1 Chronicles Chapter 2

Updated: September 14, 2025

The Sons of Israel

(Genesis 35:22-26)

1These are the sons of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, 2Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Descendants of Judah

(Genesis 38:1-26)

3The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him. 4And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.

5The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul. 6And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all. 7And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed. 8And the sons of Ethan; Azariah.

9The sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him; Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai. 10And Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah; 11And Nahshon begat Salma, and Salma begat Boaz, 12And Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse,

The Children of Jesse

13And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third, 14Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, 15Ozem the sixth, David the seventh: 16Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three. 17And Abigail bare Amasa: and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmeelite.

Descendants of Hezron

18And Caleb the son of Hezron begat children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth: her sons are these; Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon. 19And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bare him Hur. 20And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezaleel.

21And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he married when he was threescore years old; and she bare him Segub. 22And Segub begat Jair, who had three and twenty cities in the land of Gilead. 23And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with Kenath, and the towns thereof, even threescore cities. All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead. 24And after that Hezron was dead in Calebephratah, then Abiah Hezron's wife bare him Ashur the father of Tekoa.

Descendants of Jerahmeel

25And the sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were, Ram the firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, and Ahijah. 26Jerahmeel had also another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam. 27And the sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel were, Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker. 28And the sons of Onam were, Shammai, and Jada. And the sons of Shammai; Nadab, and Abishur. 29And the name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail, and she bare him Ahban, and Molid. 30And the sons of Nadab; Seled, and Appaim: but Seled died without children. 31And the sons of Appaim; Ishi. And the sons of Ishi; Sheshan. And the children of Sheshan; Ahlai. 32And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai; Jether, and Jonathan: and Jether died without children. 33And the sons of Jonathan; Peleth, and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel. 34Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha. 35And Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant to wife; and she bare him Attai. 36And Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad, 37And Zabad begat Ephlal, and Ephlal begat Obed, 38And Obed begat Jehu, and Jehu begat Azariah, 39And Azariah begat Helez, and Helez begat Eleasah, 40And Eleasah begat Sisamai, and Sisamai begat Shallum, 41And Shallum begat Jekamiah, and Jekamiah begat Elishama.

The Clans of Caleb

42Now the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were, Mesha his firstborn, which was the father of Ziph; and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron. 43And the sons of Hebron; Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema. 44And Shema begat Raham, the father of Jorkoam: and Rekem begat Shammai. 45And the son of Shammai was Maon: and Maon was the father of Bethzur. 46And Ephah, Caleb's concubine, bare Haran, and Moza, and Gazez: and Haran begat Gazez. 47And the sons of Jahdai; Regem, and Jotham, and Geshan, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph. 48Maachah, Caleb's concubine, bare Sheber, and Tirhanah. 49She bare also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah, and the father of Gibea: and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah. 50These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim, 51Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Bethgader. 52And Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim had sons; Haroeh, and half of the Manahethites. 53And the families of Kirjathjearim; the Ithrites, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; of them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites. 54The sons of Salma; Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Ataroth, the house of Joab, and half of the Manahethites, the Zorites. 55And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.

King James Bible

Text courtesy of BibleProtector.com.

The Sons of Israel
(Genesis 35:21–26; Genesis 38:1–30)

1 These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, 2 Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

3 The sons of Judah: Er, and Onan, and Shelah; which three were born to him of Shua’s daughter the Canaanitess. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Yahweh; and he killed him. 4 Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.

5 The sons of Perez: Hezron, and Hamul. 6 The sons of Zerah: Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara; five of them in all. 7 The sons of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass in the devoted thing. 8 The sons of Ethan: Azariah.

9 The sons also of Hezron, who were born to him: Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai. 10 Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah; 11 and Nahshon became the father of Salma, and Salma became the father of Boaz, 12 and Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse;

13 and Jesse became the father of his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimea the third, 14 Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, 15 Ozem the sixth, David the seventh; 16 and their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three. 17 Abigail bore Amasa; and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.

18 Caleb the son of Hezron became the father of children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth; and these were her sons: Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon. 19 Azubah died, and Caleb took to him Ephrath, who bore him Hur. 20 Hur became the father of Uri, and Uri became the father of Bezalel.

21 Afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he took as wife when he was sixty years old; and she bore him Segub. 22 Segub became the father of Jair, who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead. 23 Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath, and its villages, even sixty cities. All these were the sons of Machir the father of Gilead. 24 After that Hezron was dead in Caleb Ephrathah, then Abijah Hezron’s wife bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.

