Editor's Note
First Chronicles is the first of several books that we’re going to read throughout the summer. We’re going to read 1 Chronicles, then go back and read the prophets mentioned throughout 1 Chronicles. Then we’ll move onto 2 Chronicles and do the same!
We believe that the Holy Spirit has preserved these books for a reason and we can’t wait see what we learn from God’s Word as we study these ancient books.
Read 1 Chronicles 2
Israel’s Sons
2 These were the sons of Israel:
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, 2 Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
Judah
To Hezron’s Sons
3 The sons of Judah:Er, Onan and Shelah. These three were born to him by a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death. 4 Judah’s daughter-in-lawTamar bore Perez and Zerah to Judah. He had five sons in all.
5 The sons of Perez:Hezron and Hamul.6 The sons of Zerah:Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Kalkol and Darda—five in all.7 The son of Karmi:Achar, who brought trouble on Israel by violating the ban on taking devoted things.8 The son of Ethan:Azariah.9 The sons born to Hezron were:Jerahmeel, Ram and Caleb.
From Ram Son of Hezron
10 Ram was the father ofAmminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, the leader of the people of Judah. 11 Nahshon was the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, 12 Boaz the father of Obed and Obed the father of Jesse.13 Jesse was the father ofEliab his firstborn; the second son was Abinadab, the third Shimea,14 the fourth Nethanel, the fifth Raddai, 15 the sixth Ozem and the seventh David. 16 Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah’s three sons were Abishai, Joab and Asahel. 17 Abigail was the mother of Amasa, whose father was Jether the Ishmaelite.
Caleb Son of Hezron
18 Caleb son of Hezron had children by his wife Azubah (and by Jerioth). These were her sons: Jesher, Shobab and Ardon. 19 When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur. 20 Hur was the father of Uri, and Uri the father of Bezalel.21 Later, Hezron, when he was sixty years old, married the daughter of Makir the father of Gilead. He made love to her, and she bore him Segub. 22 Segub was the father of Jair, who controlled twenty-three towns in Gilead. 23 (But Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth Jair, as well as Kenath with its surrounding settlements—sixty towns.) All these were descendants of Makir the father of Gilead.
24 After Hezron died in Caleb Ephrathah, Abijah the wife of Hezron bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.
Jerahmeel Son of Hezron
25 The sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron:Ram his firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem and Ahijah. 26 Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam.27 The sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel:Maaz, Jamin and Eker.28 The sons of Onam:Shammai and Jada.The sons of Shammai:Nadab and Abishur.29 Abishur’s wife was named Abihail, who bore him Ahban and Molid.30 The sons of Nadab:Seled and Appaim. Seled died without children.31 The son of Appaim:Ishi, who was the father of Sheshan.Sheshan was the father of Ahlai.32 The sons of Jada, Shammai’s brother:Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without children.33 The sons of Jonathan:Peleth and Zaza.These were the descendants of Jerahmeel.34 Sheshan had no sons—only daughters.He had an Egyptian servant named Jarha. 35 Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to his servant Jarha, and she bore him Attai.36 Attai was the father of Nathan,Nathan the father of Zabad,37 Zabad the father of Ephlal,Ephlal the father of Obed,38 Obed the father of Jehu,Jehu the father of Azariah,39 Azariah the father of Helez,Helez the father of Eleasah,40 Eleasah the father of Sismai,Sismai the father of Shallum,41 Shallum the father of Jekamiah,and Jekamiah the father of Elishama.
The Clans of Caleb
42 The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel:Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph, and his son Mareshah,who was the father of Hebron.43 The sons of Hebron:Korah, Tappuah, Rekem and Shema. 44 Shema was the father of Raham, and Raham the father of Jorkeam. Rekem was the father of Shammai.45 The son of Shammai was Maon, and Maon was the father of Beth Zur.46 Caleb’s concubine Ephah was the mother of Haran, Moza and Gazez. Haran was the father of Gazez.47 The sons of Jahdai:Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah and Shaaph.48 Caleb’s concubine Maakah was the mother of Sheber and Tirhanah.49 She also gave birth to Shaaph the father of Madmannah and to Sheva the father of Makbenah and Gibea. Caleb’s daughter was Aksah.50 These were the descendants of Caleb.
