1 Chronicles Introduction
In order to understand the book of 1 Chronicles and the context in which it was written, we have to go back to the beginning of God’s story. We see that all of Scripture points to God and His rescue plan through Jesus. God designed the world for people to be in perfect relationship with Him and with each other. However, man sinned, rebelled, and chose to break a relationship with a good and holy God. Immediately after sin enters the world, God promises that in spite of the brokenness He will one day send a Victor to overcome sin and death—and bring restoration. From there, we see a pattern in Scripture of man rebelling against God, doing what is right in their own eyes, and God delivering them.
Fast forward to 1400 B.C. The new generation of Israelites enter into the Promised Land, but they don’t want to be set apart as a nation like God commands them. They desire to look just like the rest of the people in the land. The Israelites get into these cycles of sin and God raises up military leaders called Judges to point them back to righteousness. But the people want a king. God raises up kings, even though He is the King that they really need. A majority of these kings are unrighteous, and eventually this kingdom is split into two. The Northern Kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians in 722 BC, and the Southern Kingdom of Judah fell to the Babylonians in 586 BC. God allowed them to return to Israel from captivity, but it is not the same. The temple and walls are broken, and the people don’t remember the Law.
The books of 1 and 2 Chronicles were written after the exile in order to teach the Israelites returning from exile how to faithfully serve and worship God. It is not only a rebuilding of what they were physically, but a spiritual rebuilding for the people of God. The words of this book acted as a reminder of their history, the consequences of their sin, and the promises of God to restore all things one day. God had always been their help throughout the ages. The people needed to recall God’s faithfulness and ancient covenant promises to Abraham, Moses, and David. The time frame in which this book was written mirrors 2 Samuel and 1 Kings, but broadly covers Adam all the way to the Babylonian captivity. Scholars suggest that 1 Chronicles is likely written between 450 and 425 BC. The author is unknown, but Jewish tradition credits it to the priest and scribe Ezra. As a result, the storyline reflects more of a priestly perspective compared to Samuel and Kings.
There are extensive genealogies written in the book of 1 Chronicles. We are about to read 10 chapters of them! Genealogies at the time this book was written were a big deal. They reveal God’s character and His promises. They tell us the full story. Circle the names you have seen before. Write down what you know about them. Ask how they fit into God’s providential plan. Some of these names and stories might sound familiar, but it’s not just a repeat! In these next 29 chapters look for examples to follow, sins to avoid, commands to keep, and promises of God to trust in. We might be tempted to skip past these chapters and get to the action, but we know that God’s Word does not return void.
Read 1 Chronicles 1
Historical Records From Adam to Abraham
To Noah’s Sons
1 Adam, Seth, Enosh, 2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, 3 Enoch, Methuselah,Lamech, Noah.
4 The sons of Noah:
Shem, Ham and Japheth.
The Japhethites
5 The sons of Japheth:
Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshek and Tiras.
6 The sons of Gomer:
Ashkenaz, Riphath and Togarmah.
7 The sons of Javan:
Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites and the Rodanites.
The Hamites
8 The sons of Ham:
Cush, Egypt, Put and Canaan.
9 The sons of Cush:
Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah and Sabteka.
The sons of Raamah:
Sheba and Dedan.
10 Cush was the father of
Nimrod, who became a mighty warrior on earth.
11 Egypt was the father of
the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 12 Pathrusites, Kasluhites (from whom the Philistines came) and Caphtorites.
13 Canaan was the father of
Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites, 14 Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 15 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, 16 Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites.
The Semites
17 The sons of Shem:
Elam, Ashur, Arphaxad, Lud and Aram.
The sons of Aram:
Uz, Hul, Gether and Meshek.
18 Arphaxad was the father of Shelah,
and Shelah the father of Eber.
19 Two sons were born to Eber:
One was named Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided; his brother was named Joktan.
20 Joktan was the father of
Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,22 Obal, Abimael, Sheba, 23 Ophir, Havilah and Jobab. All these were sons of Joktan.
24 Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,
25 Eber, Peleg, Reu,
26 Serug, Nahor, Terah
27 and Abram (that is, Abraham).
The Family of Abraham
28 The sons of Abraham:
Isaac and Ishmael.
