1 Chronicles 2

Chapter context

What is happening in 1 Chronicles 2?

memoryworshipgenealogyDavid

1 Chronicles 2 belongs to the early 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 These are the sons of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, ² Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. ³ The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him. ⁴ And Tamar his daughter in law bore him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five. ⁵ The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul. ⁶ And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all. ⁷ And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed. ⁸ And the sons of Ethan; Azariah. ⁹ The sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him; Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai. ¹⁰ And Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah; ¹¹ And Nahshon begat Salma, and Salma begat Boaz, ¹² And Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse, ¹³ And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third, ¹⁴ Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, ¹⁵ Ozem the sixth, David the seventh: ¹⁶ Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three. ¹⁷ And Abigail bare Amasa: and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmeelite. ¹⁸ And Caleb the son of Hezron begat children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth: her sons are these; Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon. ¹⁹ And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bare him Hur. ²⁰ And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezaleel. ²¹ And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he married when he was threescore years old; and she bare him Segub. ²² And Segub begat Jair, who had three and twenty cities in the land of Gilead. ²³ And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with Kenath, and the towns thereof, even threescore cities. All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead. ²⁴ And after that Hezron was dead in Calebephratah, then Abiah Hezron’s wife bare him Ashur the father of Tekoa. ²⁵ And the sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were, Ram the firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, and Ahijah. ²⁶ Jerahmeel had also another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam. ²⁷ And the sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel were, Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker. ²⁸ And the sons of Onam were, Shammai, and Jada. And the sons of Shammai; Nadab, and Abishur. ²⁹ And the name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail, and she bare him Ahban, and Molid. ³⁰ And the sons of Nadab; Seled, and Appaim: but Seled died without children. ³¹ And the sons of Appaim; Ishi. And the sons of Ishi; Sheshan. And the children of Sheshan; Ahlai. ³² And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai; Jether, and Jonathan: and Jether died without children. ³³ And the sons of Jonathan; Peleth, and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel. ³⁴ Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha. ³⁵ And Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant to wife; and she bare him Attai. ³⁶ And Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad, ³⁷ And Zabad begat Ephlal, and Ephlal begat Obed, ³⁸ And Obed begat Jehu, and Jehu begat Azariah, ³⁹ And Azariah begat Helez, and Helez begat Eleasah, ⁴⁰ And Eleasah begat Sisamai, and Sisamai begat Shallum, ⁴¹ And Shallum begat Jekamiah, and Jekamiah begat Elishama. ⁴² Now the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were, Mesha his firstborn, which was the father of Ziph; and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron. ⁴³ And the sons of Hebron; Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema. ⁴⁴ And Shema begat Raham, the father of Jorkoam: and Rekem begat Shammai. ⁴⁵ And the son of Shammai was Maon: and Maon was the father of Bethzur. ⁴⁶ And Ephah, Caleb’s concubine, bare Haran, and Moza, and Gazez: and Haran begat Gazez. ⁴⁷ And the sons of Jahdai; Regem, and Jotham, and Gesham, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph. ⁴⁸ Maachah, Caleb’s concubine, bare Sheber, and Tirhanah. ⁴⁹ She bare also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah, and the father of Gibea: and the daughter of Caleb was Achsa. ⁵⁰ These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim, ⁵¹ Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Bethgader. ⁵² And Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim had sons; Haroeh, and half of the Manahethites. ⁵³ And the families of Kirjathjearim; the Ithrites, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; of them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites. ⁵⁴ The sons of Salma; Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Ataroth, the house of Joab, and half of the Manahethites, the Zorites. ⁵⁵ And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These are the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.

Study helps

Glossary

Levi Person v. 1: Adhesion. (1. ) The third son of Jacob by Leah. The origin of the name is found in Leah’s words ( Gen. 29:34 ).
Reuben Person v. 1: Behold a son!, the eldest son of Jacob and Leah ( Gen. 29:32 ). His sinful conduct, referred to in Gen. 35:22 , brought down upon him his dying father’s malediction (48:4).