25 The sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were Ram the firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, 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 were Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker. 28 The sons of Onam were Shammai, and Jada. The sons of Shammai: Nadab, and Abishur. 29 The name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail; and she bore him Ahban, and Molid. 30 The sons of Nadab: Seled, and Appaim; but Seled died without children. 31 The sons of Appaim: Ishi. The sons of Ishi: Sheshan. The sons of Sheshan: Ahlai. 32 The sons of Jada the brother of Shammai: Jether, and Jonathan; and Jether died without children. 33 The sons of Jonathan: Peleth, and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel. 34 Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha. 35 Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant as wife; and she bore him Attai. 36 Attai became the father of Nathan, and Nathan became the father of Zabad, 37 and Zabad became the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal became the father of Obed, 38 and Obed became the father of Jehu, and Jehu became the father of Azariah, 39 and Azariah became the father of Helez, and Helez became the father of Eleasah, 40 and Eleasah became the father of Sismai, and Sismai became the father of Shallum, 41 and Shallum became the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah became the father of Elishama.

42 The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph; and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron. 43 The sons of Hebron: Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema. 44 Shema became the father of Raham, the father of Jorkeam; and Rekem became the father of Shammai. 45 The son of Shammai was Maon; and Maon was the father of Beth Zur. 46 Ephah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Haran, and Moza, and Gazez; and Haran became the father of Gazez. 47 The sons of Jahdai: Regem, and Jothan, and Geshan, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph. 48 Maacah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah. 49 She bore also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbena, and the father of Gibea; and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah. 50 These were the sons of Caleb, the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim, 51 Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Beth Gader. 52 Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim had sons: Haroeh, half of the Menuhoth. 53 The families of Kiriath Jearim: The Ithrites, and the Puthites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; of them came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites. 54 The sons of Salma: Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites. 55 The families of scribes who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came of Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.

The Sons of Israel
(Genesis 35:21–26; Genesis 38:1–30)

1 These were the sons of Israel:

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, 2 Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

3 The sons of Judah:

Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bath-shua the Canaanite. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, who put him to death.

4 Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all.

5 The sons of Perez:

Hezron and Hamul.

6 The sons of Zerah:

Zimri, a Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara b—five in all.

7 The son c of Carmi:

Achar, d who brought trouble upon Israel by violating the ban on devoted things.

8 The son of Ethan:

Azariah.

9 The sons who were born to Hezron:

Jerahmeel, Ram, and Caleb. e

10 Ram was the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, a leader of the descendants of Judah.

11 Nahshon was the father of Salmon, f and Salmon was the father of Boaz.

12 Boaz was the father of Obed, and Obed was the father of Jesse.

13 Jesse was the father of Eliab his firstborn; Abinadab was born second, Shimea g third, 14 Nethanel fourth, Raddai fifth, 15 Ozem sixth, and David seventh. 16 Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel. 17 Abigail was the mother of Amasa, whose father was Jether h the Ishmaelite.

18 Caleb son of Hezron had children by his wife Azubah and by Jerioth. These were the sons of Azubah: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. 19 When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, i who bore to him Hur. 20 Hur was the father of Uri, and Uri was the father of Bezalel.

21 Later, Hezron slept with the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead. He had married her when he was sixty years old, and she bore to him Segub. 22 Segub was the father of Jair, who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead. 23 But Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth-jair, j along with Kenath and its sixty surrounding villages. All these were descendants of Machir the father of Gilead.

24 After Hezron died in Caleb-ephrathah, his wife Abijah bore k to him Ashhur the father l of Tekoa.

25 The sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron:

Ram his firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah. 26 Jerahmeel had another wife named Atarah, who 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, and she bore to him Ahban and Molid.

30 The sons of Nadab:

Seled and Appaim. Seled died without children.

31 The son m of Appaim:

Ishi.

The son of Ishi:

Sheshan.

The son of Sheshan:

Ahlai.

32 The sons of Jada the brother of Shammai:

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, but only daughters; but he did have an Egyptian servant named Jarha. 35 Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to his servant Jarha, and she bore to him Attai.

36 Attai was the father of Nathan, Nathan was the father of Zabad, 37 Zabad was the father of Ephlal, Ephlal was the father of Obed, 38 Obed was the father of Jehu, Jehu was the father of Azariah, 39 Azariah was the father of Helez, Helez was the father of Elasah, 40 Elasah was the father of Sismai, Sismai was the father of Shallum, 41 Shallum was the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah was the father of Elishama.

