1 Chronicles 1

Chapter context

What is happening in 1 Chronicles 1?

memoryworshipgenealogyDavid

1 Chronicles 1 belongs to the opening movement of the book, especially the section often described as genealogies from Adam onward. First Chronicles surveys Israel through genealogies and then retells David’s reign with special attention to worship, Levites, and preparations for the temple. Read this chapter with the wider themes of memory, worship, and genealogy in view so the individual verses keep their proper weight.

¹ Adam, Sheth, Enosh, ² Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered, ³ Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech, ⁴ Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. ⁵ The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras. ⁶ And the sons of Gomer; Ashchenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah. ⁷ And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. ⁸ The sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. ⁹ And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan. ¹⁰ And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth. ¹¹ And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim, ¹² And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (of whom came the Philistines,) and Caphthorim. ¹³ And Canaan begat Zidon his firstborn, and Heth, ¹⁴ The Jebusite also, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite, ¹⁵ And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite, ¹⁶ And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite. ¹⁷ The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech. ¹⁸ And Arphaxad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber. ¹⁹ And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; because in his days the earth was divided: and his brother’s name was Joktan. ²⁰ And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah, ²¹ Hadoram also, and Uzal, and Diklah, ²² And Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba, ²³ And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. ²⁴ Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, ²⁵ Eber, Peleg, Reu, ²⁶ Serug, Nahor, Terah, ²⁷ Abram; the same is Abraham. ²⁸ The sons of Abraham; Isaac, and Ishmael. ²⁹ These are their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam, ³⁰ Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema, ³¹ Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael. ³² Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan. ³³ And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons of Keturah. ³⁴ And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac; Esau and Israel. ³⁵ The sons of Esau; Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah. ³⁶ The sons of Eliphaz; Teman, and Omar, Zephi, and Gatam, Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek. ³⁷ The sons of Reuel; Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. ³⁸ And the sons of Seir; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezar, and Dishan. ³⁹ And the sons of Lotan; Hori, and Homam: and Timna was Lotan’s sister. ⁴⁰ The sons of Shobal; Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon; Aiah, and Anah. ⁴¹ The sons of Anah; Dishon. And the sons of Dishon; Amram, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. ⁴² The sons of Ezer; Bilhan, and Zavan, and Jakan. The sons of Dishan; Uz, and Aran. ⁴³ Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel; Bela the son of Beor: and the name of his city was Dinhabah. ⁴⁴ And when Bela was dead, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead. ⁴⁵ And when Jobab was dead, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead. ⁴⁶ And when Husham was dead, Hadad the son of Bedad, which smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith. ⁴⁷ And when Hadad was dead, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead. ⁴⁸ And when Samlah was dead, Shaul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead. ⁴⁹ And when Shaul was dead, Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead. ⁵⁰ And when Baalhanan was dead, Hadad reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pai; and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab. ⁵¹ Hadad died also. And the dukes of Edom were; duke Timnah, duke Aliah, duke Jetheth, ⁵² Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon, ⁵³ Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar, ⁵⁴ Duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom.

