Bered

Background and Family

Bered appears in the genealogical listings of 1 Chronicles 7, a section dedicated to the descendants of the sons of Jacob. He is identified as a member of the tribe of Ephraim, one of the two sons of Joseph. According to the record in 1 Chronicles 7:20, Bered was the son of Shuthelah, who was the primary son and heir of Ephraim.

The text establishes Bered’s immediate family structure within the tribal hierarchy. He was the brother of Eran and the father of Tahath. This placement suggests Bered lived during the generations that followed the initial settlement of the Hebrews in the land of Goshen. As a grandson of Ephraim (or a great-grandson, depending on the interpretation of the repetitive names in the list), Bered represents the expansion of the tribe during the prosperous years in Egypt before the period of harsh servitude began.

Major Life Events

There are no specific major life events recorded for Bered in the Masoretic Text or the Septuagint. His existence is documented solely through his inclusion in the tribal registries. The absence of narrative details is common for many figures in the Books of Chronicles, which were compiled to establish the legal and spiritual legitimacy of the returning exiles by documenting their ancestral roots.

However, the presence of Bered in these lists confirms that the tribe of Ephraim maintained careful records of its lineage during the centuries spent in Egypt. Bered’s life would have been characterized by the transition of the Israelites from a small family unit into a populous nation. He lived in an era where the memory of Joseph’s authority in Egypt was still relatively fresh, yet the tribe was beginning to establish its distinct internal leadership structures.

Relationship to Other Biblical Figures

Bered is positioned between his father, Shuthelah, and his son, Tahath. In the broader context of the tribe, he is a direct descendant of Joseph through Ephraim. The genealogical sequence in 1 Chronicles 7:20 reads: "The descendants of Ephraim: Shuthelah, Bered his son, Tahath his son, Eleadah his son, Tahath his son."

It is noteworthy that the name Tahath appears twice in this sequence, suggesting either a repetition of family names across generations or a complex genealogical structure. Bered’s role is that of a transmitter of the tribal promise, ensuring that the lineage of Ephraim remained intact until the time of the Exodus.

Spiritual Significance

Though Bered is a minor figure, his inclusion in the Bible underscores the theological theme of God’s faithfulness to his covenant with the patriarchs. By naming individuals like Bered, the Chronicler emphasizes that every member of the covenant community is known to God.

In the context of the Egyptian sojourn, Bered represents the fulfillment of the promise made to Abraham that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars. Even in the silence of the biblical narrative regarding his personal deeds, Bered stands as a witness to the continuity of the Israelite people during their formative years in a foreign land. His name is etched into the record to prove the legitimacy of the Ephraimite inheritance, a tribe that would eventually become the dominant power in the Northern Kingdom of Israel.