1 Crônicas 2
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Crônicas 2
NJB (LXX versing) Genealogy: Twelve Sons of Jacob (Israel) The Family of Israel Descendants of Judah The Descendants of Judah The Sons of Israel 2:1-2 2:1-2 2:1-4 2:1-2 2:1-2 From Judah to David The Descendants of Judah 2:3-4 2:3-17 2:3-4 2:3-4 2:5-8 2:5-8 2:5-7 2:5 2:6 2:7 2:8 2:8 Genealogy of David The Family Tree of King David The Ancestors of David 2:9-17 2:9-17 2:9 2:9 2:10-12 2:10-17 2:13-16a 2:16b-17 The Family of Hezron Descendants of Hezron Caleb 2:18-20 2:18-20 2:18-20 2:18-20 2:18-20 2:21-24 2:21-24 2:21-24 2:21-24 2:21-23 2:24 The Family of Jerahmeel The Descendants of Jerahmeel Jerahmeel 2:25-41 2:25-33 2:25-41 2:25-28 2:25-26 2:27 2:28-33a 2:29-31 2:33b 2:32-33 2:34-41 2:34-41 2:34-41 The Family of Caleb Other Descendants of Caleb Caleb 2:42-50a 2:42-49 2:42-50a 2:42-45 2:42-45 2:46 2:46 2:47 2:47 2:48-49a 2:48-49 2:49b 2:50-55 2:50b-51 2:50a Hur 2:50b-55 2:50b-55 2:50b-53 2:52-53 2:54 2:54-55 2:55 Etc. CONTEXTUAL INSIGHTS What is the purpose of genealogies? establish family ties (i.e., heirs of the covenant to Abraham) establish land claims of returning Jewish exiles list the main or important descendants to give honor to the family It must be remembered that these biblical genealogies are not complete. They are often structured to highlight certain ancestors (see K. A. Kitchen, Ancient Orient and the Old Testament, p. 55, #3; NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 654-663). Obviously the author is highlighting Judah (cf. Gen. 49:8-12, esp. verse 10). Most of the exiles who returned from Babylonian exile were of the tribe of Judah. King David (cf. 2 Samuel 7; 1 Chronicles 17; Israel's eschatological hope). The descendants of Ram (David's family) are presented first (1 Chr. 2:10-17) and last (1 Chr. 3:1-24). later, the line of Levi (the Chronicler is interested in the line of Levi, esp. the Levites) This chapter draws its information from Genesis 35; 38; 46 Exodus 1:1-5 Numbers 1:7; 32:41-42 Joshua 7; 14; 15 Ruth 4:18-22 1 Samuel 27:10 Notice the genealogies of the tribes of Dan and Zebulon are omitted (although they are listed in 1 Chr. 2:1-2), whether purposefully or by textual error is uncertain. They are listed in verse 2 but not developed.
1 Crônicas 2:1-2
2:1 "sons" The Hebrew word "ben" (BDB 119) has a wide semantical field. It can denote child grandchild descendant Therefore, it is uniquely suited to be used in ANE genealogies. Remember, this is not modern history. SPECIAL TOPIC: OLD TESTAMENT HISTORIOGRAPHY COMPARED WITH NEAR EASTERN CULTURES
1 Crônicas 2:3-4
2:3 "Er" This man is also mentioned in Gen. 38:7 as doing evil in the sight of YHWH, but it does not specify what that evil was. Both texts assert that YHWH took his life. I would assume it had to do with idolatry. Life and death are both in the hands of YHWH. In the OT all causality was attributed to YHWH to affirm His sovereignty. No secondary cause is mentioned (cf. 2 Chr. 20:6; Eccl. 7:14; Isa. 14:24-27; 43:13; 45:7; 54:16; Jer. 18:11; Lam. 3:33-38; Amos 3:6). For a good brief discussion see Hard Sayings of the Bible, pp. 305-306. ▣ "Bath-shua the Canaanitess" See note at 1 Chr. 2:17. 2:4 This event is recorded in Genesis 38, see notes online.