Simeon Person v. 1: Hearing. (1. ) The second son of Jacob by Leah ( Gen. 29:33 ). He was associated with Levi in the terrible act of vengeance against Hamor and the Shechemites (34:25, 26).
Zebulun Person v. 1: Dwelling, the sixth and youngest son of Jacob and Leah ( Gen. 30:20 ). Little is known of his personal history. He had three sons (46:14).
Benjamin Person v. 2: Son of my right hand. (1. ) The younger son of Jacob by Rachel ( Gen. 35:18 ). His birth took place at Ephrath, on the road between Bethel and Bethlehem, at a short distance from the latter place.
Gad Person v. 2: Fortune; luck. (1. ) Jacob’s seventh son, by Zilpah, Leah’s handmaid, and the brother of Asher ( Gen. 30:11-13 ; 46:16 , 18). In the Authorized Version of 30:11 the words, “A troop cometh: and she called,” etc.
Naphtali Person v. 2: My wrestling, the fifth son of Jacob. His mother was Bilhah, Rachel’s handmaid ( Gen. 30:8 ). When Jacob went down into Egypt, Naphtali had four sons ( Gen. 46:24 ). Little is known of him as an individual.
Shelah Person v. 3: Petition. (1. ) Judah’s third son ( Gen. 38:2 , 5, 11, 14). (2. ) A son of Arphaxad ( 1 Chr. 1:18 ).
Shua Person v. 3: Wealth. (1. ) A Canaanite whose daughter was married to Judah ( 1 Chr. 2:3 ). (2. ) A daughter of Heber the Asherite ( 1 Chr. 7:32 ).
Hamul Person v. 5: Spared, one of the sons of Pharez, son of Judah ( 1 Chr. 2:5 ). His descendants are called Hamulites ( Num. 26:21 ).
Ethan Tribe v. 6, 8: Firm. (1. ) “The Ezrahite,” distinguished for his wisdom ( 1 Kings 4:31 ). He is named as the author of the 89th Psalm. He was of the tribe of Levi.
Heman Person v. 6: Faithful. (1. ) 1 Kings 4:31 ; 1 Chr. 2:6 , a son of Zerah, noted for his wisdom. (2. ) Grandson of Samuel ( 1 Chr. 6:33 ; 15:17 ), to whom the 88th Psalm probably was inscribed. He was one of the “seers” named in 2 Chr.
Carmi Person v. 7: Vine-dresser. (1. ) The last named of the four sons of Reuben ( Gen. 46:9 ). (2. ) A descendant of Judah ( 1 Chr. 4:1 ). He is elsewhere (2:18) called Caleb (q. v. ). (3. ) The son of Zimri, and the father of Achan.
Azariah Person v. 8, 38-39: Whom Jehovah helps. (1. ) Son of Ethan, of the tribe of Judah ( 1 Chr. 2:8 ). (2. ) Son of Ahimaaz, who succeeded his grandfather Zadok as high priest ( 1 Chr. 6:9 ; 1 Kings 4:2 ) in the days of Solomon.
Jerahmeel Person v. 9, 25-27, 33, 42: Loving God. (1. ) The son of Hezron, the brother of Caleb ( 1 Chr. 2:9 , 25, 26, etc. ). (2. ) The son of Kish, a Levite ( 1 Chr. 24:29 ). (3. ) Son of Hammelech ( Jer. 36:26 ).
Ram Person v. 9-10, 25, 27: Exalted. (1. ) The son of Hezron, and one of the ancestors of the royal line ( Ruth 4:19 ). The margin of 1 Chr. 2:9 , also Matt. 1:3 , 4 and Luke 3:33 , have “Aram. ” (2. ) One of the sons of Jerahmeel ( 1 Chr. 2:25 , 27).
