered himself is given no personal narrative in Scripture, his place in this genealogy situates him within the early period of Israel's sojourn in Egypt, contributing to the tribal structure that would shape the community's identity for generations.
Significance
Bered's position in the Ephraimite genealogy underscores the biblical theme of covenant continuity through faithful, often unnamed generations. The tribe of Ephraim suffered devastating losses, the sons of Ephraim killed by the men of Gath are mourned by the patriarch himself (1 Chronicles 7:22), yet the line continued through figures like Bered. This genealogical persistence points to God's faithfulness in preserving the tribes of Israel despite tragedy and loss. The chain from Ephraim through Bered eventually reaches Joshua (1 Chronicles 7:27), the servant of God who led Israel into the Promised Land, a reminder that God's purposes advance even through obscure generational links.
Verse Appearances (1)
1 Chronicles
References
- Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Individualised Proper Names with all References (TIPNR). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]