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Glossary

Noah Person v. 4: Rest, (Heb. Noah) the grandson of Methuselah ( Gen. 5:25-29 ), who was for two hundred and fifty years contemporary with Adam, and the son of Lamech, who was about fifty years old at the time of Adam’s death.
Shem Person v. 4, 17, 24: A name; renown, the first mentioned of the sons of Noah ( Gen. 5:32 ; 6:10 ). He was probably the eldest of Noah’s sons. The words “brother of Japheth the elder” in Gen.
Mizraim People v. 8, 11: The dual form of matzor, meaning a “mound” or “fortress,” the name of a people descended from Ham ( Gen. 10:6 , 13; 1 Chr. 1:8 , 11). It was the name generally given by the Hebrews to the land of Egypt.
Caphtor Place v. 12: Biblical island. Modern identification: Crete.
Casluhim People v. 12: Fortified, a people descended from Mizraim ( Gen. 10:14 ; 1 Chr. 1:12 ). Their original seat was probably somewhere in Lower Egypt, along the sea-coast to the south border of Palestine.
Girgashite Person v. 14: Dwelling in clayey soil, the descendants of the fifth son of Canaan ( Gen. 10:16 ), one of the original tribes inhabiting the land of Canaan before the time of the Israelites ( Gen. 15:21 ; Deut. 7:1 ).
Arkite People v. 15: ( Gen. 10:17 ; 1 Chr. 1:15 ), a designation of certain descendants from the Phoenicians or Sidonians, the inhabitants of Arka, 12 miles north of Tripoli, opposite the northern extremity of Lebanon.
Arphaxad Person v. 17-18, 24: Son of Shem, born the year after the Deluge. He died at the age of 438 years ( Gen. 11:10-13 ; 1 Chr. 1:17 , 18; Luke 3:36 ).
Hul Person v. 17: Circle, the second son of Aram ( Gen. 10:23 ), and grandson of Shem.
Shelah Person v. 18, 24: Petition. (1. ) Judah’s third son ( Gen. 38:2 , 5, 11, 14). (2. ) A son of Arphaxad ( 1 Chr. 1:18 ).
Hadoram Person v. 21: Is exalted. (1. ) The son of Tou, king of Hamath, sent by his father to congratulate David on his victory over Hadarezer, king of Syria ( 1 Chr. 18:10 ; called Joram 2 Sam. 8:10 ).
Abimael Person v. 22: Father of Mael, one of the sons or descendants of Joktan, in Northern Arabia ( Gen. 10:28 ; 1 Chr. 1:22 ).
Serug Person v. 26: Branch, the father of Nahor ( Gen. 11:20-23 ); called Saruch in Luke 3:35 .
Abraham Person v. 27-28, 34: Father of a multitude, son of Terah, named ( Gen. 11:27 ) before his older brothers Nahor and Haran, because he was the heir of the promises.
Isaac Person v. 28, 34: Laughter. (1) Israel, or the kingdom of the ten tribes ( Amos 7:9 , 16). (2. ) The only son of Abraham by Sarah. He was the longest lived of the three patriarchs ( Gen. 21:1-3 ).
Mibsam Person v. 29: Fragrance. (1. ) One of Ishmael’s twelve sons, and head of an Arab tribe ( Gen. 25:13 ). (2. ) A son of Simeon ( 1 Chr. 4:25 ).
Mishma People v. 30: Hearing. (1. ) One of the sons of Ishmael ( Gen. 25:14 ), and founder of an Arab tribe. (2. ) A Simeonite ( 1 Chr. 4:25 , 26).
Naphish Person v. 31: Refresher, one of the sons of Ishmael ( Gen. 25:15 ; 1 Chr. 1:31 ). He was the father of an Arab tribe.
Jokshan Person v. 32: Snarer, the second son of Abraham and Keturah ( Gen. 25:2 , 3; 1 Chr. 1:32 ).
Keturah Person v. 32-33: Incense, the wife of Abraham, whom he married probably after Sarah’s death ( Gen. 25:1-6 ), by whom he had six sons, whom he sent away into the east country. Her nationality is unknown.
Medan Person v. 32: Contention, the third son of Abraham by Keturah ( Gen. 25:2 ).
Jeush Person v. 35: Assembler. (1. ) The oldest of Esau’s three sons by Aholibamah ( Gen. 36:5 , 14, 18). (2. ) A son of Bilhan, grandson of Benjamin ( 1 Chr. 7:10 ). (3. ) A Levite, one of the sons of Shimei ( 1 Chr. 23:10 , 11).