Descendants of Hagar
29 These were their descendants:
Nebaioth the firstborn of Ishmael, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, 31 Jetur, Naphish and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael.
Descendants of Keturah
32 The sons born to Keturah, Abraham’s concubine:
Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah.
The sons of Jokshan:
Sheba and Dedan.
33 The sons of Midian:
Ephah, Epher, Hanok, Abida and Eldaah.
All these were descendants of Keturah.
Descendants of Sarah
34 Abraham was the father of Isaac.
The sons of Isaac:
Esau and Israel.
Esau’s Sons
35 The sons of Esau:
Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam and Korah.
36 The sons of Eliphaz:
Teman, Omar, Zepho, Gatam and Kenaz;
by Timna: Amalek.
37 The sons of Reuel:
Nahath, Zerah, Shammah and Mizzah.
The People of Seir in Edom
38 The sons of Seir:
Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer and Dishan.
39 The sons of Lotan:
Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan’s sister.
40 The sons of Shobal:
Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shepho and Onam.
The sons of Zibeon:
Aiah and Anah.
41 The son of Anah:
Dishon.
The sons of Dishon:
Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran and Keran.
42 The sons of Ezer:
Bilhan, Zaavan and Akan.
The sons of Dishan:
Uz and Aran.
The Rulers of Edom
43 These were the kings who reigned in Edom before any Israelite king reigned:
Bela son of Beor, whose city was named Dinhabah.
44 When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah succeeded him as king.
45 When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him as king.
46 When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the country of Moab, succeeded him as king. His city was named Avith.
47 When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him as king.
48 When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river succeeded him as king.
49 When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Akbor succeeded him as king.
50 When Baal-Hanan died, Hadad succeeded him as king. His city was named Pau, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel daughter of Matred, the daughter of Me-Zahab. 51 Hadad also died.
The chiefs of Edom were:
Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 52 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 53 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 54 Magdiel and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom.
Go Deeper
Let’s acknowledge what you’re probably thinking: that’s a lot of names (and you may have never seen most of them before)! The book of 1 Chronicles begins with a series of continued genealogies. These lists of lineages take us from Adam and Eve to Abraham and David and beyond. To us, genealogies may seem like a bunch of names on paper, but God specifically places genealogies in the Bible to communicate His greater plan to us. Second Timothy 3:16-17 says that “All (emphasis added) Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” The Lord purposefully created, deeply loved, and thoughtfully used the people in the genealogies of 1 Chronicles to establish the Earth. Each name served a purpose in God’s plan, and these genealogies were intended to serve as a reminder of God’s faithful work in the lives of His people.
Genealogies reflect on the past to point towards the future. In 1 Chronicles, the storylines of the royal line (through David’s lineage), and the priestly line (through Aaron’s lineage) are emphasized. This is in order to orient the people of God towards the approaching reality of Jesus’ first coming. In His perfect life, sacrificial death, and miraculous resurrection He revealed Himself as the Messianic King and High Priest! Furthermore, Matthew 1 (the first book of the New Testament) follows a genealogy that includes many of the same names found in 1 Chronicles. The New Testament draws on the genealogies of the Old Testament as a way of making the theological claim for Christ as Savior, Lord, and King. Ultimately, Jesus is the centerpiece of the entire Gospel story (from Genesis to Revelation), and his family lineage plays a role in revealing His authority!
While the people living in the time of 1 Chronicles 1 were looking towards Jesus’ first coming, we are now a people living in the time of awaiting Jesus’ second coming. Hebrews 9:8 says, “So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for Him.” As we learn more deeply about the importance of reflecting on the past of Jesus’ lineage, how marvelous is it that God freely offers to include us into His eternal family? More so, let us pray to be a people that desires for our distant relatives of Adam to be brought into the eternal family that Christ freely offers through His love, power, and grace.
Questions
- What is your initial reaction towards reading genealogies in the Bible? Why do you think the Lord intentionally places them throughout His Holy Word?
- Jesus came from a royal and priestly lineage, yet through His life, death, and resurrection has made a way for all of us to become part of His family. How significant is that to your understanding of God’s identity and your own identity?
- For those who are believers and have been brought into Christ’s family, how can this lead you towards eagerness to share this Good News with the lost around you?
Watch This
Check out this helpful overview of 1 Chronicles from The Bible Project!
