1 Chronicles Chapter 2
Descendants of Abraham and Judah
A. Descendants of Abraham
1. 1 Chronicles 2:1 2, The Descendants of Abraham Through Israel
KJV Scripture
1 Chronicles 2:1 2
These are the sons of Israel, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
Commentary
The chronicler now shifts from the broad universal history of chapter one to the internal covenantal history of the nation of Israel. These twelve sons of Jacob form the foundation of the tribes that became the nation God chose for Himself, the nation through whom the Messiah would come.
a. These were the sons of Israel
The covenant line began with Abraham, continued through Isaac, and then through Jacob, whose name was changed by God to Israel according to Genesis 32:28, “And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel, for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” The blessing was not passed to Ishmael nor to Esau, but to Jacob, the one chosen by divine election. However, unlike the previous generations where only one son inherited the covenant promise, all twelve sons of Israel became covenant heirs, forming the tribes that received the land and promises God made to Abraham.
b. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher
These sons of Israel formed twelve tribes, though the counting eventually becomes thirteen because Joseph’s inheritance was divided between his sons Ephraim and Manasseh, as explained in Genesis 48:5. This division honored Joseph, who preserved Israel during the famine, and it fulfilled Jacob’s prophetic blessings.
Selman notes that the order follows Genesis 35:23 26 with one unusual exception. Dan appears earlier in the list here, whereas Genesis places him after Benjamin. The chronicler occasionally adjusts the tribal order depending on the context he is emphasizing. In this introductory list he simply acknowledges all twelve sons to establish that the covenant is now fully connected to all the sons of Jacob.
2. 1 Chronicles 2:3 17, The Descendants of Judah to Jesse, the Father of David
KJV Scripture
1 Chronicles 2:3 17
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. And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five. The sons of Pharez, Hezron, and Hamul. And the sons of Zerah, Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara, five of them in all. And the sons of Carmi, Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed. And the sons of Ethan, Azariah. The sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him, Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai. And Ram begat Amminadab, and Amminadab begat Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah. And Nahshon begat Salma, and Salma begat Boaz. And Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse. And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third, Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh. Whose sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah, Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three. And Abigail bare Amasa, and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmeelite.
Commentary
The chronicler now turns entirely to Judah, the royal tribe. Though all tribes matter in the story of Israel, Judah receives the greatest attention because the promised Messiah would come from this line. Genesis 49:10 declares, “The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come, and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.”
a. The sons of Judah
Judah’s sons include Er, Onan, and Shelah, born of the daughter of Shua the Canaanite woman. Their story appears in Genesis 38, where Judah’s failures and God’s mercy are both displayed. Er was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord slew him. Onan was also judged for his sin. Yet from this messy and sinful chapter came the line of the Messiah through Tamar, Judah’s daughter in law, who bore Pharez and Zerah. This again demonstrates the grace of God using imperfect people to advance His perfect plan.
i. Judah receives first attention
Judah is listed before any other tribe because of his central role in the Davidic line. Selman notes that Judah occupies two and a half chapters, more than any other tribe. Payne notes that the chronicler briefly lists all twelve sons of Jacob, then turns immediately to Judah to trace the royal line. The chronicler writes with a theological purpose, not merely historical interest. Judah leads because King David comes from Judah, and from David comes the promised Messiah.
b. Er, the firstborn of Judah, was wicked in the sight of the Lord
The chronicler does not hide Judah’s family sins. Instead, he records the full truth. Er was slain by God for wickedness. Onan died under judgment. Tamar’s unusual conception is mentioned. Achar, also called Achan in Joshua 7, is mentioned as the troubler of Israel, who sinned by taking the devoted things from Jericho, leading to Israel’s defeat at Ai. Selman notes that Achan’s guilt is called unfaithfulness, a word that Chronicles frequently uses to describe the root sin that led to Israel’s exile. The chronicler reminds the returning exiles that unfaithfulness destroys, and faithfulness restores.