Amminadab Tribe v. 10: Kindred of the prince. (1. ) The father of Nahshon, who was chief of the tribe of Judah ( Num. 1:7 ; 2:3 ; 7:12 , 17; 10:14). His daughter Elisheba was married to Aaron ( Ex. 6:23 ).
Nahshon Person v. 10-11: Sorcerer, the son of Aminadab, and prince of the children of Judah at the time of the first numbering of the tribes in the wilderness ( Ex. 6:23 ). His sister Elisheba was the wife of Aaron. He died in the wilderness.
Boaz Person v. 11-12: Alacrity. (1. ) The husband of Ruth, a wealthy Bethlehemite. By the “levirate law” the duty devolved on him of marrying Ruth the Moabitess ( Ruth 4:1-13 ). He was a kinsman of Mahlon, her first husband.
Jesse Person v. 12-13: Firm, or a gift, a son of Obed, the son of Boaz and Ruth ( Ruth 4:17 , 22; Matt. 1:5 , 6; Luke 3:32 ). He was the father of eight sons, the youngest of whom was David ( 1 Sam. 17:12 ).
Obed Person v. 12, 37-38: Serving; worshipping. (1. ) A son of Boaz and Ruth ( Ruth 4:21 , 22), and the grandfather of David ( Matt. 1:5 ). (2. ) 1 Chr. 2:34-38 . (3. ) 1 Chr. 26:7 . (4. ) 2 Chr. 23:1 .
Abinadab Person v. 13: Father of nobleness; i. e., “noble. ” (1. ) A Levite of Kirjath-jearim, in whose house the ark of the covenant was deposited after having been brought back from the land of the Philistines ( 1 Sam. 7:1 ).
Eliab Tribe v. 13: To whom God is father. (1. ) A Reubenite, son of Pallu ( Num. 16:1 , 12; 26:8, 9; Deut. 11:6 ). (2. ) A son of Helon, and chief of the tribe of Zebulun at the time of the census in the wilderness ( Num. 1:9 ; 2:7 ).
Nethaneel Person v. 14: Given of God. (1. ) The son of Zuar, chief of the tribe of Issachar at the Exodus ( Num. 1:8 ; 2:5 ). (2. ) One of David’s brothers ( 1 Chr. 2:14 ).
David Person v. 15: Beloved, the eighth and youngest son of Jesse, a citizen of Bethlehem. His father seems to have been a man in humble life. His mother’s name is not recorded. Some think she was the Nahash of 2 Sam. 17:25 .
Ozem Person v. 15, 25: Strong. (1. ) One of David’s brothers; the sixth son of Jesse ( 1 Chr. 2:15 ). (2. ) A son of Jerahmeel ( 1 Chr. 2:25 ).
Abigail Person v. 16-17: Father (i. e., “leader”) of the dance, or “of joy. ” (1. ) The sister of David, and wife of Jether an Ishmaelite ( 1 Chr. 2:16 , 17). She was the mother of Amasa ( 2 Sam. 17:25 ).
Abishai Person v. 16: Father of (i. e., “desirous of”) a gift, the eldest son of Zeruiah, David’s sister. He was the brother of Joab and Asahel ( 2 Sam. 2:18 ; 1 Chr. 2:16 ).
Asahel Person v. 16: Made by God, the youngest son of Zeruiah, David’s sister. He was celebrated for his swiftness of foot.
Joab Person v. 16, 54: Jehovah is his father. (1. ) One of the three sons of Zeruiah, David’s sister, and “captain of the host” during the whole of David’s reign ( 2 Sam. 2:13 ; 10:7 ; 11:1 ; 1 Kings 11:15 ).
Zeruiah Person v. 16: Stricken of the Lord, David’s sister, and the mother of Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.
Amasa Person v. 17: Burden. (1. ) The son of Abigail, a sister of king David ( 1 Chr. 2:17 ; 2 Sam. 17:25 ). He was appointed by David to command the army in room of his cousin Joab.