The sons of Hur the firstborn of Ephrathah:Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim, 51 Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth Gader.52 The descendants of Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim were:Haroeh, half the Manahathites, 53 and the clans of Kiriath Jearim: the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites and Mishraites. From these descended the Zorathites and Eshtaolites.54 The descendants of Salma:Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, half the Manahathites, the Zorites, 55 and the clans of scribes who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, Shimeathites and Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the Rekabites.
Go Deeper
Lists of family genealogies are key features in the books of 1 and 2 Chronicles. Although they are not everyone’s favorite chapters in Scripture, there are many reasons that genealogies were important to the Jewish people and are important for us as well. They served as proof of Jewish identity which meant being an heir to the blessings promised to Abraham back in Genesis 12 of land, seed, and blessing. They were crucial in tracing the line of the Messiah. These genealogies were also evidence of the historical accuracy of the Bible. These are not just a list of names. They are real people with real stories. We know that God uses every story, and He cares about the details. We should not simply read genealogies, we should study them.
This chapter continues the genealogies of the descendants of Israel (Jacob) and Judah, who is the fourth son of Jacob. “Israel” is the name that God gave Jacob when he was rebranded in Genesis 32. The twelve sons of Israel is where we get the twelve tribes of Israel. His sons were: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher. A majority of this chapter, however, goes through the descendants of Judah. There is a section in this chapter dedicated to the line of Perez, who was Judah’s son by explicit means of his daughter-in-law, Tamar (Genesis 38). Through Perez’s line comes a man named Boaz, who married Ruth and preserved Jacob’s family.
The line of Perez also includes King David, and the future Messiah. There are many prophecies about Judah’s family line. In Genesis 49, Israel (Jacob) spoke blessings over his twelve sons. He said, “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his” (49:10). This means that the tribe of Judah will produce conquering kings, and a very specific King who will rule forever. This points to a future Victor who would come from the line of Judah: Jesus Christ.
Jesus has always been God’s “Plan A” to redeem and restore the broken world from the beginning (Genesis 3:15). He is called the “Lion of Judah” both in Genesis and Revelation. A lion is a symbol of a kingly tribe, and we know that King David was a descendant of Judah as well. Jesus is the long-awaited Lion of Judah who came to establish an eternal kingdom. In the book of Revelation, the apostle John received a revelation on the island of Patmos. It was said to him, “See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals” (Revelation 5:5). Jesus is both the Lion of Judah and the Lamb who was slain for us. Just as the people of Israel looked forward to the future King from the line of Judah who would reign, we get to look back on what He has done and celebrate. Jesus is a Warrior-King who will one day return and reign in glory!
Questions
- What names in these genealogies were familiar to you? What do you know about these people?
- What can we learn from the descendants of Judah? How does this line fit into God’s sovereign plan throughout Scripture?
- What does Jesus’ family line teach us about how God accomplishes His purposes?
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2 thoughts on “1 Chronicles 2”
It’s interesting to note the sprinkling of insights the writer gives to some of the names listed in the genealogies. V3 tells us that Judah’s “oldest son, Er, was a wicked man, so the Lord killed him.” I’m reminded that through the free will we’ve been granted to make our own choices, we are forging a legacy. In the midst of crafting a life in this crazy culture we live in, we often fall prey to being accepted by worldly standards. We blend in and try to fit in, when God calls us to be set apart for his purposes. What God thinks about us infinitely matters! Interestingly, Judah, whose 1st born son was destroyed because of his wickedness, was also the very lineage of our Savior. That’s what I call redemption.
We need to know how accurate God’s word is and the genealogy gives us that information. BUT GOD throughout history has used people who were not always on top of their game. He required faithfulness, that took some of them and us some time to come to that conviction of truly doing what was asked or required. In all of this is mentioned men who bore only daughters or who died without children but evidently God thought them to be important enough to have mention in this genealogy due to their faithfulness or steadfast love for Him, perhaps. God also mentions those who were not so faithful that He struck down. We want life easy and our way. BUT GOD wants all to know Him or at least have the opportunity. Pray, speak, listen to hear, love!!!! Romans 6:23 for the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. WOOHOO!!!!
God thank You for Your HESED love, steadfast unconditional, unwavering, unstoppable, full of 2nd chances love. God thank You for boldness to speak about You. Let me turn from my evil ways and repent. I am so thankful for Jesus as my mediator. Thank You for Your mercy. Thank You for someone being bold and speaking Jesus to my son, and that I can be bold and speak Jesus to their son. God I praise You, give You honor and glory for this day in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!