c. Jesse begot David the seventh
The genealogy then moves through the line of Pharez, to Hezron, to Ram, to Amminadab, to Nahshon, who led the tribe of Judah during the wilderness period. From Nahshon came Salma, from Salma came Boaz, who redeemed Ruth the Moabite. From Boaz came Obed, from Obed came Jesse, and from Jesse came David, the seventh son. This is the royal lineage that dominates the entire narrative of Chronicles.
i. Abishai, Joab, Asahel, and Amasa
The chronicler includes detailed notes on the extended family of Jesse. Zeruiah and Abigail, David’s sisters, bore four prominent warriors: Abishai, Joab, Asahel, and Amasa. Payne observes that this information is not found in Samuel except indirectly. Without Chronicles we would not know that these famous warriors were David’s nephews. Their genealogies demonstrate how God sovereignly placed strong military leaders around David to strengthen his kingship.
B. Other Descendants of the Tribe of Judah
1. 1 Chronicles 2:18 24, The Family of Hezron, a Grandson of Judah
KJV Scripture
1 Chronicles 2:18 24
And Caleb the son of Hezron begat children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth, her sons are these, Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon. And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bare him Hur. And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezaleel. 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. And Segub begat Jair, who had three and twenty cities in the land of Gilead. And Geshur and Syria took Jair’s cities, with Kenath, and the towns thereof, even threescore cities. All these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead. And after that Hezron was dead in Caleb Ephratah, then Abiah Hezron’s wife bare him Ashur the father of Tekoa.
Commentary
The chronicler now turns to the descendants of Hezron, one of the key sons of Pharez, who was himself one of the sons of Judah born through Tamar. The line of Hezron is crucial in Judah’s genealogy because it eventually leads to David, but the chronicler is not concerned only with David’s direct line. He also records the collateral branches to show the fullness of Judah’s tribal structure and to honor the families who made up the returning post exilic community.
a. Caleb the son of Hezron
The chronicler notes that Caleb, the son of Hezron, fathered children through Azubah and later through Ephrath. This Caleb is not the same as Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the faithful spy who followed the Lord wholeheartedly. Selman rightly observes that the Caleb in this verse is “otherwise unknown” and stands distinct from the well known Caleb who conquered Hebron. Caleb the Kenizzite, mentioned in Joshua 14, was grafted into the tribe of Judah through association, while Caleb the son of Hezron was Judahite by birth. Chronicling this distinction helps the returning Jews understand their genealogical purity.
This section demonstrates the chronicler’s precision with lineage. In an era when the people were rebuilding their identity after exile, accurate genealogical records were essential for land rights, tribal inheritance, priestly qualification, and social order.
b. Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon
These names appear nowhere else in Scripture, which often causes modern readers to skim past them. However, their presence is highly significant. The chronicler is preserving the memory of the families of Judah that formed the backbone of the post exilic community. Payne notes that the land occupied by the returnees after the Babylonian exile consisted primarily of the tribal territories of Judah and Benjamin, and that Ezra’s community was composed largely of people from these two tribes. By listing these obscure names, the chronicler assures the returning exiles that their ancestors were known to God and recorded in Scripture.
The chronicler’s inclusion of lesser known Judahites also emphasizes that every family within the covenant community mattered. God’s plan did not rest solely upon the famous or the great. Even families that left behind no recorded exploits were essential in preserving the covenant line.
c. Ephrath, Hur, Uri, and Bezaleel
After Azubah’s death, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore Hur. Hur was the grandfather of Bezaleel, the craftsman appointed by God to construct the Tabernacle. Exodus 31:2 says, “See, I have called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.” Bezaleel was filled by the Spirit of God with wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and artistic skill to build the Ark of the Covenant, the Table of Shewbread, the Lampstand, and the tabernacle furnishings.
