1 Chronicles 1:15

And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,

And the Hivite {H2340}, and the Arkite {H6208}, and the Sinite {H5513},

the Hivi, the 'Arki, the Sini,

the Hivites, the Arkites, the Sinites,

and the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,

Commentary

1 Chronicles 1:15 is part of an extensive genealogical record that opens the book of 1 Chronicles, tracing humanity's lineage from Adam through Noah and his sons. This particular verse lists three specific tribal groups: the Hivite, the Arkite, and the Sinite, all of whom are identified as descendants of Canaan, the son of Ham.

Context

The first nine chapters of 1 Chronicles are dedicated almost entirely to genealogies. This meticulous record serves several crucial purposes for the post-exilic community for whom the book was primarily written. It re-establishes their identity, their connection to Abraham, and their claim to the land. Verses 1 Chronicles 1:8-16 specifically detail the descendants of Ham, Noah's son, and among them, the sons of Canaan. The Hivite, Arkite, and Sinite are thus presented as distinct peoples who inhabited the ancient Near East, particularly the region known as the land of Canaan.

Key Themes

  • Historical Continuity: The inclusion of these specific tribal names underscores the biblical narrative's rootedness in real historical peoples and places. It's not merely a list but a testament to the unfolding of God's plan through generations.
  • Peoples of the Promised Land: The Hivites, along with other "ites" (like the Amorites, Jebusites, Perizzites, etc.), were indigenous inhabitants of Canaan before the arrival of the Israelites. Their mention here provides a comprehensive overview of the nations that populated the region, setting the stage for later historical accounts in books like Joshua and Judges.
  • Divine Order and Sovereignty: The detailed genealogies, even of nations outside Israel, reflect God's sovereign hand in the ordering of human history and the distribution of peoples across the earth, as hinted at in passages like Acts 17:26.

Linguistic Insights

The suffix "-ite" appended to these names (Hivite, Arkite, Sinite) is a common Semitic linguistic feature indicating a people group or inhabitant of a particular place or descendant of a particular ancestor. For example, the Hivites were a prominent group in the land of Canaan, often mentioned alongside other sons of Canaan in the Pentateuch.

Practical Application

While seemingly just a list of names, this verse, within its broader context, reminds us of several truths:

  • God's Attention to Detail: The Bible's meticulous record-keeping, even of seemingly minor groups, highlights God's comprehensive knowledge and involvement in all of human history. Every people, every nation, has its place in His grand design.
  • Understanding Biblical History: These genealogies provide the essential framework for understanding the historical narrative of the Bible. Knowing who these groups were helps us grasp the challenges and triumphs faced by Israel as they interacted with their neighbors.
  • Our Own Place in History: Just as these ancient peoples had their place, we too are part of an ongoing human story, guided by God's providence. It encourages us to consider our own lineage and heritage within the broader context of God's redemptive plan for humanity.
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Cross-References

  • Exodus 3:17 (2 votes)

    And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.

  • Exodus 3:8 (2 votes)

    And I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites.

  • 1 Kings 9:20 (2 votes)

    [And] all the people [that were] left of the Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites, which [were] not of the children of Israel,

  • Exodus 13:5 (2 votes)

    And it shall be when the LORD shall bring thee into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which he sware unto thy fathers to give thee, a land flowing with milk and honey, that thou shalt keep this service in this month.