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8 responses to “1 Chronicles 1 + Introduction”
Every name in each lineage was recorded and preserved in scripture as part of the greater story God was and still is writing. He chose to use frail human beings to participate in his grand redemption story. That includes you and me. The real question is have we chosen him? True believers partner with him now and have their names recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life. (Revelation 21:27)
REMEMBER
That is what the list of names help us to do.
Where did you come from? Maybe not with genealogy but HIs story in/of your life? God is not done, with the Kingdom that is coming. We are a part of that lineage.
Watch the Bible Project video if you can, it helps set the stage of understanding.
Chronicles re-centers the story around the temple, Levites, and worship practices, calling the people to rebuild their lives around God’s presence.
A call to worship.
A time to remember,God knows your name, and He loves to work His big promises through your everyday faithfulness.
God thank You for making the time to help me remember. You are central to all of the rest of my days. God may I be a living testimony for the of Your everyday faithfulness. I am giving thanks to You God for You and Your love endures forever. I am thankful to be able to speak, ask, think, dwell, and to the best of my ability, love You back. God thank You for Your love goggles to see Your people, God thank You for ears, to shema hear, to all obedience. God thank You for Your words to speak to edify, build up, bless and help others to Your glory and honor. God thank You for Jesus coming, dying for me so that I may be adopted into Your family. God thank You for the minutes of this day that I am and will be a glory and honor to/for You in Jesus name amen.
WOOHOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I find it interesting that so many of the names listed turn out to be enemies or at the very least thorns in the side of the Israelites. God’s plan was for Abraham’s offspring to be blessed to be a blessing (Gen 12:2) to those other nations. That remains our calling today.
19 because in his time the earth was divided
This is such an odd comment! Does it maybe refer to the Tower of Babel division?
I found this and it helped
https://www.gotquestions.org/earth-divided-Peleg.html
Thanks!
“What does 1 Chronicles 1 mean for me today?”
As it turns out, quite a lot! I posed this very question to my favorite online Bible resources and here’s what I got (quoted directly from online commentary; I did not come up with this myself).
1. My story is part of God’s bigger plan.
For me today, this can serve as a powerful reminder that:
• The world does not revolve around me. Reading the long lists of names—many of whom I don’t know—is a humbling reminder that God’s grand story extends far beyond my individual life.
• I have a spiritual heritage. Through faith in Jesus, I am grafted into a “new family” with a rich history of believers that goes back for generations. My faith connects me to this bigger narrative, giving my life purpose and perspective.
• God has a sovereign plan. I can trust that he has a sovereign plan for my life, too.
2. God is faithful through every generation.
The genealogies are a reliable record of God’s faithfulness to his promises, especially the promise of a coming Messiah.
Even when life feels uncertain, I can be sure that God is reliable and keeps his promises across generations.
3. Every person has value and purpose.
The act of recording each person’s name signifies that every individual has intrinsic value in God’s eyes.
• Each name matters: Though the names may seem like a simple list, each one represents a life that was part of God’s unfolding plan. It reminds us that everyone has a role in God’s story.
• All people are connected: By tracing humanity back to Adam, the chapter reminds us that all people have a common origin. This encourages respect for every person, recognizing that we are all part of God’s creation.
For God’s people today, 1 Chronicles 1 can serve this purpose:
• It offers hope for the future. Just as the returning exiles were encouraged to look forward to the restoration of God’s kingdom, we can be hopeful knowing that the story continues and culminates in Jesus’s ultimate return.
• It gives us a secure identity in Christ. We don’t have to define ourselves by the world’s standards. Our truest identity is found in Christ, and our name is written in the “Lamb’s Book of Life” if we are believers.
All this reminds me of the Cody Carnes song, “Firm Foundation”:
“I put my faith in Jesus
‘Cause He’s never let me down
He’s faithful through generations
So why would He fail now?
He won’t!”
https://youtu.be/x9ndiD0_qNk?si=K4Ji9C2kpr8Q77tQ
1 Chronicles 1 opens with a detailed genealogy, reminding us of the significance of our roots and heritage. This lineage traces back to Adam, emphasizing that we are all part of God’s grand design. Understanding where we come from helps us appreciate the continuity of God’s plan through history.