By tracing Bezaleel’s lineage to Hezron, the chronicler shows that Judah played a vital role not only in kingship but also in worship. Judah produced both David the king and Bezaleel the Spirit filled artisan of the sanctuary.
d. Hezron’s later marriage and the line of Machir
The chronicler records that Hezron married the daughter of Machir, the father of Gilead, when he was sixty years old. Machir’s line belonged to the half tribe of Manasseh which settled east of the Jordan. Through this marriage Hezron fathered Segub, who fathered Jair. Jair became a significant figure, controlling twenty three cities in Gilead. These towns were later seized by Geshur and Syria, reducing Israel’s holdings in the region. Yet the chronicler notes them to show how Judah’s influence extended beyond the borders of its own tribal land.
This marriage between Judah and Manasseh’s line demonstrates that God’s purposes for His people often intertwine tribal boundaries. Though Judah was central to the messianic plan, the tribes were interconnected in God’s providence. The fact that Jair’s cities fell into foreign hands is also a sober reminder of Israel’s vulnerability apart from obedience to the Lord.
e. After Hezron’s death, Abijah bore Ashhur the father of Tekoa
The chronicler explains that after Hezron died in Caleb Ephrathah, his wife Abijah bore Ashhur, who became the father of Tekoa. Tekoa was a town in Judah that later became the home of the prophet Amos. The chronicler’s record shows that Judah’s line branched into various towns that would later produce important figures in Israel’s spiritual history.
This entire genealogy emphasizes that God was faithful to multiply Judah. It preserves every branch of Judah’s heritage so the returning exiles would know their roots and recognize the continuity of God’s covenant despite centuries of turmoil.
2. 1 Chronicles 2:25 41, The Family of Jerahmeel, a Great Grandson of Judah
KJV Scripture
1 Chronicles 2:25 41
And the sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were Ram the firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, and Ahijah. Jerahmeel had also another wife, whose name was Atarah, she was the mother of Onam. And the sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel were Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker. And the sons of Onam were Shammai, and Jada. And the sons of Shammai, Nadab, and Abishur. And the name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail, and she bare him Ahban, and Molid. And the sons of Nadab, Seled, and Appaim, but Seled died without children. And the sons of Appaim, Ishi. And the sons of Ishi, Sheshan. And the children of Sheshan, Ahlai. And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai, Jether, and Jonathan, and Jether died without children. And the sons of Jonathan, Peleth, and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel. Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian whose name was Jarha. And Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant to wife, and she bare him Attai. And Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad. And Zabad begat Ephlal, and Ephlal begat Obed. And Obed begat Jehu, and Jehu begat Azariah. And Azariah begat Helez, and Helez begat Eleasah. And Eleasah begat Sismai, and Sismai begat Shallum. And Shallum begat Jekamiah, and Jekamiah begat Elishama.
Commentary
This long genealogical section traces the descendants of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron, and therefore part of an important collateral branch of the tribe of Judah. The chronicler preserves this lineage not because it leads to David, but because it was essential for the post exilic community to understand their own roots and the full structure of Judah’s tribal family lines. The chronicler is not merely recording ancestry, he is preserving identity for a restored nation.
a. The sons of Jerahmeel
Jerahmeel’s sons were Ram, his firstborn, along with Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah. These names do not appear elsewhere in Scripture, yet they were significant for the families who returned from exile, many of whom traced their lineage to these subdivisions of Judah. The chronicler preserves their memory so that their descendants might know their heritage in the land God promised Abraham.
