1 Chronicles 7:17

And the sons of Ulam; Bedan. These were the sons of Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.

1 Chronicles 7:17 (KJV)

Context

1 Chronicles records the family lines of Israel, from Adam to the time of King David. Chapter 7 lists descendants of Manasseh, the firstborn son of Joseph and grandson of Jacob, also called Israel. This verse names Bedan as the son of Ulam, then connects them to Gilead, the son of Machir, the son of Manasseh.

Meaning

The verse shows that Ulam and Bedan belong to the family of Gilead, a leading clan within Manasseh. The surrounding passage, 1 Chronicles 7:14-19, gives more details about Machir, Gilead, and their relatives. Such records preserved tribal identity and inheritance rights for Israel. They also helped the returning exiles confirm their heritage and trust God’s faithfulness to His promises.

Biblical connections

Manasseh and Ephraim, Joseph’s two sons, were blessed by Jacob and became tribes in Israel. The genealogies in Chronicles established historical continuity for the post-exilic community. Some connect this Bedan with the judge mentioned in 1 Samuel 12:11, but that link is uncertain and not essential to the verse’s meaning.

Application

Every name in this list mattered to God. He knew each person and their place in His plan. Believers today can find assurance that God also knows them personally, even when their lives seem small or unnoticed. God cares for each individual, and no one is forgotten by Him.

Reflection

Preserving family and spiritual heritage is valuable. These records remind readers that God works through ordinary people across generations, and no faithful life is forgotten by Him. Even those mentioned only in genealogies have a place in God’s redemptive history.