I Chronicles 7 (NIV)

Summary:

Key: [] = Mother
         + = Firstborn Son
         * = Son
        d  = Daughter
        w = Wife
Issachar
Verses 1-5

Sons: Tola, Puah, Jashub, Shimron
Tola -> *Uzzi, *Rephaiah, *Jeriel, *Jahmai, *Ibsam, *Samuel: They were the heads of their families.  During the reign of King David, the people of Tola had 22,600 fighting men.

Uzzi -> *Izrahiah -> *Michael, *Obadiah, *Joel, *Isshiah: They were all chiefs.  The people of Uzzi had many wives and children.  There were 36,000 fighting men.

The tribe of Issachar had 87,000 fighting men in total.

Benjamin
Verses 6-12

Sons: Bela, Beker, Jediael
Bela -> *Ezbon, *Uzzi, *Uzziel, *Jerimoth, *Iri: They were the heads of their families.  The people of Bela had 22,034 fighting men.

Beker -> *Zemirah, *Joash, *Eliezer, *Elioenai, *Omri, *Jeremoth, *Abijah, *Anathoth, *Alemeth:  They were the heads of their families.  The people of Beker had 20,200 fighting men.

Jediael -> *Bilhan -> *Jeush, *Benjamin, *Ehud, *Kenaanah, *Zethan, *Tarshish, *Ahishahar:  They were the heads of their families.  The people of Jediael had 17,200 fighting men.

The descendants of Ir: Shuppites, Huppites.
The descendants of Aher: Hushites.

(I'm guessing Ir and Aher were descendants of Benjamin, but their exact lineage is unknown.)

Naphtali
Verse 13

[Bilhah] -> *Jahziel, *Guni, *Jezer, *Shillem

Manasseh
Verses 14-19

[Aramean concubine] -> d. Maacah, *Asriel, *Makir -> *Gilead
- Makir's wife was from the Shuppites & Huppites
- Descendant: Zelophehad -> only daughters

Makir and [Maacah] -> *Sheresh, *Peresh -> *Rakem, *Ulam -> *Bedan

Gilead and [sister Hammoleketh] -> *Ishhod, Abiezer, Mahlah

Shemida (descendant of Manasseh) -> *Ahian, *Shechem, *Likhi, *Aniam

Ephraim
Verses 20-29

Descendants: Shuthelah -> *Bered -> *Tahath -> *Eleadah -> *Tahath -> *Zabad -> *Shuthelah

Ezer and Elead were killed by native-born men of Gath, who had come to seize their livestock.  Their father Ephraim mourned for many days and his relatives came to comfort him.  Then, he and his wife had their son Beriah, which is similar to the Hebrew word for "misfortune".

Daughter Sheerah built the Lower & Upper Beth Horon, and Uzzen Sheerah (cool, a powerful female!)

Rephah -> *Resheph -> *Telah -> *Tahan -> *Ladan -> *Ammihud -> *Elishama -> *Nun -> *Joshua (you know, the guy that became leader after Moses died.  Also, the guy that looks really hot in Charlton Heston's "The Ten Commandments".)

Their lands and settlements: Bethel and its villages, Naaran to the east, Gezer and its villages to the west, Shechem and its villages all the way to Ayyah and its villages.  Along the borders of Manasseh, they lived in Beth Shan, Taanach, Megiddo, Dor, and its villages.  These are where the descendants of Joseph son of Israel lived.

Asher
Verses 30-40

Sons: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, d. Serah
Beriah -> *Heber, *Malkiel -> *Birzaith
Heber -> *Japhlet, *Shomer, *Hotham, d. Shua
Japhlet -> *Pasach, *Bimhal, *Ashvath
Shomer -> *Ahi, *Rohgah, *Hubbah, *Aram

(brother?) Helem -> *Zophah, *Imna, *Shelesh, *Amal
Zophah -> *Suah, *Harepher, *Shual, *Beri, *Imrah, *Bezer, *Hod, *Shamma, *Shilshah, *Ithran, *Beera

Jether -> *Jephunneh, *Pispah, *Ara

Ulla -> *Arah, *Hanniel, *Rizia

These were the heads of the families, choice men, brave warriors, and outstanding leaders.  The tribe of Asher had 26,000 fighting men in total.

Lori's Thoughts:

1. These men were warriors.  They were soldiers for God, put in charge of protecting His people.  In previous chapters, we met priests and shepherds.  Everyone has a distinct purpose and ability.  The Israelite tribes were able to function because of the diversity of its people.  God made us individuals.  His plan is to have us be a prosperous people, working together.

2. These tribes had many wives, and some of them married their sisters.  I want to point out that this book is a record of their lineage, not regulations for how we are to live.  We know now the implications of inter-family relations - birth defects.  We can see human imperfections in the Bible.  The lesson from this is that God works with us and blesses us, while we are broken.  He loves us as we are, even when we're wretched, and works with us towards perfection.

3. Family is very important.  We can see this when Ephraim mourns for his murdered sons.  His family came together to support and comfort him.  I encourage you to strengthen your family ties.  I know this is easier said than done, especially if you have a broken family, like mine.  A lot of times I want to just go it alone.  BUT - it is the devil's tactic to divide God's people.  We're weaker that way.  For example, the tribe of Israel became divided into Israel and Judah.  One by one, each tribe turned from God and they were all exiled from their promised land.  Don't let this happen to you.  This weekend, my family and I anointed our apartment, asking for God to expel evil spirits and prevent evil from entering our home.  We went to church together and heard Nicol Sponberg (former singer of Selah) perform.  Our home is much more peaceful now, so it's easier to get along with my mother and sisters.  Try it.  We have no super power, other than the ability to talk to God, which you also have.