1 Crônicas 2:5-8
2:6 "Dara" In 1 Kings 4:31 this person's name is spelled "Darda" (cf. REB). However, the UBS Text Project, p. 389, gives "Dara" a "B" rating (some doubt). The LXX, along with the MT, has "Dara." ▣ "Zimri" In Joshua 7:1, he is called "Zabdi." ▣ "Ethan, Heman" These are musicians who wrote (and sang) Psalms 88 and 89. There they are called "Ezrahites." These may have been from Judah but another "Heman" was from the tribe of Levi (cf. 1 Chr. 6:33-44). These Hebrew names were used often in Hebrew families. Only a specific context or genealogy can link them. 2:7 "Achar" In Joshua 7 this person's name is spelled "Achan." The UBS Text Project, p. 390, suggests "Achar" and gives it a "B" rating (some doubt). The LXX and MT have "Achar," which means "trouble" (BDB 747, cf. Jos. 7:24-26). Achan surely caused Israel trouble in Joshua 7, when he stole things from Jericho which were totally devoted to God (i.e., under the ban. SPECIAL TOPIC: CURSE
1 Crônicas 2:9-17
2:9 "Chelubai" In Jos. 14:6 and 1 Chr. 2:18 this person's name is spelled "Caleb" (cf. LXX), as it is in 1 Chr. 2:18. 1 Chronicles 2:9-12 is taken from or related to Ruth 4:19-27 (or a common textual tradition). See John H. Walton and D. Brent Sandy, The Lost World of Scripture, which discusses how oral cultures passed on their traditions. 2:11 "Salma" In the genealogy of Ruth 4:21, a man is named "Salmon" (cf. LXX). 2:13-15 This is a developed genealogy from 1 Sam. 16:6-9, but expanded. 2:15 "David the seventh" In 1 Samuel 16 and 17 (esp. 17:10) Jesse has eight sons. One wonders if "seventh" was a literary way of showing prominence. SPECIAL TOPIC: SYMBOLIC NUMBERS IN SCRIPTURE, A. #4. 2:16 "Abshai" In 2 Sam. 2:18 it is spelled "Abishai." 2:17 "Jether the Ishmaelite" This inclusion of a non-Jewish ancestor caused the rabbis problems, as did Judah's Canaanite wife in 1 Chr. 2:3 and Ruth the Moabitess (see NT genealogies). It, theologically for NT readers, shows inclusiveness (cf. John 3:16). In 2 Sam. 17:25 this man is called "Jithra the Israelite." Some rabbis tried to make Jether an Israelite who lived in Ishmaelite territory (see Jewish Study Bible, p. 1719). SPECIAL TOPIC: YHWH'S ETERNAL REDEMPTIVE PLAN
1 Crônicas 2:18-20
2:18 "Caleb the son of Hezron" There are two "Calebs" in this genealogy. Caleb the son of Jezron, who is a descendant from the tribe of Judah (1 Chr 2:18-20) Caleb the son of Jerahmeel, who was one of the faithful spies (cf. 1 Chr. 2:46-50a, Num. 13:6,30; 14:6,24,30,38; Jos. 14:6; 15:13,14,16,17,18; 21:12). He was a Kenizzite. The Kenizzites were related to the Midianites. Some of them lived in southern Judah and became incorporated into Judah (as did the tribe of Simeon). Some scholars think there is a third "Caleb, son of Hur" mentioned in 1 Chr. 2:50a (i.e., Jerome Biblical Commentary, p. 406), but I think it is a summary statement linking to 1 Chr. 2:42-49. So, 1 Chr. 1:50b should start a new paragraph (cf. NRSV, NJB, JPSOA). ▣ "by Azubah. . .by Jerioth" This refers to two women who bore children to Caleb (cf. NKJV, NRSV, JPSOA). The NJB translates this as Caleb fathering Jerioth by Azubah. The TEV translates it as "Caleb married Azubah and had a daughter called Jerioth." The NET Bible has " by his wife Azubah (also known as Jerioth)." The "Caleb son of Hezron" mentioned here is not the same as the famous, faithful spy of Joshua (i.e., Caleb son of, see Contextual Insights, D.). 2:20 "Bezalel" This man was one of the chief Spirit-gifted artisans of the Tabernacle (cf. Exod. 31:2; 35:30; 36:1-2; 37:1; 38:22). SPECIAL TOPIC: SPIRIT IN THE BIBLE
