Hebrew-English Text
I. Summary
The genealogy of Judah is presented, and there is a special emphasis on Judah’s grandson Hezron. Hezron is the forefather of David.
II. Photo
Jesse’s seven sons are enumerated: “Jesse begot Eliab his first-born, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third, Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh.” (vv. 13-15)
III. Important Verses
vv. 1-2: These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
vv. 3-4: The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah; these three, Bath-shua the Canaanite woman bore to him. But Er, Judah’s first-born, was displeasing to the LORD, and He took his life. His daughter-in-law Tamar also bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah’s sons were five in all.
v. 7: The sons of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass against the proscribed thing.
v. 55: The families of the scribes that dwelt at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, the Sucathites; these are the Kenites who came from Hammath, father of the house of Rechab.
IV. Outline
1-2. Introduction: the sons of Israel
3-8. Sons of Judah
9-55. Descendants of Judah’s grandchild Hezron
9-17. Genealogy of Ram, i.e. the lineage to David
18-24. Genealogy of Caleb
25-33. Genealogy of Jerahmeel
34-41. Genealogy of Sheshan
42-50a. Genealogy of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel
50b-55. Genealogy of Hur
V. Comment
Chapter 2 begins Judah’s genealogy, and it will last for three chapters (chapter 3 focuses on David and chapter 4 focuses on the rest of the tribe). In a brief comment, Collins writes: “Although Judah is listed fourth among the sons of Jacob, his genealogy is presented first, and at greatest length (2:3-4:23). The Chronicler acknowledges the sin or Er, but skips over the episode of Onan, and the encounter of Judah and Tamar. A few genealogies in this list have no biblical source: Caleb son of Hezron (2:18-24), Jerahmeel (2:25-41), and Caleb again (2:42-50). We do not know whether the Chronicler derived these genealogies from other sources or how old those putative sources might be.” (446)
VI. Works Used
(see “Commentaries” page)
Collins, John J. “Introduction to the Hebrew Bible” (Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 2004).
De Vries, Simon J. “1 and 2 Chronicles,” The Forms of Old Testament Literature vol. 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1989).
Photo taken from http://lh5.ggpht.com/roadtotheaisle/SIkDkJWTPoI/AAAAAAAAAVs/XyaKleAi5qI/0129.jpg?imgmax=576