Jether Person v. 17, 32: Surplus; excellence. (1. ) Father-in-law of Moses ( Ex. 4:18 marg. ), called elsewhere Jethro (q. v. ). (2. ) The oldest of Gideon’s seventy sons ( Judg. 8:20 ).
Azubah Person v. 18-19: Deserted. (1. ) The wife of Caleb ( 1 Chr. 2:18 , 19). (2. ) The daughter of Shilhi, and mother of king Jehoshaphat ( 1 Kings 22:42 ).
Caleb Tribe v. 18-19, 42, 49-50: A dog. (1. ) One of the three sons of Hezron of the tribe of Judah. He is also called Chelubai ( 1 Chr. 2:9 ). His descendants are enumerated (18-20, 42-49). (2. ) A “son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah” ( 1 Chr. 2:50 ).
Shobab Person v. 18: Apostate. (1. ) One of David’s sons by Bathseheba ( 2 Sam. 5:14 ). (2. ) One of the sons of Caleb ( 1 Chr. 2:18 ), the son of Hezron.
Hur Person v. 19-20, 50: A hole, as of a viper, etc. (1. ) A son of Caleb ( 1 Chr. 2:19 , 50; 4:1, 4; comp. 2 Chr. 1:5 ). (2. ) The husband of Miriam, Moses’ sister ( Ex. 17:10-12 ).
Segub Person v. 21-22: Elevated. (1. ) The youngest son of Hiel the Bethelite. His death is recorded in 1 Kings 16:34 (comp. Josh. 6:26 ). (2. ) A descendant of Judah ( 1 Chr. 2:21 , 22).
Gilead Place v. 22: Biblical region. Modern identification: Tell edh Dhahab esh Sherqiyeh.
Aram Place v. 23: Biblical region. Modern identification: Damascus.
Geshur Place v. 23: Bridge, the name of a district or principality of Syria near Gilead, between Mount Hermon and the Lake of Tiberias ( 2 Sam. 15:8 ; 1 Chr. 2:23 ). Modern identification: Fiq.
Havvoth-jair Place v. 23: Biblical region. Modern identification: Qamm.
Kenath Place v. 23: Possession, a city of Gilead. It was captured by Nobah, who called it by his own name ( Num. 32:42 ). Modern identification: Qanawat.
Caleb Ephrathah Place v. 24: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Bethlehem.
Tekoa Place v. 24: Pitching of tents; fastening down, a town of Judah, about 12 miles south of Jerusalem, and visible from the city. Modern identification: Khirbet Teku’a.
Ahijah Person v. 25: Brother (i. e., “friend”) of Jehovah. (1. ) One of the sons of Bela ( 1 Chr. 8:7 , R. V. ). In A. V. called “Ahiah. ” (2. ) One of the five sons of Jerahmeel, who was great-grandson of Judah ( 1 Chr. 2:25 ).
Abishur Tribe v. 28-29: Father of the wall; i. e., “mason”, one of the two sons of Shammai of the tribe of Judah ( 1 Chr. 2:28 , 29).
Abihail Person v. 29: Father of might. (1. ) Num. 3:35 . (2. ) 1 Chr. 2:29 . (3. ) 1 Chr. 5:14 . (4. ) The second wife of King Rehoboam ( 2 Chr. 11:18 ), a descendant of Eliab, David’s eldest brother.
Jonathan Person v. 32-33: Whom Jehovah gave, the name of fifteen or more persons that are mentioned in Scripture. The chief of these are, (1. ) A Levite descended from Gershom ( Judg. 18:30 ). His history is recorded in 17:7-13 and 18:30.
Nathan Person v. 36: Given. (1. ) A prophet in the reigns of David and Solomon ( 2 Chr. 9:29 ). He is first spoken of in connection with the arrangements David made for the building of the temple.
Zabad Person v. 36-37: Gift. (1. ) One of David’s valiant men ( 1 Chr. 11:41 ), the descendant of Ahlai, of the “children of Sheshan” (2:31). (2. ) A descendant of Tahath (7:21). (3. ) The son of Shemath.
