Tyndale Open Study Notes1 Chronicles 2

The Chronicler starts by showing Israel's place among the nations. He traces their ancestry from Adam to Jacob, using information from Genesis.

Isaac’s genealogy first lists Esau's descendants (1 Chronicles 1:35–54) and then continues with Israel. The history of Edom is divided into three parts:

• Esau's sons (1 Chronicles 1:35–37)

• Seir's descendants (1 Chronicles 1:38–42)

• The kings who ruled Edom (1 Chronicles 1:43–54)

This arrangement follows Genesis 36.

The genealogies show all the people of Israel (1 Chronicles 2:1–2), but they focus more on David's ancestors from the tribe of Judah.

The genealogy of Judah is detailed, including background information on David's ancestors. Compare Genesis 46:12.

Er and Onan, the first two sons of Judah, faced destruction because of their sins (Genesis 38:6–10). The descendants of Shelah appear as an addition at the end of Judah's genealogies (1 Chronicles 4:21–23).

• The main ancestral line of David comes from Perez, one of Tamar's sons. Tamar was Judah's widowed daughter-in-law.

• Hamul, one of Perez's sons, is not mentioned at all. The Chronicler might not have had information about him.

For the family history of Zerah, compare Joshua 7:1, 17; 1 Kings 4:31 (Mahol might be another name for Zerah).

devoted things: See “Complete Destruction” Theme Note.

The descendants of Hezron are listed up to the time of David in several sections:

• The direct line from Hezron to David (1 Chronicles 2:9–17; compare Ruth 4:18–22)

• The other descendants of Hezron (1 Chronicles 2:18–41)

• The descendants of Hezron’s son Caleb (1 Chronicles 2:42–55)

Caleb was the most notable direct descendant of Hezron, so the author describes his descendants in detail (1 Chronicles 2:42–55). This Caleb was apparently different from Caleb, son of Jephunneh, who was a descendant of Kenaz (see study note on 1 Chronicles 4:13–15).

The passage about Ram's descendants shows a direct line from Ram to Jesse and then lists Jesse's children.

The Chronicler lists David as the seventh son of Jesse, while Samuel lists him as the eighth (1 Samuel 16:6–13; 17:12). Samuel does not mention the names of David’s fourth, fifth, or sixth brothers:

• Nethanel

• Raddai

• Ozem

Later, the Chronicler mentions a brother named Elihu, who might have been an additional son (see study note on 1 Chronicles 27:18). The number seven, considered the “perfect” number, might symbolize that God chose David to rule.

The Lord selected Bezalel, a craftsman from Hezron's family, to build the Tabernacle (see Exodus 31:1–2).

Some families from Gilead, who are listed as part of the tribe of Manasseh (see Numbers 32:39–42), also had ties to the tribe of Judah.

Tekoa was a small village in Judea, located southeast of Bethlehem (see also 1 Chronicles 4:5–8).