The chronicler also notes that Jerahmeel had another wife, Atarah, who bore Onam. This shows that the tribal lines were often complex, involving multiple family branches. The chronicler records each branch with precision, ensuring that every legitimate Judahite family could locate their place in the covenant community.
b. The sons of Ram
Ram, Jerahmeel’s firstborn, fathered Maaz, Jamin, and Eker. Again, these names provide structure for Judah’s internal organization. The chronicler is showing that the families of Judah retained a robust tribal identity that survived into the post exilic period.
c. The sons of Onam, Shammai, and Jada
The sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada. This is where the genealogy becomes more detailed. Shammai fathered Nadab and Abishur, and Abishur’s wife Abihail bore him Ahban and Molid. The chronicler shows that multiple sub clans existed within Jerahmeel’s line, and even though little is known about their deeds, God preserved their names in Scripture.
d. The sons of Nadab and the line of Sheshan
Nadab had two sons, Seled, who died without children, and Appaim. Appaim fathered Ishi, who fathered Sheshan. Sheshan had only daughters, which means that Sheshan faced the potential loss of his family name and inheritance. However, God’s providence worked through an unexpected means.
Sheshan had an Egyptian servant named Jarha, and because Sheshan had no sons, he gave his daughter to Jarha as a wife. This was unusual but permissible under ancient custom, and it protected the family inheritance. The chronicler records this to show how God’s providence preserved even the obscure lines of Judah’s descendants. Instead of the name of Sheshan being cut off, his line continued through Jarha.
Their son Attai became the father of Nathan, who fathered Zabad, who fathered Ephlal, who fathered Obed, who fathered Jehu, who fathered Azariah, who fathered Helez, who fathered Eleasah, who fathered Sismai, who fathered Shallum, who fathered Jekamiah, who fathered Elishama. This lengthy chain highlights God’s faithfulness in preserving even a seemingly insignificant household.
e. The sons of Jada
Jada, brother of Shammai, fathered Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without children, so Jonathan’s line continued through Peleth and Zaza. Again the chronicler shows how God preserved each family line, even those with limited historical visibility.
f. Significance of this genealogy
This entire section is a demonstration of God’s meticulous faithfulness. The chronicler’s purpose is not to highlight famous warriors or kings but to preserve the identity of every Judahite family. For the community returning from Babylon, these genealogies validated their place in the covenant and reaffirmed that God had not forgotten their ancestry.
Though modern readers may gloss over these names, the chronicler saw them as essential. They testified that God’s covenant promises extended to all Judah. These families mattered. Their names mattered. Their inheritance mattered. The God who kept track of them through centuries of hardship is the same God who restored Israel to the land.
3. 1 Chronicles 2:42 55, The Family of Caleb, a Great Grandson of Judah
KJV Scripture
1 Chronicles 2:42 55
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. And the sons of Hebron, Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema. And Shema begat Raham the father of Jorkoam, and Rekem begat Shammai. And the son of Shammai was Maon, and Maon was the father of Bethzur. And Ephah Caleb’s concubine bare Haran, and Moza, and Gazez, and Haran begat Gazez. And the sons of Jahdai, Regem, and Jotham, and Geshan, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph. Maachah Caleb’s concubine bare Sheber, and Tirhanah. She bare also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah, and the father of Gibea, and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah. These were the sons of Caleb. The sons of Hur the firstborn of Ephratah, Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim, Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Bethgader. And Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim had sons, Haroeh, and half of the families of Manuhoth. And the families of Kirjathjearim, the Ithrites, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites, of them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites. The sons of Salma, Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Ataroth, the house of Joab, and half of the Manahethites, the Zorites. 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.
Commentary
The chronicler now traces another major branch of the tribe of Judah, centered around Caleb, who was the brother of Jerahmeel and a descendant of Hezron, making him a great grandson of Judah. This genealogy is separate from the line that culminates in David, but it still holds weight for the chronicler’s purpose. Judah was the dominant tribe among the post exilic returnees, and the chronicler carefully records every major family division so that the restored community could understand its roots and reestablish its tribal identity.
a. The descendants of Caleb
This Caleb must be distinguished from the more famous Caleb son of Jephunneh, the faithful spy who wholly followed the Lord. Selman rightly notes that Acsah, the daughter mentioned here, was a descendant of this Caleb the son of Hezron but was an immediate daughter of Caleb the son of Jephunneh. Payne explains that through this blending of genealogies we discover Acsah’s significance as the wife of Othniel, the first judge of Israel as recorded in Judges 3:9 11. She was promised to Othniel as a reward for conquering Debir, demonstrating the intertwining of Judah’s powerful and faithful clans.