Korah Person v. 35: Ice, hail. (1. ) The third son of Esau, by Aholibamah ( Gen. 36:14 ; 1 Chr. 1:35 ). (2. ) A Levite, the son of Izhar, the brother of Amram, the father of Moses and Aaron ( Ex. 6:21 ).
Reuel Person v. 35, 37: Friend of God. (1. ) A son of Esau and Bashemath ( Gen. 36:4 , 10; 1 Chr. 1:35 ). (2. ) “The priest of Midian,” Moses’ father-in-law ( Ex. 2:18 )=Raguel ( Num. 10:29 ). If he be identified with Jethro.
Kenaz Person v. 36, 53: Hunter. (1. ) One of the sons of Eliphaz, the son of Esau. He became the chief of an Edomitish tribe ( Gen. 36:11 , 15, 42). (2. ) Caleb’s younger brother, and father of Othniel.
Omar Person v. 36: Eloquent, the son of Eliphaz, who was Esau’s eldest son ( Gen. 36:11-15 ).
Mizzah Person v. 37: Despair, one of the four sons of Reuel, the son of Esau ( Gen. 36:13 , 17).
Nahath Person v. 37: Rest. (1. ) One of the four sons of Reuel, the son of Esau ( Gen. 36:13 , 17). (2. ) A Kohathite Levite ( 1 Chr. 6:26 ). (3. ) A Levite, one of the overseers of the sacred offerings of the temple ( 2 Chr. 31:13 ).
Dishan Person v. 38, 42: Antelope, the youngest son of Seir the Horite, head of one of the tribes of Idumaea ( Gen. 36:21 , 28, 30).
Shobal Person v. 38, 40: Pilgrim. (1. ) The second son of Seir the Horite; one of the Horite “dukes” ( Gen. 36:20 ). (2. ) One of the sons of Caleb, and a descendant of Hur ( 1 Chr. 2:50 , 52; 4:1, 2).
Zibeon Person v. 38, 40: Robber; or dyed. (1. ) A Hivite ( Gen. 36:2 ). (2. ) A Horite, and son of Seir ( Gen. 36:20 ).
Amram Person v. 41: Kindred of the High; i. e., “friend of Jehovah. ” (1. ) The son of Kohath, the son of Levi. He married Jochebed, “his father’s sister,” and was the father of Aaron, Miriam, and Moses ( Ex. 6:18 , 20; Num. 3:19 ).
Ezer Person v. 42: Treasure. (1. ) One of the sons of Seir, the native princes, “dukes,” of Mount Hor ( Gen. 36:21 , 27). (2. ) 1 Chr. 7:21 ; (3. ) 4:4. (4. ) One of the Gadite champions who repaired to David at Ziklag (12:9).
Beor Person v. 43: A torch. (1. ) The father of Bela, one of the kings of Edom ( Gen. 36:32 ). (2. ) The father of Balaam ( Num. 22:5 ; 24:3 , 15; 31:8). In 2 Pet. 2:15 he is called Bosor.
City People v. 43, 46, 50: The earliest mention of city-building is that of Enoch, which was built by Cain ( Gen. 4:17 ). After the confusion of tongues, the descendants of Nimrod founded several cities (10:10-12).
Dinhabah Place v. 43: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet el Muhatta.
Edom Place v. 43, 51, 54: Biblical region. Modern identification: Buseira.
Bozrah Place v. 44: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Buseira.
Avith Place v. 46: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Rujum al Juththa.
Midian Place v. 46: Biblical region. Modern identification: Al Bad.
Moab Place v. 46: Biblical region. Modern identification: Kerak.
Masrekah Place v. 47: Vineyard of noble vines, a place in Idumea, the native place of Samlah, one of the Edomitish kings ( Gen. 36:36 ; 1 Chr. 1:47 ). Modern identification: Jebel el Musraq.
Rehoboth Place v. 48: Broad places. (1. ) A well in Gerar dug by Isaac ( Gen. 26:22 ), supposed to be in Wady er-Ruheibeh, about 20 miles south of Beersheba. (2. ) An ancient city on the Euphrates. Modern identification: Ras Rihab.
River Place v. 48: Biblical river. Modern identification: Wadi al Hasa.
Mehetabel Person v. 50: Wife of Hadad, one of the kings of Edom ( Gen. 36:39 ).
Mezahab Place v. 50: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Ad Duhaybah.
Pau Place v. 50: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Wadi Fai.
Aholibamah Person v. 52: Tent of the height, the name given to Judith, the daughter of Beeri = Anah ( Gen. 26:34 ; 36:2 ), when she became the wife of Esau.