1 Chronicles 7:40

1Ch 7:40 All these [were] the children of Asher, heads of [their] father’s house, choice [and] mighty men of valour, chief of the princes. And the number throughout the genealogy of them that were apt to the war [and] to battle [was] twenty and six thousand men.

Ver. 40. Chief of the princes.] Duces ducum, to whom the princes were to give an account. See Dan 6:1-2.

Was twenty and six thousand.] So happy was Asher, according to Moses’s blessing left with him. {Deu 33:24-25}

John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Verse 40. The children of Asher] The rabbins say that the daughters of Asher were very beautiful, and were all matched with kings or priests. Several things relative to the subjects in this chapter may be found explained in the parallel places marked in the margin.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(40) The summing up of the list. “All these were sons of Asher, picked chiefs of the father-houses, valiant warriors, chiefs of the princes.” This declares that the names in the foregoing series are those of the chiefs of the different Asherite clans. They are called “choice,” picked men, eximii, and chiefs of the princes or emirs. The clans appear to be identified with their chieftains.

And the number throughout the genealogy.—Better, and their census, in the host, in the battle—their number in men was 26,000.” Perhaps we should render in the case of service in war. The census here given has reference only to the number of males qualified for military service. In the Mosaic census (Num_1:41) the total of males of the tribe of Asher was 41,500; and a generation later, the fighting men were 53,000 (Num_26:47). The date of the present census is not assigned. If it be that of David, which appears likely, the tribe may have declined in numbers and importance by his day. (Comp. Jdg_5:17. “Asher continued at the sea-shore, and abode on his creeks;” i.e., did not bestir himself for the war).

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

40. of their fathers’ house] R.V. of the fathers’ houses.

the number … to battle was] R.V. the number of them reckoned by genealogy for service in war was, etc.

twenty and six thousand] In 1Ch_12:36 the men of war of Asher are reckoned at forty thousand (cp. Num_1:41; Num_26:47, where still higher reckonings are given). The numbers here and in 1Ch_7:5; 1Ch_7:7; 1Ch_7:9; 1Ch_7:11 (as well as in 1Ch_7:2, which see) seem to refer to the time of David. The numbers may be based on family traditions, but it would be unsafe to draw any important conclusions from them.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Of captains; a Hebrew idiom, to denote the most excellent. (Haydock) --- Hebrew, "chief of the princes." All mentioned from ver. 30, were at the hand of their tribe, in succession, and led their brethren to battle. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

Twenty and six thousand. The number of Asherites, "of twenty years old and upwards, able to go forth to war," given in Num_1:40, Num_1:41, was forty-one thousand five hundred. Forty years Num_26:44-47; comp. ver. 2) the number was fifty-three thousand four hundred. But it is supposed that the twenty-six thousand of this verse may refer only to a portion of the tribe, i.e. to the large and distinguished family of Heber. It is to be noticed that the name of the tribe of Asher is not found in the list of the "chief rulers" lower down in this. (1Ch_27:16-22) The tone also in which reference is made to Asher and Manasseh and Zebulun coming to Jerusalem to Hezekiah"s Passover (2Ch_30:11) is very noticeable. This tribe, with Simeon, gave no judge to the nation, and of all the tribes west of the Jordan they stand by themselves in this respect. There is an ancient legend that the parents of St. Paul lived within the territories of Asher, at the place called Ahlab in Jud 1:31, otherwise Giscala, or Gush Chaleb. Against the uncertainty of the legend we may gratefully remember the certainty of the history of the "Anna, daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of. (Luk_2:36)

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.