1 Crônicas 2:21-24
2:23 The names in the first part of this verse may refer to towns not people. This is also true of the children mentioned in 1 Chr. 2:42-49, who became towns or regions of Judah. The "sixty cities" are mentioned in Jos. 13:30. ▣ "Geshur" This was an independent kingdom in the trans-Jordan area (BDB 178; cf. Deut. 3:14; Jos. 12:5; 13:2,11,13; 2 Sam. 3:3; 13:37; 14:23; 15:8). ▣ "Aram" This refers to the kingdom in the highlands north of Israel to the Euphrates. Its is also known as "Aramea" or "Syria" (BDB 74). 2:24 "in Caleb-ephrathah" The LXX translates this as "Chaleb went in to Ephratha," which could refer to sexual relations with a woman named Ephratha" (TEV says, "his father's widow," cf. NJB) Caleb entered Ephratha (i.e., a town or area, cf. Vulgate) The NKJV and NRSV suggest that "Caleb-ephrathah" was the geographical site of Hezron's death.
1 Crônicas 2:25-41
2:25 "Now the sons of Jerahmee. . . " Notice how 1 Chr. 2:25 and 33 are a literary bracketing ( inclusio ). This is the only place in the Bible this man's (BDB 934) descendants are listed. 1 Samuel 27:10; 30:27-29 state that these people are connected to the Negev. 2:31,34 "the son of Sheshan was Ahlai" We learn from 1 Chr. 2:24 that this man had no sons but gave his daughters to an Egyptian slave so that the children were considered his (similar to Jacob's wife giving him her slaves to bear children and heirs). 2:41 The Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 335, mentions that "Elishama" represents the twentythird generation of Israel's son Judah. J. Barton Payne suggests a date of about 1100 B.C., which would be the time of Jesse.
1 Crônicas 2:42-50
2:46 "concubine" This (BDB 477) refers to a legal, sexual partner, but one whose children would not inherit equally (or at all) with the children of a wife (cf. NIDOTTE, vol. 3, pp. 618-619). 2:49 "Achsah" This was a daughter of Caleb the son of Jephunneh (cf. Num. 13:6,30; 14:6,24,30,38; 26:65; 32:12; 34:19), not Caleb son of Hezron (cf. 1 Chr. 2:18-24). She is given to Caleb's brother Othniel (cf. Jdgs. 3:9) as a wife for his military victories (cf. Jos. 25:15-19).
1 Crônicas 2:50-55
2:50b "Ephrathah" The MT has this name here (BDB 68), but in 1 Chr. 2:19 it is "Ephrath." Obviously this name has caused trouble for copiers (cf. 1 Chr. 2:24) because it became a place name (cf. Micah 5:2). 2:52 "Manahathites" The MT has a slightly different spelling between 1 Chr. 2:52 and 54, but obviously the same person. 2:55 "the families of scribes" The term "scribes" (BDB 708) could be another person's name (AB, p. 12) or a list of tribal guilds (AB, p. 16). The NASB Study Bible, p. 556, suggests they may refer to scribes with different functions (i.e., those who read, copy, or check the copies). SPECIAL TOPIC: SCRIBES ▣ "Kenites" They are first mentioned in Gen. 15:19 in Canaan. Moses' father-in-law is said to be a Kenite (cf. Jdgs. 1:16). If so, the Kenites and Midianites are linked. The group of Kenites related to Caleb, the faithful spy, were incorporated into Judah (cf. Num. 10:29-32).