Chapter 2

1 The sons of Israel. 3 The posterity of Judah by Tamar. 13 The children of Jesse. 18 The posterity of Caleb the son of Hezron. 21 Hezron’s posterity by the daughter of Machir. 25 Jerahmeel’s posterity. 34 Sheshan’s posterity. 42 Another branch of Caleb’s posterity. 50 The posterity of Caleb the son of Hur.

1. The sons of Israel. With the exception of Dan, the sons of Jacob are listed in the sequence in which they occur in Gen. 35:23–26, and with the further omission of Joseph, as they appear in Ex. 1:1–4. The order is as follows: first the six sons of Leah, the first wife; then, out of order, Dan; next, the two sons of Rachel, the second wife; then the other son of Bilhal, the first concubine; and last, the two sons of Zilpah, the second concubine. Instead of appearing in the order in which his name would occur as the first son of Bilhah, Dan appears after the six sons of Leah. This is the position his name occupies among the sons of Jacob when the prophetic blessing was pronounced by Jacob before his death (Gen. 49:16). See Gen. 46:8–25; Num. 1:5–15, 20–47; 13:4–15; 26:5–48; Deut. 33:6–24 for other listings of these names.

3. The sons of Judah. The names here given agree with those of Gen. 38, although the account here is greatly abbreviated.

Er, the firstborn. Compare Gen. 38:7.

He slew him. The inclusion of this statement from the original record (see Gen. 38:7) is in keeping with the chronicler’s purpose of presenting an account that shows the terrible fruitage of sin and the rewards of righteousness.

6. The sons of Zerah. From here on materials are presented not previously appearing in the Biblical record.

Zimri. In Joshua 7:1 this name appears as Zabdi, in the genealogy of Achan. In Hebrew an m is easily confused with a b, and an r with a d, so that zmr and zbd look almost exactly alike. For these Hebrew letters see p. 14.

7. The sons of Carmi. Carmi, the father of Achan, was the son of Zabdi (Joshua 7:1) or Zimri (v. 6), but the chronicler has here omitted this detail.

Achar. Or Achan (see Joshua 7:1). In Biblical genealogies many details are frequently passed over; and because of this, incorrect conclusions are sometimes drawn. Thus Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, was a Zerahite (Joshua 7:18), but in Joshua 7:24 he is simply mentioned as being the son of Zerah. The use of such words as “son” in the Bible must be understood in terms of what the writer meant in the original language, which is often different from our modern usage (see Vol. I, pp. 181, 186).

The use of “son” for “grandson” is common in the Bible. For example, Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat, son of Nimshi (2 Kings 9:2, 14), is called “the son of Nimshi” (1 Kings 19:16). Other typical examples are Azariah (1 Kings 4:2; cf. 1 Chron. 6:8–10), Kish (1 Sam. 9:1; 14:51; cf. 1 Chron. 8:33; 9:39). Athaliah is an example of a granddaughter being called a daughter (2 Kings 8:18; cf. 2 Kings 8:26). Cases where a daughter’s children are called sons also occur (Gen. 31:43, 55; 1 Chron. 2:21–23). The term “son” is also applied, as in the case of Achan (see above on v. 7), to more distant descendants: Ezra is called a son of Seraiah (Ezra 7:1), but Seraiah died 130 years before Ezra entered his work at Jerusalem (see 1 Chron. 6:14; 2 Kings 25:18–21). Ezra’s genealogy (Ezra 7:1–5), like many others, omits names. In other lists even “begat” can mean “was the ancestor of” (for example, in Matthew’s series of 14 generations, Matt. 1:1–17; see Vol. I, p. 186). Such phrases as “son of David” and “son of Abraham” are further examples of “son” meaning merely “descendant.” Other Hebrew expressions of relationship are similarly broad. Jacob and Laban, actually nephew and uncle, and similarly Lot and Abraham, are called brothers (Gen. 13:8; Gen. 14:14; see on Gen. 29:12). The confusion between father-in-law and brother-in-law for the relationship of Hobab to Moses (see on Num. 10:29; Judges 4:11) arises from the use of a specific English word to translate a Hebrew term meaning only “in-law.” Similarly “cousin” in Luke 1:36 is used to translate a Greek word that means only “kinswoman,” for in the time of the translating of the KJV that was also the meaning of “cousin” in English. It is not possible to unravel the exact family relationships of all the genealogies in the Bible, nor is it important to do so. The literal-minded modern reader must avoid labeling as discrepancies what upon closer investigation may prove to be merely an ancient habit of using a word in a more general sense than is common today.

The troubler. There may be a play on words here. “Achar” is from the Heb. Фakar, which, according to some authorities, means “to trouble”; according to others, “to render taboo,” “to cast out from [social] intercourse.” Joshua accosted Achan with the question, “Why hast thou troubled us?” (Joshua 7:25). Achan met his doom in a place called “the valley of Achor [trouble]” (Joshua 7:24, 26).