42 The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel:

Mesha n his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph, and Mareshah his second son, who was the father of Hebron.

43 The sons of Hebron:

Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema. 44 Shema was the father of Raham the father of Jorkeam, and 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 Maacah was the mother of Sheber and Tirhanah. 49 She was also the mother of Shaaph father of Madmannah, and of Sheva father of Machbenah and Gibea. Caleb’s daughter was Acsah. 50 These were the descendants of Caleb.

The sons o of Hur the firstborn of Ephrathah: p

Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim, 51 Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth-gader.

52 These were the descendants of Shobal the father of Kiriath-jearim:

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 the scribes q who lived at Jabez—the Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab. r

Footnotes:

6 a Zimri  is a variant of Zabdi ; see Joshua 7:1.
6 b Most Hebrew manuscripts; many Hebrew manuscripts, some LXX manuscripts, and Syriac (see also 1 Kings 4:31) Darda
7 c Hebrew sons
7 d Achar  means troubler ; also called Achan  in Joshua 7 and Joshua 22.
9 e Hebrew Chelubai , a variant of Caleb ; see verse 18.
11 f LXX (see also Ruth 4:20–21); Hebrew Salma ; twice in this verse
13 g Shimea  is a variant of Shammah , Shimeah , and Shimei ; see 1 Samuel 16:9, 2 Samuel 13:3, and 2 Samuel 21:21.
17 h Jether  is a variant of Ithra ; see 2 Samuel 17:25.
19 i Ephrath  is a variant of Ephrathah ; see verse 50.
23 j Or the villages of Jair
24 k Or After Hezron died, Caleb had relations with Ephrathah, the wife of Hezron his father, and she bore ; see also LXX.
24 l Or the founder ; also in verses 42, 45, 49, and possibly elsewhere
31 m Hebrew sons ; three times in this verse
42 n Hebrew; LXX Mareshah
50 o LXX and Vulgate; Hebrew son
50 p Ephrathah  is a variant of Ephrath ; see verse 19.
55 q Or of the Sopherites
55 r Or the father of Beth-rechab  or the founder of the house of Rechab

The Sons of Israel

(Genesis 35:22-26)

1These are sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, 2Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

Descendants of Judah

(Genesis 38:1-26)

3Sons of Judah: Er, and Onan, and Shelah, three have been born to him of a daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, first-born of Judah, is evil in the eyes of Jehovah, and He putteth him to death. 4And Tamar his daughter-in-law hath borne to him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah are five.

5Sons of Pharez: Hezron, and Hamul. 6And sons of Zerah: Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara; all of them five. 7And sons of Carmi: Achar, troubler of Israel, who trespassed in the devoted thing. 8And sons of Ethan: Azariah.

9And sons of Hezron who were born to him; Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai. 10And Ram begat Amminadab, and Amminadab begat Nahshon, prince of the sons of Judah; 11and Nahshon begat Salma, and Salma begat Boaz, 12and Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse;

The Children of Jesse

13and Jesse begat his first-born Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimea the third, 14Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, 15Ozem the sixth, David the seventh, 16and their sisters Zeruiah and Abigail. And sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, and Joab, and Asah-El -- three. 17And Abigail hath borne Amasa, and the father of Amasa is Jether the Ishmeelite.

Descendants of Hezron

18And Caleb son of Hezron hath begotten Azubah, Isshah, and Jerioth; and these are her sons: Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon. 19And Azubah dieth, and Caleb taketh to him Ephrath, and she beareth to him Hur. 20And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezaleel.

21And afterwards hath Hezron gone in unto a daughter of Machir father of Gilead, and he hath taken her, and he is a son of sixty years, and she beareth to him Segub. 22And Segub begat Jair, and he hath twenty and three cities in the land of Gilead, 23and he taketh Geshur and Aram, the small villages of Jair, from them, with Kenath and its small towns, sixty cities -- all these belonged to the sons of Machir father of Gilead. 24And after the death of Hezron in Caleb-Ephratah, then the wife of Hezron, Abijah, even beareth to him Asshur, father of Tekoa.

