Chapter 1

1 Adam’s line to Noah. 5 The sons of Japheth. 8 The sons of Ham. 17 The sons of Shem. 24 Shem’s line to Abraham. 29 Ishmael’s sons. 32 The sons of Keturah. 34 The posterity of Abraham by Esau. 43 The kings of Edom. 51 The dukes of Edom.

1. Adam, Sheth, Enosh. The book of Chronicles begins abruptly with a list of names, starting with the first man, Adam. No purpose for the giving of this list is stated, but the object was evidently to trace the history of the people of God from the beginning to the downfall of Israel and Judah and the restoration after the Babylonian exile. The ten generations from Adam to Noah are given in verses 1–4. The names are the same as those in Gen. 5, except for the spelling of some of the names in the English. In Hebrew the spellings are identical. However, the record is greatly abbreviated, being given in the shortest possible form.

5. The sons of Japheth. Verses 5–23 are an abbreviation of the genealogical information of Gen. 10. The account is compressed within narrower limits, chiefly by omitting the opening and closing notes, and passing over the remarks on the kingdom of Nimrod at Babel, and the spread of the Shemites and Hamites in their countries (see Gen. 10:5, 8–12, 18–20).

Gomer. See on Gen. 10:2; Eze. 38:6. The descendants of Gomer are probably to be identified with the Cimmerians known to the Greeks, mentioned by Homer (Odyssey xi. 12–19) as inhabiting the far north; mentioned also by Herodotus (iv. 11–13) as the early inhabitants of what is now south Russia, who were driven out by the Scythians. The Cimmerians made their way into Asia Minor, and for a time threatened the Assyrian Empire, but were defeated by Esarhaddon. According to Ashurbanipal, Guggu (Gyges), king of Lydia, defeated the Cimmerians, who had been harassing his land, but was later overthrown by the Cimmerians. Alyattes, the great-grandson of Gyges, who had waged war with Cyaxares the Mede, later drove the Cimmerians out of the district of Asia (Herodotus i. 15, 16).

Magog. See also on Gen. 10:2. The progenitor of a people who came from the north (Eze. 38:15). Josephus identified Magog with the Scythians (Antiquities i. 6. 1). But see Vol. IV, pp. 704, 705.

Madai. The progenitor of the Medes (see on Gen. 10:2).

Javan. The progenitor of the Ionians or Greeks (see on Gen. 10:2; see also Isa. 66:19; Eze. 27:13; cf. Dan. 8:21; 10:20; 11:2; Zech. 9:13).

Tubal, and Meschech. See also on Gen. 10:2. The two names are mentioned together in Gen. 10:2; Eze. 27:13; 32:26; 38:2, 3; 39:1. Tubal is mentioned with Tarshish, Pul, Lud, and Javan (Isa. 66:19). Tubal is listed with Tarshish, Javan, and Meshech (Eze. 27:12, 13) as trading with Tyre. Tubal and Meshech are most probably to be identified with Tabal and Mushki frequently named in the Assyrian inscriptions, and with the Moschoi (Moshians) and Tibarenoi of Herodotus (iii. 94; vii. 78).

Tiras. See also on Gen. 10:2. Probably the progenitor of the Tyrsenians, who occupied the coast of the Aegean Sea (Herodotus i. 57, 94).

6. Ashchenaz. See also on Gen. 10:3. The progenitor of a people who lived somewhere southeast of Lake Urmiah (see on Jer. 51:27).

7. Elishah. See also on Gen. 10:4. The progenitor of the inhabitants of “isles” or coasts (possibly Sicily, southern Italy, or Sardinia), who provided blue and purple in their trade with Tyre (Eze. 27:7). Such dyes were obtained from certain kinds of shellfish.

Tarshish. The name is now commonly identified with Tartessus in Spain (see on Gen. 10:4; see also 1 Kings 10:22; 22:48; 1 Chron. 7:10; Ps 48:7; Isa. 2:16; 23:1, 14; 60:9; 66:19; Jer. 10:9; Eze. 27:12, 25; Jonah 1:3).

Kittim. Probably, the island of Cyprus (see on Gen. 10:4; see also Num. 24:24; Eze. 27:6).

Dodanim. Rather, Rodanim (see on Gen. 10:4). His descendants were probably the inhabitants of Rhodes.

Cush. The Cushites inhabited Nubia, now part of the Sudan, anciently called Ethiopia (see on Gen. 10:6).

Mizraim. The Hebrew name for the land or peoples of Egypt (see on Gen. 10:6).