9. The sons also of Hezron. The clan of Hezron was evidently important among the descendants of Judah, for vs. 9–55 of this chapter are devoted to Hezron’s descendants.

Jerahmeel. Although Jerahmeel is mentioned frequently in this genealogy (vs. 9, 25–27, 33, 42), his name does not appear elsewhere in the OT except as his descendants, the Jerahmeelites, are referred to in 1 Sam 27:10; 1 Sam. 30:29, as living in southern Judah. Two other persons by his name are mentioned (1 Chron. 24:29; Jer. 36:26).

Ram. Jerahmeel also had a son by this name (1 Chron. 2:25). The Ram of Ruth 4:19; Matt. 1:3; and Luke 3:33, however, was the son of Hezron.

Chelubai. Probably a term designating the clan of Caleb, the son of Hezron (v. 18).

10. Ram begat Amminadab. Ram takes precedence over the other sons of Hezron, because it is from him that the royal line of David descended (1 Chron. 2:10–15; Ruth 4:19–22; Matt. 1:4–6; Luke 3:31–33).

11. Nahshon. A captain of Judah during the Exodus (Num. 1:7; 2:3; 10:14).

Salma. Or Salmon (Ruth 4:21; Matt 1:4; Luke 3:32). Salma probably founded Bethlehem (see 1 Chron. 2:51, 54).

13. Jesse begat. Verses 13–17 contain the names of the family of Jesse. According to 1 Sam. 16:10, 11; 1 Sam. 17:12–14, Jesse had eight sons, of whom David was the youngest, but here David is given as the seventh son of Jesse (v. 15). Perhaps one on of Jesse’s sons died leaving no progeny. In both Chronicles and Samuel, Eliab, Abinadab, and Shimma (or Shammah) appear as the first three sons.

16. Sons of Zeruiah. Abishai, Joab, and Asahel are several times mentioned as sons of Zeruiah (1 Sam. 26:6; 2 Sam. 2:18). The father is nowhere identified.

17. Amasa. The general of Absalom (2 Sam. 17:25). Amasa was David’s nephew (2 Sam. 19:13). Hence Joab the son of Zeruiah (1 Chron. 2:16; 2 Sam. 2:18; 17:25) and Amasa were cousins.

Jether the Ishmeelite. Called, “Ithra an Israelite” (2 Sam. 17:25).

18. Caleb the son of Hezron. Obviously not Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the contemporary of Joshua and conqueror of the districts of Hebron and Debir, for Hezron entered Egypt with Jacob (Gen. 46:12), and his son Caleb was the great—grandfather of the builder of the tabernacle (1 Chron. 2:19, 20; cf. Ex. 31:2). Caleb the son of Jephunneh was only 39 years old at the time of the Exodus (Joshua 14:6, 7, 13, 14; 15:13–17).

Her sons. Apparently the sons of Azubah, if the sons of Jerioth are listed in vs. 42–45.

19. Ephrath. Or, Ephratah (v. 50).

Hur. Hur, the son of Caleb and Ephratah, was the father of Bethlehem (ch. 4:4). Ephratah was the original name of Bethlehem (see on Gen. 35:19; cf. Ruth 4:11; Micah 5:2).

20. Bezaleel. The skilled artificer of the tabernacle (Ex. 31:2; 35:30; 2 Chron. 1:5).

21. Afterward Hezron. Verses 21–24 deal with another group of Hezronites, who established themselves in Gilead, east of the Jordan.

The daughter of Machir. Machir was the first-born of Manasseh, also the father of Gilead Joshua 17:1; Num. 26:29; 32:39, 40).

22. Jair. Although a son of Segub, he is also called “the son of Manasseh.” (Num. 32:41; Deut. 3:14). Later there was a Gileadite judge by this name who is said to have had 30 sons and “thirty cities, which are called Havoth-jair” (Judges 10:4).

23. Took Geshur, and Aram. Geshur was a district to the east and northeast of the Sea of Galilee, later an independent Aramaean kingdom (1 Chron. 3:2; 2 Sam. 3:3; 13:37; 15:8). Aram was the region lying north of Palestine, including Syria and northern Mesopotamia. The people of these districts lying in the regions of Bashan and Mt. Hermon were conquered by Israel but were not expelled, being allowed to “dwell among the Israelites” (Joshua 13:11–13).

Even threescore cities. According to Deut. 3:14 Jair “took all the country of Argob unto the coasts of Geshuri and Maachathi; and called them after his own name, Bashan-havoth-jair” (see Num. 32:40, 41; Joshua 13:30, 31). In the days of Solomon the “towns of Jair” are still referred to, and the number of these cities in Bashan is again given as “threescore great cities with walls and brasen bars” (1 Kings 4:13).