Descendants of Jerahmeel

25And sons of Jerahmeel, first-born of Hezron, are: the first-born Ram, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, Ahijah. 26And Jerahmeel hath another wife, and her name is Atarah, she is mother of Onam. 27And sons of Ram, first-born of Jerahmeel, are Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker. 28And sons of Onam are Shammai and Jada. And sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur. 29And the name of the wife of Abishur is Abihail, and she beareth to him Ahban and Molid. 30And sons of Nadab: Seled, and Appaim; and Seled dieth without sons. 31And sons of Appaim: Ishi. And sons of Ishi: Sheshan. And sons of Sheshan: Ahlai. 32And sons of Jada, brother of Shammai: Jether, and Jonathan: and Jether dieth without sons. 33And sons of Jonathan: Peleth, and Zaza. These were sons of Jerahmeel. 34And Sheshan had no sons, but daughters, and Sheshan hath a servant, an Egyptian, and his name is Jarha, 35and Sheshan giveth his daughter to Jarha his servant for a wife, and she beareth to him Attai; 36and Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad, 37and Zabad begat Ephlal, and Ephlal begat Obed, 38and Obed begat Jehu, 39and Jehu begat Azariah, and Azariah begat Helez, and Helez begat Eleasah, 40and Eleasah begat Sismai, and Sismai begat Shallum, 41and Shallum begat Jekamiah, and Jekamiah begat Elishama.

The Clans of Caleb

42And sons of Caleb brother of Jerahmeel: Mesha his first-born, he is father of Ziph; and sons of Mareshah: Abi-Hebron. 43And sons of Hebron: Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema. 44And Shema begat Raham father of Jorkoam, and Rekem begat Shammai. 45And a son of Shammai is Maon, and Maon is father of Beth-Zur. 46And Ephah concubine of Caleb bare Haran, and Moza, and Gazez; and Haran begat Gazez. 47And sons of Jahdai: Regem, and Jotham, and Geshem, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph. 48The concubine of Caleb, Maachah, bare Sheber and Tirhanah; 49and she beareth Shaaph father of Madmannah, Sheva father of Machbenah, and father of Gibea; and a daughter of Caleb is Achsa. 50These were sons of Caleb son of Hur, first-born of Ephrathah: Shobal father of Kirjath-Jearim, 51Salma father of Beth-Lehem, Hareph father of Beth-Gader. 52And there are sons to Shobal father of Kirjath-Jearim: Haroeh, half of the Menuhothite; 53and the families of Kirjath-Jearim: the Ithrite, and the Puhite, and the Shumathite, and the Mishraite: from these went out the Zareathite, and the Eshtaulite. 54Sons of Salma: Beth-Lehem, and the Netophathite, Atroth, Beth-Joab, and half of the Menuhothite, the Zorite; 55and the families of the scribes the inhabitants of Jabez: Tirathites, Shimeathites, Suchathites. They are the Kenites, those coming of Hammath father of the house of Rechab.

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The F.O.G Commentary

The Family Tree That Changed Everything

What’s 1 Chronicles 2 about?

This isn’t your typical boring genealogy – it’s actually a masterclass in how God weaves his redemptive plan through broken, messy, real families. Chapter 2 traces the lineage from Jacob’s sons through to David, showing us that God’s greatest king came from a family tree full of scandals, foreigners, and unlikely heroes.

The Full Context

Picture this: you’re a Jewish exile who’s just returned from Babylon after 70 years of captivity. Your temple is destroyed, your kingdom is gone, and you’re wondering if God has forgotten his promises. Then someone hands you this scroll that begins with “Adam, Seth, Enosh…” and you think, “Great, a phone book.” But this isn’t just any family tree – it’s proof that God keeps his word across generations, even when everything looks hopeless.

The Chronicler (likely Ezra) wrote this around 400 BC for a community desperately needing to remember their identity. He’s not just listing names; he’s building a case that the same God who promised Abraham descendants like the stars, who promised David an eternal throne, is the same God who brought them home from exile. 1 Chronicles 2 sits right at the heart of this argument, tracing the royal line that would ultimately lead to the Messiah. Every name here matters because it’s part of God’s unbreakable covenant story.

What the Ancient Words Tell Us

When you dig into the Hebrew text of 1 Chronicles 2, something fascinating emerges. The word yalad (to give birth/beget) appears over and over, but it’s not just about biological reproduction. In Hebrew thinking, this word carries the idea of bringing forth something new, of continuity and legacy.

But here’s where it gets interesting – the Chronicler breaks his genealogical pattern several times to tell stories. Look at 1 Chronicles 2:3 where he mentions that Judah’s firstborn Er “was wicked in the Lord’s sight.” Why interrupt a name list for moral commentary? Because the Chronicler wants us to know that God’s plan moves forward not because of human goodness, but in spite of human failure.

