Bered (1)
Identity and Name
Bered is identified in 1 Chronicles 7:20 as a son of Shuthelah, who was himself a son of Ephraim. The name Bered comes from a Hebrew root meaning "to be cold" and is often translated as "hail." This Bered should be distinguished from the place called Bered mentioned in Genesis 16:14, which was a location in the Negev near the well of Beer-lahai-roi where Hagar encountered the angel of the Lord.
Genealogical Context
The genealogy in 1 Chronicles 7:20-29 traces the descendants of Ephraim through several generations. The passage reads: "The sons of Ephraim: Shuthelah, and Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son." This lineage eventually leads to Joshua (called Nun's son), the great military leader who brought Israel into the Promised Land (1 Chronicles 7:27).
Bered thus stands in the ancestral line that produced one of the most significant figures in all of Israelite history. While Bered himself did not perform notable recorded deeds, his place in the genealogy connects the patriarchal promise given to Ephraim with the fulfillment seen in Joshua's leadership.
The Tribe of Ephraim
Ephraim was one of the two sons of Joseph born in Egypt (Genesis 41:52). Despite being the younger son, Ephraim received the greater blessing from his grandfather Jacob, who crossed his hands when blessing the two boys, placing his right hand on Ephraim's head (Genesis 48:13-20). This prophetic act indicated that Ephraim's descendants would become greater than those of his brother Manasseh.
The tribe of Ephraim indeed became one of the most powerful in Israel. Their territory in the central hill country was strategically important, and Shiloh, where the tabernacle rested for centuries, was located within their borders (Joshua 18:1). After the kingdom divided, Ephraim became so dominant in the northern kingdom that the prophets sometimes used "Ephraim" as a synonym for all of Israel (Hosea 5:3).
Bered and the Chronicler's Purpose
The genealogies in 1 Chronicles served a vital purpose for the post-exilic community. They established identity, legitimacy, and continuity with God's promises. By tracing Ephraim's line through Bered and others down to Joshua, the Chronicler demonstrated that God's purposes worked through specific family lines across generations. Every name in the chain, including Bered, represented a link in the providential plan.
Comparison with Other Genealogies
Some scholars note that the genealogy in 1 Chronicles 7:20 differs slightly from the listing in Numbers 26:35-36, where the Ephraimite clans are organized differently. Bered may correspond to the Becher mentioned elsewhere in Ephraimite genealogies, with the names representing variant spellings or clan designations that shifted over time.
Biblical Context
Bered appears in 1 Chronicles 7:20 in the genealogy of Ephraim as the son of Shuthelah. This genealogy traces the line from Ephraim through several generations to Joshua son of Nun. The passage is part of the Chronicler's comprehensive tribal genealogies in 1 Chronicles 1-9, which established Israel's identity for the post-exilic community.
Theological Significance
Bered's place in the genealogy connecting Ephraim to Joshua demonstrates God's faithfulness across generations. Each link in the chain represents God's providential preservation of the line through which he would raise up Israel's great military leader. The genealogy also connects to Jacob's prophetic blessing of Ephraim as the greater tribe.
Historical Background
The Ephraimite genealogies reflect the complex clan structures of ancient Israel. Genealogical records served social, legal, and religious functions, establishing land rights, tribal membership, and priestly legitimacy. The Chronicler compiled these records after the Babylonian exile to help the restored community reconnect with their ancestral heritage.