This section shows that the legacy of Judah included both administrative families and military families, and through marriage these clans worked together in shaping Israel’s earliest national structure.
b. Mesha, Ziph, and Hebron’s descendants
Caleb’s firstborn was Mesha, who fathered Ziph, a name associated with the region near the Judean wilderness. Another major branch descends through Mareshah, who fathered Hebron, whose sons were Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema. These names reflect Judahite families who established towns and settlements in the southern regions of Israel.
From these descendants came Raham, father of Jorkoam, and Shammai, father of Maon, who became the father of Beth Zur, a fortified town mentioned in Joshua 15:58. The chronicler is preserving how the early clans of Judah contributed to the geography and settlement of the land.
c. Ephah and Maachah, Caleb’s concubines
Caleb had children through two concubines, Ephah and Maachah, demonstrating the complex family structures common in ancient tribal settings. Ephah bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez, and Haran fathered another Gazez. These names represent Judahite families who contributed to the shaping of the tribal territories.
Maachah bore Sheber and Tirhanah, and also bore Shaaph, father of Madmannah, and Sheva, father of Machbenah and Gibea. Each of these names connects to specific villages or clans that formed part of Judah’s domain. The chronicler preserves them as an act of covenant memory, ensuring these families remain honored in the national record.
d. Achsah, daughter of Caleb
The chronicler includes Achsah, showing that her lineage extends beyond the immediate family of Caleb the son of Jephunneh. She is better known from Joshua 15:15 19 and Judges 1:11 15, where she boldly asked for and received springs of water from her father. Her presence in this genealogy demonstrates how the chronicler knits together the historical accounts found in other books with the genealogical foundation of Judah.
e. The sons of Hur
The chronicler turns to Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, tracing lines that lead to important towns in Judah. Hur fathered Shobal, the father of Kirjath Jearim, Salma, the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph, the father of Beth Gader.
This is highly significant. Bethlehem, which appears here under the descendants of Salma, would become the birthplace of David and later the birthplace of the Messiah, fulfilling Micah 5:2, “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel.” The chronicler is already laying the genealogical foundation for the messianic promises.
Kirjath Jearim, associated with Shobal, became the resting place of the Ark of the Covenant for many years after its return from Philistine captivity. This shows that the families of Caleb’s line were deeply tied to Israel’s worship and national history.
f. The families of Kirjath Jearim
The chronicler lists the Ithrites, Puhites, Shumathites, and Mishraites, who descended from Shobal’s line. From these came the Zareathites and the Eshtaolites, clans associated with the region where Samson later grew up. These families formed sub clans within Judah and were responsible for key regions in the Shephelah.
g. The sons of Salma
Salma’s line includes Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, the Manahethites, and the Zorites. Bethlehem’s appearance again underscores its importance and anticipates both David and Christ.
Netophah was a small but faithful town, later providing mighty men for David according to 2 Samuel 23:28 29. The chronicler ensures their contribution is remembered.
h. The families of the scribes at Jabez
The chronicler then mentions scribal families who lived at Jabez, including the Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Suchathites. These were evidently hereditary scribes, responsible for recording law, contracts, and sacred documents. Their presence reflects the administrative sophistication of Judah.
i. These were the Kenites
The chronicler concludes by identifying these scribal families as Kenites, descendants of Hemath, father of the house of Rechab. Payne notes that the Kenites were originally a foreign people as listed in Genesis 15:19, but they later became attached to Judah through marriage or adoption. The most famous Kenite family was that of Jonadab the son of Rechab, whose descendants were commended by God in Jeremiah 35 for their faithfulness.
The chronicler includes them to show that even foreigners who joined the people of God in covenant faithfulness were honored and preserved in Israel’s genealogical record.
