1 Chronicles 2:36

KJV

And Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad,

KJV (with Strong's)

And Attai {H6262} begat {H3205} Nathan {H5416}, and Nathan {H5416} begat {H3205} Zabad {H2066},

Complete Jewish Bible

'Atai fathered Natan, Natan fathered Zavad,

Berean Standard Bible

Attai was the father of Nathan, Nathan was the father of Zabad,

American Standard Version

And Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Chronicles 2:36 meticulously continues the genealogy of Judah, specifically tracing the line through Attai, Nathan, and Zabad. This seemingly simple record is a crucial link in the extensive family trees presented in Chronicles, serving to affirm tribal identities, land claims, and, most significantly, to preserve the divinely ordained lineage that would ultimately lead to the royal house of David and, by extension, the promised Messiah. It underscores God's faithfulness in meticulously overseeing the details of human history to fulfill His redemptive plan.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is deeply embedded within the extensive and detailed genealogies that comprise the opening chapters of [1 Chronicles](/1_chronicles/1 "1 Chronicles 1 - Genealogies from Adam to Israel"). Specifically, [1 Chronicles 2](/1_chronicles/2 "1 Chronicles 2 - The Descendants of Judah") focuses on the descendants of Judah, the tribe from which the Davidic monarchy would emerge. Verse 36 continues the lineage of Hezron, a grandson of Judah, through the specific branch of Sheshan. The immediate preceding verses ([1 Chronicles 2:34-35](/1_chronicles/2-34-35 "1 Chronicles 2:34-35 - Sheshan's Daughter and Jarha")) introduce Attai as the son of Sheshan's daughter and his Egyptian servant Jarha, an unusual but divinely orchestrated union that ensured the continuation of this vital line. This meticulous record-keeping is characteristic of Chronicles, emphasizing continuity and the preservation of God's people.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The book of 1 Chronicles was likely compiled after the Babylonian exile, a period when the returning Israelites faced the monumental task of re-establishing their national and religious identity. Genealogies were not merely historical records; they were vital legal and social documents. They served to confirm tribal affiliations, validate land claims, establish eligibility for priestly service, and affirm the legitimacy of the Davidic royal line. The inclusion of an Egyptian servant, Jarha, into a prominent Judahite lineage (as seen in [1 Chronicles 2:34-35](/1_chronicles/2-34-35 "1 Chronicles 2:34-35 - Sheshan's Daughter and Jarha")) highlights a cultural openness or, more profoundly, God's sovereign ability to work through unconventional means and individuals to accomplish His purposes, transcending typical social or ethnic boundaries of the time.

* **Key Themes:** **Divine Preservation and Faithfulness:** The meticulous recording of these lineages, including seemingly obscure names like Attai, Nathan, and Zabad, powerfully demonstrates God's unwavering commitment to His covenant promises. He faithfully preserves His people and the specific family lines through which His redemptive plan will unfold, echoing His promises to [Abraham](/genesis/12 "Genesis 12 - The Abrahamic Covenant") and [David](/2_samuel/7 "2 Samuel 7 - The Davidic Covenant"). **Sovereignty in Detail:** Every individual mentioned, every "begat," is a testament to God's sovereign control over history and His meticulous attention to detail. No life or link in the chain is insignificant in His grand design. **Preparation for Messiah:** The ultimate theological significance of the Judahite genealogies, particularly within [1 Chronicles 2](/1_chronicles/2 "1 Chronicles 2 - The Descendants of Judah"), is their direct connection to the lineage of David and, by extension, the promised Messiah. This verse, like every other link, is essential for tracing the fulfillment of the prophecy that the scepter would not depart from Judah ([Genesis 49:10](/genesis/49-10 "Genesis 49:10 - Judah's Scepter Prophecy")), ultimately culminating in Jesus Christ, whose genealogy is recorded in the New Testament ([Matthew 1:1-17](/matthew/1-1-17 "Matthew 1:1-17 - The Genealogy of Jesus Christ")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Attai (Hebrew, _ʻAttay_):** This name, meaning "opportune" or "timely," is particularly poignant given the unusual circumstances of his birth—the son of Sheshan's daughter and his Egyptian servant Jarha. Attai's very existence and continuation of the lineage were indeed timely and divinely orchestrated, ensuring the survival of this crucial family branch within Judah.

* **Nathan (Hebrew, _Nâthân_):** A common biblical name, meaning "given" or "He gave." In this genealogical context, it subtly reinforces the idea of divine provision and blessing, signifying that the continuation of this lineage is a gracious gift from God, ensuring the flow of generations toward His ultimate purpose.

* **Zabad (Hebrew, _Zâbâd_):** Meaning "giver" or "He has bestowed." This name echoes the semantic field of Nathan, further emphasizing the theme of God's gracious giving and the perpetuation of the family line as a divine bestowal. The repetition of these meanings highlights the providential nature of these births and the divine hand in preserving the lineage.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Attai begat Nathan":** This clause signifies the continuation of the lineage through Attai, whose unique parentage (son of Sheshan's daughter and Jarha, an Egyptian servant) underscores God's sovereign and inclusive work in preserving the line of Judah through unexpected means. It highlights that God's plan is not limited by human social conventions, demonstrating His ability to work through diverse individuals to accomplish His purposes.

* **"and Nathan begat Zabad":** This clause further extends the genealogical chain, emphasizing the ongoing succession of generations. The names Nathan ("He gave") and Zabad ("He has bestowed") subtly reinforce the theme of divine provision and the gracious gift of descendants, ensuring the unbroken flow of this vital family branch within the tribe of Judah, which is crucial for the eventual Messianic line.