Put. Probably to be identified with the inhabitants of the land of Punt (see on Gen. 10:6; cf. Jer. 46:9; Eze. 27:10; 30:5; 38:5; Nahum 3:9).

Canaan. See on Gen. 10:6. There is much evidence of an early connection between Canaan and Egypt.

9. The sons of Cush. These were in southwestern Arabia (see on Gen. 10:7).

10. Cush begat Nimrod. Micah 5:6 speaks of Assyria as “the land of Nimrod.” The primitive inhabitants of Mesopotamia were probably a Hamitic people (see on Gen. 10:8–11).

11. Ludim. These people, connected with the Egyptians (see Jer. 46:9; Eze. 30:5), may have been the Lydians (see on Gen. 10:13).

12. Pathrusim. Probably the inhabitants of Pathros or Upper Egypt (see on Gen. 10:14; cf. Isa. 11:11; Jer. 44:1; Eze. 29:14; 30:14).

Caphthorim. See also on Gen. 10:14. A people who came from Caphtor (Deut. 2:23), which is usually identified with Crete. Some think that the preceding clause, “of whom came the Philistines,” has probably been misplaced and no doubt belongs here, for Caphtor is repeatedly mentioned as the ancient home of the Philistines (Jer. 47:4; Amos 9:7; see also Vol. II, p. 34).

13. Zidon his firstborn. See also on Gen. 10:15. Sidon was originally the outstanding city of Phoenicia. Even after Tyre became the more prominent, the Phoenicians were still called Sidonians (Deut. 3:9; Joshua 13:6; 1 Kings 11:5; 16:31).

Heth. The father of the Hittites (see on Gen. 10:15; see also Vol. I, pp. 129, 137; Vol. II, pp. 30–33).

14. Jebusite. The inhabitants of Jebus, or Jerusalem (1 Chron. 11:4, 5; see on Gen. 10:16; also Vol. II, p. 37).

Amorite. See also Gen. 10:16. This people inhabited the hill country east of the Jordan (Num. 21:13; Deut. 1:4; Judges 11:19–22), and the hill country west of the Jordan (Gen. 14:7, 13; Joshua 10:5; Judges 1:34, 35).

15. Hivite. This people dwelt on the slopes of Lebanon (Joshua 11:3; Judges 3:3), and also in Gibeon and Shechem (Joshua 9:7; Gen. 34:2). Nothing is known positively from extra-Biblical sources about the Hivites, but some think they may have been Horites or Hurrians (see on Joshua 9:3).

Arkite, and the Sinite. Inhabitants of two Phoenician cities (see on Gen. 10:17).

16. Arvadite. Arvad was on an island off the Phoenician coast (see on Gen. 10:18).

Zemarite. The people of Simarra, probably a town on the coast of Phoenicia, not identified (see on Gen. 10:18).

Hamathite. An important city on the Orontes (see on Gen. 10:18; see also Vol. II, p. 70).

17. Sons of Shem. Among these are listed a number of important nations.

Elam. This was the famous country in the mountainous region east of Babylonia (see on Gen. 10:22). Its capital, Susa (Shushan), was one of the capitals of the Persian Empire in the time of Esther (see on Esther 1:2).

Asshur. Assyria (see on Gen. 10:22).

Arphaxad. An ancestor of Abraham (vs. 24–27). The exact locality occupied by Arphaxad is unknown, but was possibly Arrapachitis (see on Gen. 10:22).

Lud. In Upper Mesopotamia (see on Gen. 10:22).

Aram. The Aramaeans, sometimes called Syrians, were a very important people whose language became widely used in Western Asia (Isa. 36:11), in both commerce and diplomacy (see also on Gen. 10:22; Vol. I, pp. 29, 30; Vol. II, pp. 70, 71; Vol. III, pp. 79–83).

Uz. See 1 Chron. 1:42; Gen. 36:28; Job 1:1; Jer. 25:20; Lam. 4:21. Its location is uncertain (see on Gen. 10:23). Job dwelt in the land of Uz (Job 1:1).

Meshech. Or Mash (Gen. 10:23).

Arphaxad begat Shelah. Verses 18 to 23 follow Gen. 10:24–29 almost exactly. Between Arphaxad and Shelah, the LXX in Gen. 10:24; 11:12, 13, adds Cainan. This name is not found in the present Hebrew text of Genesis, but it is found in Luke’s genealogy of Christ (Luke 3:36).

Thus far 14 “sons of Japheth” have been listed, 30 “sons of Ham,” and 26 “sons of Shem,” a total of 70 in all in this series.

24. Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah. Verses 24–27 condense into short form the genealogy of Gen. 11:10–26.