To the sons of Machir. Segub and Jair, with their descendants, were reckoned as sons of Machir, the mother’s father, rather than of Hezron, the father, and thus of Manasseh rather than Judah. The relationship between these two tribes is as follows: Having cast in their lot with Manasseh in the region of Gilead, these descendants of Hezron, who belonged to the tribe of Judah, henceforth had their genealogies reckoned with Manasseh, through the mother. Jair is regularly reckoned as belonging to the tribe of Manasseh (Num. 32:41; Deut. 3:14; Joshua 13:29–13).

24. Hezron was dead. There are difficulties in the Hebrew of this verse. The LXX renders the verse as follows: “And after the death of Esron, Caleb came to Ephratha; and the wife of Esron was Abia; and she bore him Ascho the father of Thecoe.” Some scholars think that “Abia” should read “her father,” making the text assert that Caleb approached Ephratah, his father’s wife.

25. The sons of Jerahmeel. Verses 25–33 give the genealogy of Jerahmeel, the son of Hezron. The Jerahmeelites were an independent clan in the time of David, inhabiting the Negeb in southern Judah (1 Sam. 27:10; 30:29). This is the only place in Scripture where this genealogy is to be found.

Ram. He is not to be confused with Ram, the brother of Jerahmeel (v. 9). Compare Job 32:2, where Elihu is of the kindred of Ram.

26. Onam. See vs. 28–33 for the descendants of this clan.

31. Ahlai. Since Sheshan had no sons (v. 34), Ahlai was probably the name of a daughter. If it were the name of a son, the son probably had no progeny; at least, none is mentioned.

34. Sheshan had no sons. Verses 34–41 deal with the descendants of Sheshan, giving the pedigree of Elishama (v. 41). It is presumed that Elishama lived about the time of the chronicler. No contemporary of Ezra is known who bears this name, but in Jer. 36:12 there was an Elishama, one of the princes of Judah at the time of Jeremiah, who held the position of scribe. Since Sheshan is the tenth in descent from Judah, and since Elishama appeared 14 generations later, it is entirely possible that the Elishama whose pedigree is here given is the prince of Judah mentioned in Jer. 36:12.

42. Sons of Caleb. These were probably the sons of Jerioth, one of the wives of Caleb (see v. 18), since Jerioth’s children have not been named before.

Mesha. The same name as that of a king of Moab (2 Kings 3:4) whose monument, the famous Moabite Stone, was found in 1868 at Dibon in Moab, though, of course, there is no connection. Being the father of Ziph, Mesha was probably the head of a Calebite clan that settled at Ziph, to the south of Hebron (Joshua 15:54, 55; 1 Sam. 23:14).

Ziph. Many of the names that follow are of geographical significance. Probably the descendants were named after geographical sites, or the sites bore the name of their founders. Ziph was in the hill country of Judah, and Mareshah was in the Shephelah of Judah, northwest of Hebron.

43. Tappuah. A town in the lowland of Judah (Joshua 15:34; 16:8). The exact location is unknown.

Rekem. A Benjamite city (Joshua 18:27).

45. Maon. Both Maon and Beth-zur were towns in the hill country of Judah (Joshua 15:55, 58; 1 Sam. 25:2; 2 Chron. 11:7; Neh. 3:16).

46. Caleb’s concubine. With the exception of Mozah, which is the name of a town in Benjamin (Joshua 18:26), nothing is known of the individuals or places mentioned in this verse. The sons of this concubine probably represented mixed and obscure tribal groups.

47. Jahdai. Nothing is said of the connection of Jahdai with the foregoing.

49. Madmannah. A town of southern Judah (Joshua 15:31).

50. Sons of Caleb. Some believe there should be a period after “Caleb,” making this sentence belong with the preceding material, not with what follows. The statement would then bring to a close the list of Calebites mentioned in vs. 42–49 in words corresponding to those closing the line of Jerahmeel in v. 33.

The son of Hur. If a period was intended after “Caleb,” this statement should probably read “the sons of Hur,” in harmony with the LXX and the Vulgate. In that case a new beginning is here made of the sons of Hur, first-born son of Ephratah, wife of Caleb after the death of Azubah (v. 19).

Shobal. In ch. 4:1 the name Shobal occurs following that of Hur as the head of a subtribe of Judah.

Kirjath-jearim. One of the cities of the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:17).

51. Salma. Compare v. 54. This Salma would, accordingly, be the descendant of Caleb and Ephratah. Another Salma occurs in v. 11, who was the great-grandson of Ram, brother of Caleb. It was this latter Salma who was the father of Boaz, and a member of the line from which David descended.

55. Jabez. A town, probably somewhere in Judah. Nothing else is known concerning the three families of scribes.

House of Rechab. At the time of Jeremiah the Rechabites occupied an honored position among the Jews (Jer. 35:2–19). Jehonadab the Rechabite took a strong stand with Jehu against the worship of Baal (2 Kings 10:23). Malchiah the Rechabite was an overseer of one of the districts of Judah during the time of Nehemiah (Neh. 3:14).

Ellen G. White comments

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