1 Chronicles1

1 Chronicles chapter 1 provides a comprehensive genealogical record, beginning with Adam and tracing humanity's lineage through Noah's sons: Japheth, Ham, and Shem. It then focuses on the descendants of Shem, particularly the line leading to Abraham, Isaac, and Esau. The chapter concludes by extensively listing the kings and dukes who reigned in the land of Edom.

From Adam to Noah

1
Adam, Shet, Enosh, ​
2
Keinan, Mahalal'el, Yered,
3
Hanokh, Metushelach, Lemekh,
4
Noach; Shem, Ham and Yefet.

The Descendants of Japheth

5
The sons of Yefet: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Yavan, Tuval, Meshekh and Tiras. ​
6
The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Difat and Togarmah.
7
The sons of Yavan: Elishah, Tarshishah, Kittim and Rodanim.

The Descendants of Ham

8
The sons of Ham: Kush, Mitzrayim, Put and Kena'an. ​
9
The sons of Kush: S'va, Havilah, Savta, Ra'ma and Savt'kha. The sons of Ra'ma: Sh'va and D'dan.
10
Kush fathered Nimrod, who was the first powerful ruler on earth. ​
11
Mitzrayim fathered Ludim, 'Anamim, L'havim, Naftuchim,
12
Patrusim, Kasluchim (from whom came the P'lishtim) and Kaftorim. ​
13
Kena'an was the father of Tzidon his firstborn, and also of Het,
14
the Y'vusi, the Emori, the Girgashi,
15
the Hivi, the 'Arki, the Sini,
16
the Arvadi, the Tz'mari and the Hamati.

The Descendants of Shem

17
The sons of Shem: 'Elam, Ashur, Arpakhshad, Lud, Aram, 'Utz, Hul, Geter and Meshekh. ​
18
Arpakhshad fathered Shelach, Shelach fathered 'Ever,
19
and to 'Ever were born two sons: the name of one was Peleg [division], because it was during his lifetime that the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Yoktan. ​
20
Yoktan fathered Almodad, Shelef, Hatzar-Mavet, Yerach,
21
Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
22
'Eival, Avima'el, Sh'va,
23
Ofir, Havilah and Yovav; these were all sons of Yoktan.

From Shem to Abraham

24
Shem, Arpakhshad, Shelach, ​
25
'Ever, Peleg, Re'u,
26
S'rug, Nachor, Terach,
27
Avram (also called Avraham). ​

The Family of Abraham

28
The sons of Avraham: Yitz'chak and Yishma'el. ​
29
Here are their descendants: Yishma'el's firstborn N'vayot; then Kedar, Adbe'el, Mivsam,
30
Mishma, Dumah, Masa, Hadad, Teima,
31
Y'tur, Nafish and Kedem. These are the sons of Yishma'el.
32
The sons of K'turah Avraham's concubine: she bore Zimran, Yokshan, Medan, Midyan, Yishbak and Shuach. The sons of Yokshan: Sh'va and D'dan. ​
33
The sons of Midyan: 'Eifah, 'Efer, Hanokh, Avida and Elda'ah. These were all descendants of K'turah.
34
Avraham fathered Yitz'chak. The sons of Yitz'chak: 'Esav and Isra'el. ​

The Descendants of Esau (Edom)

35
The sons of 'Esav: Elifaz, Re'u'el, Ye'ush, Ya'lam and Korach. ​
36
The sons of Elifaz: Teman, Omar, Tzefi, Ga'tam, K'naz, Timna and 'Amalek.
37
The sons of Re'u'el: Nachat, Zerach, Shamah and Mizah.
38
The sons of Se'ir: Lotan, Shoval, Tziv'on, 'Anah, Dishon, Etzer and Dishan. ​
39
The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam; the sister of Lotan was Timna.
40
The sons of Shoval: 'Alyan, Manachat, 'Eival, Sh'fi and Onam. The sons of Tziv'on: Ayah and 'Anah.
41
The son of 'Anah: Dishon. The sons of Dishon: Hamran, Eshban, Yitran and K'ran.
42
The sons of Etzer: Bilhan, Za'avan and Ya'akan. The sons of Dishan: 'Utz and Aran.

