1 Chronicles 1 Study Notes

1:1 Even though the Chronicler was specifically writing for the Jews of his day, he began with this brief reminder that all people are creatures who are descended from the first man, Adam. Seth represented the ongoing hope after failure (Gn 4:25).

1:2-4 The line of ancient patriarchs moves quickly from Adam to Noah. Each of the men in this line had a son comparatively early in life, but he lived for many centuries afterwards. Enoch never actually died but was taken to heaven (Gn 5:24). Methuselah lived the longest with a total age of 969 years; he died after 1,650 years had elapsed since the “birth” of Adam. This is also the exact year in which Noah’s flood occurred. Before going on with the main line of descent, the Chronicler frequently pursued a minor or alternative branch first, such as when he detailed the descendants of Japheth and Ham before returning to Shem.

1:5-7 Japheth’s offspring moved to a more northern region than those of his brothers.

1:8-16 Many of Ham’s sons lent their names to various nations, several of which became the chief opponents of Israel in the promised land.

1:17 Shem’s line was the most important one for the Chronicler because it includes Abraham.

1:18 Some scholars conjecture that Eber’s name led to the name of the “Hebrews,” but this inference is not certain.

1:19 The line of Shem divides with the brothers Peleg and Joktan. “Peleg” means “division.” During his time the episode of the Tower of Babel took place, and the entire human race was divided by the languages they spoke.

1:20-23 Again following a minor branch first, we read of the descendants of Joktan.

1:24-27 Here is a quick overview of the links between Shem and Abraham, based on the descendants of Peleg.

1:28 Although Isaac is mentioned in this verse, we are still a long way from the line that will eventually lead up to Judah. Ishmael and his sons come first (vv. 29-31).

1:32-33 Abraham spent almost an entire century waiting to have a single son with Sarah. Then, after Sarah’s death, Keturah endowed him with many more sons.

1:34 Again Isaac is mentioned, along with Jacob, or Israel, but for the moment the Chronicler focuses on Esau, again an alternative branch.

1:35-37 We only have this list of names for Esau’s sons and grandsons, but we know that this clan eventually led to the emergence of several large nations such as Edom.

1:38-42 Seir could be a proper name referring to an ancestor of the Edomites. It is also the name of a mountain in Edomite territory. The Edomites lived on the eastern side of the Jordan River in the vicinity of the Dead Sea. “Seirites” and “Meunites” are sometimes used as synonyms.

1:43-51a Little is known about these kings . . . in the land of Edom. They apparently lived around the time of the judges in Israel.

1:51b-54 The chapter concludes with a list of Edom’s chiefs. The book of 1 Chronicles has now covered several minor lines in contrast to its major purpose of leading up to the kings of Judah. We have seen alternatives to Shem (Ham and Japheth), to Abraham (Ishmael and the sons of Keturah), and to Isaac (Esau and the Edomites); now we are ready for the main line of interest, the descendants of Jacob.