Grammar Geeks

The Hebrew phrase ra’ be-einei YHWH (wicked in the eyes of the Lord) is the same expression used for the generation destroyed in the flood. Yet here, instead of ending the line, God continues it through Judah’s other sons. Grace written in genealogy!

The most surprising word choice comes in verse 7, where Achar (Achan) is called “the troubler of Israel.” The Hebrew akhar means “to trouble” or “to stir up,” but it also connects to the word for “wrath.” The Chronicler isn’t just recording history; he’s showing how one person’s sin can echo through generations, yet God’s faithfulness echoes even louder.

What Would the Original Audience Have Heard?

The F.O.G Bible Project

This page has a unique origin story and vision. Find out why your visit today is about more than words.

What is the F.O.G?

When Jewish exiles heard these names read aloud, they weren’t hearing a boring roll call – they were hearing their hope sung back to them. Each name was a victory against impossible odds, a reminder that their God specializes in making something from nothing.

Consider how they would have heard the name “Rahab” in 1 Chronicles 2:51. Not the prostitute from Jericho (that’s a different genealogy), but still a name that would remind them how God brings outsiders into his family. In post-exilic Israel, when questions about ethnic purity were heated, this would have been revolutionary.

Did You Know?

Ancient Near Eastern genealogies often skipped generations or emphasized certain lines for theological reasons. When the Chronicler includes women’s names like Abigail and Zeruiah in 1 Chronicles 2:16-17, he’s highlighting how God’s plan includes unexpected players.

They would have especially perked up at the mention of David in 1 Chronicles 2:15. Here’s their greatest king, the one God promised would have an eternal dynasty, and he’s the seventh son – the perfect number, the complete one. Even in a genealogy, God’s sovereign choice shines through.

But perhaps most importantly, they would have heard continuity. These weren’t just names from the distant past – many of these family lines continued into their own time. They were part of this story, heirs to these promises.

Wrestling with the Text

Here’s something that might puzzle modern readers: why does the Chronicler spend so much time on Judah’s line but barely mention some of the other tribes? Look at the space given to Judah versus, say, Simeon later in the book. It seems unbalanced until you realize what the Chronicler is doing.

He’s not trying to be comprehensive – he’s being theological. Judah carries the messianic promise from Genesis 49:10, so he gets the detailed treatment. The Chronicler is essentially saying, “Here’s the line that matters most for understanding God’s future plans.”

Wait, That’s Strange…

Why does 1 Chronicles 2:18-24 give us such detailed information about Caleb’s descendants, including specific towns and territories? It’s because Caleb represents faithful courage – he was one of only two spies who believed God could give them the Promised Land. In a book written for returned exiles, that’s exactly the kind of faith they needed to remember.

Another puzzle: the Chronicler mentions that Sheshan had no sons, only daughters, so he gave his daughter to his Egyptian servant Jarha (1 Chronicles 2:34-35). Why include this detail? Because it shows how God’s family grows beyond ethnic boundaries. An Egyptian slave becomes part of Israel’s permanent record.

How This Changes Everything

This chapter turns genealogy into gospel. It shows us that God’s faithfulness isn’t dependent on human worthiness – it’s dependent on his own character. When you see the mixture of heroes and villains, foreigners and natives, you realize that God’s grace is the only constant in this family tree.

For the returned exiles, this would have been incredibly encouraging. They’d been unfaithful, they’d been defeated, they’d been scattered – but they were still part of this unbroken line of God’s covenant people. Their failures hadn’t disqualified them from his promises.

“God doesn’t just work around our messy family histories – he works through them to accomplish his perfect plan.”

For us today, this chapter reminds us that our spiritual genealogy is just as mixed up. We’re part of a family that includes prostitutes and kings, cowards and heroes, insiders and outsiders. And that’s exactly the point – God’s family is built on grace, not genetics.

The placement of this genealogy right at the beginning of Chronicles also shows us something crucial about how we should read the rest of the Old Testament. These aren’t just ancient stories about ancient people – they’re our family stories, part of the great narrative that leads to Christ.

Key Takeaway

Your family tree doesn’t disqualify you from God’s purposes – it qualifies you for his grace. Every broken branch, every unexpected grafting, every unlikely connection is exactly how God builds his kingdom.

1 Chronicles Chapter 2

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God's Word is too vast for a single perspective. We all have a story, and as believers we all carry the Holy Spirit who is the Revealer. With this in mind - I would love to read your comments.