#### Literary Devices
The primary literary device at play in 1 Chronicles 2:36 and the surrounding chapters is **Genealogy**, which serves as a foundational structural and theological element. It is not merely a list but a deliberate theological statement about **Continuity** and **Divine Providence**. The repetitive "begat" structure creates a rhythmic **Anaphora** that emphasizes the unbroken chain of descent, reinforcing the idea of God's faithfulness in preserving His chosen line through generations. While seemingly dry, the meticulous record-keeping itself is a form of **Symbolism**, representing God's own character of precision, order, and unwavering commitment to His promises. The specific mention of Attai's unique parentage in the preceding verses adds a subtle **Narrative Detail** within the genealogical framework, hinting at God's work through unusual circumstances and His ability to integrate outsiders into His redemptive plan.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
The meticulous record of lineages in 1 Chronicles 2:36, though seemingly dry, underscores profound theological truths about God's faithfulness and sovereign control over history. It reveals His unwavering commitment to preserving His people and fulfilling His promises across generations, even through unexpected or challenging circumstances. This attention to individual names within a vast genealogy illustrates that every person, every link in the chain, is significant in God's overarching plan, contributing to the grand narrative of redemption. It speaks to God's detailed providence, where seemingly minor events or individuals are crucial to His ultimate design.

* [Genesis 5:1-32](/genesis/5-1-32 "Genesis 5:1-32 - Adam to Noah Genealogy")
* [Matthew 1:1-17](/matthew/1-1-17 "Matthew 1:1-17 - The Genealogy of Jesus Christ")
* [Luke 3:23-38](/luke/3-23-38 "Luke 3:23-38 - The Genealogy of Jesus Christ")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Chronicles 2:36, like all Scripture, is "God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness" ([2 Timothy 3:16](/2_timothy/3-16 "2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is God-Breathed")). This seemingly obscure verse reminds us that God is a God of details, working meticulously through generations to bring about His purposes. It encourages us to trust in His providence, knowing that even the seemingly mundane aspects of our lives are part of His grand design. Just as Attai, Nathan, and Zabad were vital links in a historical chain, each of us is a vital part of God's contemporary plan, called to live faithfully in our own generation. Our lives, though perhaps not recorded in a biblical genealogy, are known and purposed by God, contributing to the ongoing story of His kingdom. We are invited to see our own lives not as isolated events but as part of a larger, divinely orchestrated narrative, where our faithfulness in the present contributes to God's unfolding purposes for the future.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **How does understanding God's meticulous attention to ancient genealogies impact your view of His attention to the details of your own life and circumstances?**
* **In what ways can you identify God's faithfulness to His promises being fulfilled across generations, both in Scripture and in your personal experience or the history of the church?**
* **What does this verse teach us about the value of every individual, even those who might seem "insignificant" in the grand scheme of God's redemptive plan?**

### FAQ
**Why are genealogies so important in the Bible, especially in books like 1 Chronicles?**

Answer: Genealogies in the Bible serve multiple critical purposes. For the post-exilic community, they were essential for re-establishing tribal identities, validating land claims, and determining eligibility for priestly or royal service, thereby providing a sense of continuity and order after a period of displacement. Theologically, they demonstrate God's faithfulness in preserving His covenant people and fulfilling His promises, meticulously tracing the lineage through which the Messiah would eventually come. They underscore the historical reality of God's interaction with humanity and provide a framework for understanding the unfolding of His redemptive plan, as seen in the detailed accounts from [Genesis 5](/genesis/5 "Genesis 5 - Adam to Noah Genealogy") to [Matthew 1](/matthew/1 "Matthew 1 - The Genealogy of Jesus Christ"). They affirm the historical rootedness of God's promises and the reliability of His word.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 1 Chronicles 2:36 appears to be a simple record of names, its profound Christ-centered fulfillment lies in its contribution to the unbroken chain leading directly to Jesus Christ. This verse, meticulously tracing descendants within the tribe of Judah, is a vital link in the lineage that ultimately culminates in the birth of the Messiah. The precise preservation of this line, even through unexpected unions like that of Sheshan's daughter and Jarha, an Egyptian servant (as detailed in [1 Chronicles 2:34-35](/1_chronicles/2-34-35 "1 Chronicles 2:34-35 - Sheshan's Daughter and Jarha")), powerfully demonstrates God's sovereign hand guiding history towards His redemptive purpose. Every "begat" in these genealogies points to God's faithfulness in preparing the way for the ultimate "gift" (a meaning found in the names Nathan and Zabad) – the incarnation of His Son. Jesus, as the promised Son of David and the Lion of the Tribe of Judah ([Revelation 5:5](/revelation/5-5 "Revelation 5:5 - The Lion of the Tribe of Judah")), is the culmination of these ancient promises and the ultimate fulfillment of God's detailed plan for humanity's salvation. He is the one through whom all God's promises find their "Yes" and "Amen" ([2 Corinthians 1:20](/2_corinthians/1-20 "2 Corinthians 1:20 - God's Promises are Yes in Christ")), making these seemingly dry genealogies a testament to the meticulous and purposeful work of God in bringing His Son into the world, as recorded in the New Testament genealogies of [Matthew 1](/matthew/1 "Matthew 1 - The Genealogy of Jesus Christ") and [Luke 3](/luke/3 "Luke 3 - The Genealogy of Jesus Christ").

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

1 Chronicles 11:41

Uriah the Hittite, Zabad the son of Ahlai,