Read today’s scripture.

Did you find something new or interesting in this genealogy?

1 Chronicles 1.

Don’t you LOVE genealogies?  Did you see YOUR name there? (I didn’t see mine.)  But God has a specific and good reason to show this list of forefathers.  They affirm the line of Christ from Adam through Abraham and David, and emphasizing the kingdom aspect of Christ. (See Matthew 1:1) These do not include every name, as the genealogies in Genesis do. (That’s not the author’s purpose.) 

Okay, did you muddle through? (The genealogies will continue into Chapter seven). I found some interesting facts as I read the first chapter.

1. From Noah’s son, Japheth, came familiar names like Magog, and Ashkenaz.
2. From Noah’s son, Ham, came Cush, Egypt, Put, and Canaan.  The first mighty hunting man, Nimrod, came from Noah’s grandson Cush.
3. The Philistines came from Noah’s grandson, Egypt.
4. From Noah’s grandson, Canaan, came Sidon (in Lebanon), and the Jebusites, Hivites, Amorites, and Girgashites, all peoples whom God told Israel to destroy when they came to the Promised Land.
5. From Noah’s son Shem (the Messianic line) came Peleg (which means divided). In his days, the earth was divided (Tower of Babel).
6. From Noah’s grandson, Aram, came Uz. (Job 1:1 mentions that area)
7. Chapter one also lists all the peoples who came from Jacob/Israel’s brother Esau, from Abraham’s other son, Ishmael, and from the sons of Abraham’s second wife, Keturah.
8. A grandson of Esau was Teman. (Job 4, 15, & 22 mention a Temanite friend)

1 Chronicles 2.

I found more interesting names and facts in chapter two.  

1. David’s line continues through Israel’s son Judah.
2. Achan, the troubler of Israel is mentioned.  Remember, he was the one who took spoil from Jericho, against God’s specific command.  His sin caused Israel’s defeat when they attacked Ai.
3. We see mentioned Boaz (remember the book of Ruth), their son, Obed who was David’s grandpa.
4. David had two sisters, Zeruiah and Abigail!  (Whoa, didn’t know that!)
5. And…..  David’s sister Zeruiah had three sons – Abishai, Joab, and Asahel.  (Remember Joab, David’s army commander? He was David’s nephew!  And Asahel was David’s nephew too, whom Abner killed, and so inspired Joab to kill HIM?)
6. In this line too was Bezalel (Exodus 31:2). Remember the craftsman, whom God chose to be the chief contractor in building the Tabernacle and all that went with it, at Sinai!) He was also in the line through which David would come.

Yes, the names were tedious to read and hard to pronounce, but they were PEOPLE, and some developed into PEOPLES and COUNTRIES.  Just STAY the course.  In a week we will have read through all seven chapters!  PERSEVERE!