Jehu Person v. 38: Jehovah is he. (1. ) The son of Obed, and father of Azariah ( 1 Chr. 2:38 ). (2. ) One of the Benjamite slingers that joined David at Ziklag ( 1 Chr. 12:3 ).
Shallum Person v. 40-41: Retribution. (1. ) The son of Jabesh, otherwise unknown. He “conspired against Zachariah, and smote him before the people, and slew him, and reigned in his stead” ( 2 Kings 15:10 ).
Elishama Person v. 41: Whom God hears. (1. ) A prince of Benjamin, grandfather of Joshua ( Num. 1:10 ; 1 Chr. 7:26 ). (2. ) One of David’s sons ( 2 Sam. 5:16 ). (3. ) Another of David’s sons ( 1 Chr. 3:6 ).
Korah Person v. 43: 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 ).
Jorkeam Place v. 44: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet er Raqqa.
Raham Person v. 44: Merciful, one of the descendants of Caleb, the son of Hezron ( 1 Chr. 2:44 ).
Beth-zur Place v. 45: House of rock, a town in the mountains of Judah ( Josh. 15:58 ), about 4 miles to the north of Hebron. It was built by Rehoboam for the defence of his kingdom ( 2 Chr. 11:7 ). It stood near the modern ed-Dirweh. Modern identification: Khirbet et Tubeiqa.
Gibea Place v. 49: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Jab’a.
Machbenah Place v. 49: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet Hebra.
Madmannah Place v. 49: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet Tatrit.
Sheva Person v. 49: Heb. Shebher. (1. ) The son of Caleb ( 1 Chr. 2:49 ). (2. ) Heb. Sheva’, one of David’s scribes ( 2 Sam. 20:25 ).
Kiriath-jearim Place v. 50, 52-53: City, a city belonging to Benjamin ( Josh. 18:28 ), the modern Kuriet el-‘Enab, i. e., “city of grapes”, about 7 1/2 miles west-north-west of Jerusalem. Modern identification: Deir el Azar.
Shobal Person v. 50, 52: 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).
Beth-gader Place v. 51: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Bethlehem.
Bethlehem Place v. 51, 54: House of bread. (1. ) A city in the “hill country” of Judah. It was originally called Ephrath ( Gen. 35:16 , 19; 48:7; Ruth 4:11 ). It was also called Beth-lehem Ephratah ( Micah 5:2 ), Beth-lehem-judah. Modern identification: Bethlehem.
Eshtaol Place v. 53: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Khirbet Deir Shubeib.
Zorah Place v. 53: Place of wasps, a town in the low country of Judah, afterwards given to Dan ( Josh. 19:41 ; Judg. 18:2 ), probably the same as Zoreah ( Josh. 15:33 ). This was Samson’s birthplace. Modern identification: Tel Tzora.
Atroth-beth-joab Place v. 54: Crowns. (1. ) A city east of Jordan, not far from Gilead ( Num. 32:3 ). (2. ) A town on the border of Ephraim and Benjamin ( Josh. 16:2 , 7), called also Ataroth-adar (16:5). Now ed-Da’rieh. Modern identification: Bethlehem.
Hammath Place v. 55: Biblical settlement. Modern identification: Hamat Tiberias.
Jabez Place v. 55: Affiction. (1. ) A descendant of Judah, of whom it is recorded that “God granted him that which he requested” ( 1 Chr. 4:9 , 10). (2. ) A place inhabited by several families of the scribes ( 1 Chr. 2:55 ). Modern identification: Bethlehem.
Rechab Person v. 55: Horseman, or chariot. (1. ) One of Ishbosheth’s “captains of bands” or leaders of predatory troops ( 2 Sam. 4:2 ). (2. ) The father of Jehonadab, who was the father of the Rechabites ( 2 Kings 10:15 , 23; Jer. 35:6-19 ).