Who was Sheerah?

I have read through the Bible several times.  Sometimes I have skipped over the genealogies rationalizing that they are long lists of nearly unpronounceable names of obscure people, and they are irrelevant to doctrine or my life.


Recently I read the list of Ephraim's descendants in I Chronicles 7:24:  His daughter was Sheerah, who built Lower and Upper Beth Horon as well as Uzzen Sheerah.


Many times biblical genealogies only include male descendants.  Only occasionally are the names of wives included.  But, here is a daughter who is not only mentioned, but who is credited with building three communities.


Who was Sheerah?  She lived thousands of years ago in a middle eastern land where women were supposedly  thought of as property.  How did she rise above the accepted role for her gender?


Exactly what does it mean that she built these three communities?  She must have been assertive and resourceful, a person of intelligence and organizational skills who was both knowledgeable and wise.  Did she offend people...especially men...in the process of exercising her gifts?


I like strong women. I have been accused of being a strong woman. I have good friends who are strong women.  I would have liked to have known Sheerah.  It is probably lucky for my daughters that I didn't happen on this fragment of a story before they were born.  One of them might have ended up named....


SHEERAH!