1 Chronicles2

1 Chronicles 2 begins by listing the twelve sons of Israel, then primarily focuses on the extensive genealogy of Judah, tracing the lineage from his sons, particularly Pharez, down to King David. The chapter also details the descendants of Hezron, including the lines of Caleb and Jerahmeel, highlighting various family branches, marriages, and the establishment of certain towns. This detailed record emphasizes the foundational families of Judah and their historical connections.

The Twelve Sons of Israel

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

The Sons of Judah

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 the LORD; 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.

The Line of Pharez Leading to David

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.

Descendants of Caleb, Son of Hezron

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.

The Line of Jerahmeel

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.

Further Descendants of Caleb

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. ​

Study Notes for 1 Chronicles 2

Verse 1

The Chronicler begins with the twelve patriarchs to establish the continuity and unity of Israel before focusing on the royal tribe of Judah, emphasizing the foundation of the community.

Verse 3

This verse summarizes the account in Genesis 38, noting the death of Er and Onan due to their wickedness. This serves as a reminder that divine judgment applies even within the chosen lineage.

Verse 7

Achar (Achan in Joshua 7) is specifically named 'the troubler of Israel.' The Chronicler rarely includes negative material, highlighting Achar's transgression concerning the devoted things at Jericho as a severe communal sin.

Verse 10

Nahshon is historically significant as the 'prince' (nasi) of the tribe of Judah during the Exodus period (cf. Numbers 1 and 7). He is also listed in the genealogies of Matthew and Luke.

Verse 15

David is listed as the seventh son, a number often associated with divine completeness or perfection. This selection highlights God's sovereign choice of David over his older, seemingly more qualified brothers (cf. 1 Samuel 16:11–12).

Verse 16

Zeruiah’s sons (Joab, Abishai, Asahel) were David’s formidable nephews and military commanders. Their inclusion shows the tight integration of the royal house with its key military and political support system.

Verse 18

This Caleb is distinct from the famous Caleb, son of Jephunneh (Num 13:6), though they share the name and are both prominent figures in the tribe of Judah. He represents a major clan within the Hezronite line.

Verse 20

Bezaleel is the master craftsman whom God filled with the Spirit to oversee the construction of the Tabernacle (Exodus 31:2–5). His inclusion links the lineage of Judah to Israel's sacred institutions and artistry.

Verse 22

Jair’s conquest of 23 Transjordan cities is also recorded in Numbers 32:41. This detail demonstrates Judah's influence and claims extending across the Jordan River into the territory of Gilead, stressing the expansive nature of the tribe.

Verse 34

The unusual event of Sheshan marrying his daughter to an Egyptian servant, Jarha, illustrates the incorporation of non-Israelites into the tribal structure. This demonstrates the permeability of social and ethnic boundaries within the community.

Verse 42

This lengthy section shifts focus from individuals to the corporate identity of the families and the founding of key cities in the southern Judean landscape, such as Hebron and Bethzur.

Verse 51

Salma is identified as the founder of Bethlehem. The Chronicler is establishing the historical and geographical roots of the city that would later become famous as the birthplace of David and the Messiah.

Verse 55

The mention of 'families of the scribes' and the Kenites highlights the importance of literary and religious scholarship in post-exilic Judah. The Kenites were a nomadic group often allied with Israel, suggesting diverse groups contributed to leadership.

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