1 Chronicles 2

2:3–4:23 While the genealogies present the entire people of Israel (2:1-2), David’s ancestors in the tribe of Judah receive priority.2:3-8 The genealogy of Judah is as comprehensive as possible, recording peripheral material as the background to the main line of David’s ancestors. Cp. Gen 46:12.2:3 Er and Onan, the first two sons of Judah, were destroyed because of their sin (Gen 38:6-10). The descendants of Shelah are listed as an appendix at the end of the genealogies of Judah (1 Chr 4:21-23).

2:4-5 The main ancestral line of David descends from Perez, one of the sons of Tamar, Judah’s widowed daughter-in-law. • Hamul, one of Perez’s sons, is ignored completely; the Chronicler might not have had information about him.

2:6-8 For the genealogy of Zerah, cp. Josh 7:1, 17; 1 Kgs 4:31 (Mahol might be another name for Zerah).

2:7 set apart for the Lord: See “Complete Destruction” Theme Note.

2:9-55 The descendants of Hezron are given down to the time of David, in several sections: the direct line from Hezron to David (2:9-17; cp. Ruth 4:18-22), the other descendants of Hezron (1 Chr 2:18-41), then the descendants of Hezron’s son Caleb (2:42-55).2:9 Caleb was the most notable immediate descendant of Hezron, so the author covers his descendants in detail (2:42-55). This Caleb was apparently not the same individual as Caleb son of Jephunneh, a descendant of Kenaz (see study note on 4:13-15).

2:10-17 The passage dedicated to the descendants of Ram provides a direct line of descent from Ram to Jesse, then records Jesse’s children.

2:14-15 The Chronicler lists David as the seventh son of Jesse, while Samuel makes him the eighth (1 Sam 16:6-13; 17:12). Samuel does not provide the names of David’s fourth, fifth, or sixth brothers (Nethanel, Raddai, and Ozem). Later, the Chronicler lists a brother named Elihu, who might or might not have been an additional son (see study note on 1 Chr 27:18). The number seven (the “perfect” number) perhaps symbolizes that David was chosen by God to rule.

2:20 The Lord chose Bezalel, a craftsman descended from Hezron, to construct the Tabernacle (see Exod 31:1-2).

2:21-23 Some of the families of Gilead, listed elsewhere as members of the tribe of Manasseh (cp. Num 32:39-42), also had a connection with the tribe of Judah.

2:24 Tekoa was a small Judean village southeast of Bethlehem (see also 4:5-8).