In vs. 28–42 there is a second series of tribes or peoples, derived from Abraham through Ishmael, Keturah’s sons, and Isaac. In the former series, the sons of Japheth and Ham were listed first, before the descendants of Shem. So now, the sons of Ishmael and of Keturah are given first, before those of Isaac are listed. Of Isaac’s sons, Esau precedes Israel, since the chronicler is leading up to Israel as the climax of his presentation.

29. Nebaioth. See Gen. 25:13; 28:9; 36:3; Isa. 60:7.

Kedar. See Gen. 25:13; Isa. 21:16; 42:11; 60:7; Jer. 2:10; 49:28; Eze. 27:21. Probably the tribe of Kidri in Ashurbanipal’s inscriptions, inhabiting a territory to the east of Edom.

Adbeel. Possibly a tribe near the Egyptian frontier (see on Gen. 25:13).

30. Hadad. Or Hadar (Gen. 25:15). Hadad is probably correct (see 1 Kings 11:14).

32. Keturah, Abraham’s concubine. In Gen. 25:1, Keturah is called the “wife” of Abraham, an observation not out of harmony with what is said concerning Keturah in Gen. 25:6 and here. In ancient times a concubine was not an illegal partner but a wife of a secondary class.

Midian. See on Gen. 25:2.

Dedan. Gen. 25:3 adds the names of Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim as sons of Dedan.

35. The sons of Esau. This list (vs. 35–37) is in general agreement with Gen. 36:10–14, but it is here given in greatly abbreviated form.

36. Teman. The name also of a district in Idumaea, or Edom (Amos 1:12; Jer. 49:7, 20; Eze. 25:13; Hab. 3:3). Teman was the home of Job’s friend Eliphaz (Job 2:11).

Timna, and Amalek. According to Gen. 36:12 Timna was the concubine of Eliphaz and it was she who bore a son by the name of Amalek.

38. The sons of Seir. There is no apparent connection between this series and the one preceding. In Gen. 36:20 Seir is qualified as “the Horite, who inhabited the land.” In Joshua 7:9 the phrase, “the inhabitants of the land,” seems to imply the indigenous inhabitants. The “Horites,” or Hurrians, were the early inhabitants who dwelt in the land before the Semitic invaders (Deut. 2:22; see on Gen. 36:20).

39. Homam. Or Hemam (Gen. 36:22). The difference is due to the fact that in Genesis a y is employed, whereas here there is a w. The two letters are so similar to each other in the Hebrew as to be easily interchanged. Thus, for obviously the same reason, Obal of Gen. 10:28 appears as Ebal in v. 22 of this chapter. Variations of this type are numerous. For example, we have Zephi (v. 36) and Alian and Shephi (v. 40) for Zepho (Gen. 36:11) and Alvan and Shepo (Gen. 36:23).

Amram. Heb. chamran. The name appears in Gen. 36:26 as chemda. In the consonantal Hebrew the difference is only one of a single letter, an r in Chronicles taking the place of a d in Genesis. In Hebrew these two letters are very similar, and the one may easily be mistaken for the other.

42. Jakan. Or Akan (Gen. 36:27). The difference in this instance probably resulted from the fact that in Genesis the name Akan is preceded by the conjunction “and,” which in Hebrew is expressed simply by prefixing the letter w to a word. This w standing for the conjunction “and” may have been interpreted by some scribe as a y.

The numerous variations in the forms of many names in Chronicles though due, in part, to mistaking one Hebrew letter for another in handwritten lists, are not all necessarily errors of transcription. Not only were different names sometimes applied to the same person, but there seems to have been great latitude in spelling ancient names, as can be illustrated from non-Biblical records also. The Persian king known to the Jews as ХAchashwerosh, (in the KJV, Ahasuerus, from the Latin form), and to the Greeks as Xerxes, was known in Persia as Khshayarsha and was spelled in documents from other parts of his empire as Achshiyarshu, Achshimarshu, Hishiyarshu, etc. To the Egyptians he was known as Chsharsha, Chshayarsha, etc. Furthermore, Xerxes’ father, whom we call Darius (Latin), was Dareios to the Greeks, Daryavesh to the Jews, Tariyamaush to the Susians, Dariyamush to the Babylonians, and Darayavaush to the Persians. Sometimes the same man bore totally unrelated names; the pretender who posed as Bardiya, the brother of Cambyses and whose real name was Gaumata, was called by the Greek writers Smerdis.

43. These are the kings. This list of ancient kings and dukes of Edom (vs. 43–54) is almost the same as the one found in Gen. 36:31–43.