The Kings of Edom

43
Following are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the people of Isra'el: Bela the son of B'or; the name of his city was Dinhavah. ​
44
After Bela died, Yovav the son of Zerach from Botzrah took his place as king.
45
After Yovav died, Husham from the land of the Temani took his place as king.
46
After Husham died, Hadad the son of B'dad, who attacked Midyan on the plains of Mo'av, took his place as king; the name of his city was 'Avit.
47
After Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah took his place as king.
48
After Samlah died, Sha'ul from Rechovot-by-the-River took his place as king.
49
After Sha'ul died, Ba'al-Hanan the son of 'Akhbor took his place as king.
50
After Ba'al-Hanan died, Hadad took his place as king; the name of his city was Pa'i; his wife's name was M'heitav'el the daughter of Matred the daughter of Mei-Zahav.

The Dukes of Edom

51
Then Hadad died. The chieftains of Edom were: the chieftains of Timnah, 'Alvah, Y'tet, ​
52
Oholivamah, Elah, Pinon,
53
Kenaz, Teman, Mivtzar,
54
Magdi'el and 'Iram. These were the chieftains of Edom.

Study Notes for 1 Chronicles 1

Verse 1

The Chronicler begins the history of Israel with Adam, immediately establishing the universal scope of God’s plan and placing Israel’s lineage within the entirety of human creation, emphasizing continuity with Genesis.

Verse 5

Verses 5–23 are derived directly from the 'Table of Nations' (Genesis 10). The Chronicler includes these non-Israelite lines to show Israel’s place among the nations and the unity of all humanity descending from Noah.

Verse 8

The line of Ham includes the ancestors of major regional powers that historically interacted—and often conflicted—with Israel, such as Egypt (Mizraim), Cush, and the Canaanites.

Verse 10

Nimrod is uniquely identified as the first powerful figure and kingdom builder mentioned after the Flood, often associated with early Mesopotamian civilization.

Verse 12

The parenthetical note identifying the Philistines’ origin is crucial, linking this powerful, long-term adversary of Israel to the wider Hamitic family tree.

Verse 17

The Shemite line is central, as it leads directly to the covenant people. It includes ancestors of key regional groups like Elam, Asshur (Assyria), and Aram (Syria).

Verse 19

Peleg’s name means 'division.' The text explicitly links his birth to the event where 'the earth was divided,' traditionally understood as the dispersion resulting from the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11:9).

Verse 24

This compressed genealogy systematically narrows the focus from all humanity to the specific ancestral line chosen by God, forming the backbone of covenant history.

Verse 27

The listing of Abram (later Abraham) marks the theological climax of the initial section, connecting the universal history of Genesis with the specific history of the patriarchs.

Verse 28

The Chronicler lists all of Abraham’s sons (Isaac and Ishmael) and secondary wives to provide a full map of the surrounding nations, distinguishing the covenant line (Isaac) from the related peoples.

Verse 32

Keturah was Abraham’s secondary wife, and her sons founded groups like Midian and Sheba, who played significant roles in Israel’s later history.

Verse 34

This verse sharply narrows the focus again: Isaac is the sole heir of the covenant, and his two sons, Esau and Israel (Jacob), define the next major division of the family.

Verse 35

The Edomite genealogy is detailed because Edom, Israel's closest blood relative, was also its enduring rival. Tracking this line provides a complete history of the region and its inhabitants.

Verse 38

This section inserts the genealogy of Seir the Horite, the original inhabitants of the land of Edom, acknowledging the blended ethnic background of the Edomite nation.

Verse 43

This list of eight kings is significant because it specifically notes that they reigned 'before any king reigned over the children of Israel,' highlighting that Edom was politically organized as a monarchy earlier than Israel.

Verse 51

The transition from 'kings' (v. 43) to 'dukes' (or tribal chiefs) likely reflects a later shift in Edom’s political structure, perhaps moving away from a single monarchy back toward tribal leadership.

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