Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Chronicles 12:30

"And of the children of Ephraim twenty thousand and eight hundred, mighty men of valor, famous men in their fathers` houses." — 1 Chronicles 12:30 (ASV)

Famous throughout the house of their fathers. —Rather, men of name (renown, as in Genesis 6:4), arranged according to their clans. The phrase “men of renown” is a natural addition to “valiant heroes,” and should cause no surprise. Doubtless their renown was collective. The comparative smallness of Ephraim’s contingent is noticeable. If this tribe was not already declining within the Mosaic period (Numbers 26:37), it may have been greatly reduced by the last wars of Saul with the Philistines (compare 2 Samuel 2:9).