1 Chronicles 2

King James Version

Full text for 1 Chronicles Chapter 2

1¶ These [are] the sons of Israel; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,

2Dan, Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.

3The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: [which] three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him.

4And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah [were] five.

5The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul.

6And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all.

7And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed.

8And the sons of Ethan; Azariah.

9The sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him; Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai.

10And Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;

11And Nahshon begat Salma, and Salma begat Boaz,

12And Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse,

13And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third,

14Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,

15Ozem the sixth, David the seventh:

16Whose sisters [were] Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.

17And Abigail bare Amasa: and the father of Amasa [was] Jether the Ishmeelite.

18¶ And Caleb the son of Hezron begat [children] of Azubah [his] wife, and of Jerioth: her sons [are] these; Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon.

19And when Azubah was dead, Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bare him Hur.

20And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezaleel.

21And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he married when he [was] threescore years old; and she bare him Segub.

22And Segub begat Jair, who had three and twenty cities in the land of Gilead.

23And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with Kenath, and the towns thereof, [even] threescore cities. All these [belonged to] the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.

24And after that Hezron was dead in Calebephratah, then Abiah Hezron's wife bare him Ashur the father of Tekoa.

25And the sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were, Ram the firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, [and] Ahijah.

26Jerahmeel had also another wife, whose name [was] Atarah; she [was] the mother of Onam.

27And the sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel were, Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker.

28And the sons of Onam were, Shammai, and Jada. And the sons of Shammai; Nadab, and Abishur.

29And the name of the wife of Abishur [was] Abihail, and she bare him Ahban, and Molid.

30And the sons of Nadab; Seled, and Appaim: but Seled died without children.

31And the sons of Appaim; Ishi. And the sons of Ishi; Sheshan. And the children of Sheshan; Ahlai.

32And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai; Jether, and Jonathan: and Jether died without children.

33And the sons of Jonathan; Peleth, and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel.

34Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name [was] Jarha.

35And Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant to wife; and she bare him Attai.

36And Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat Zabad,

37And Zabad begat Ephlal, and Ephlal begat Obed,

38And Obed begat Jehu, and Jehu begat Azariah,

39And Azariah begat Helez, and Helez begat Eleasah,

40And Eleasah begat Sisamai, and Sisamai begat Shallum,

41And Shallum begat Jekamiah, and Jekamiah begat Elishama.

42Now the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel [were], Mesha his firstborn, which was the father of Ziph; and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.

43And the sons of Hebron; Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema.

44And Shema begat Raham, the father of Jorkoam: and Rekem begat Shammai.

45And the son of Shammai [was] Maon: and Maon [was] the father of Bethzur.

46And Ephah, Caleb's concubine, bare Haran, and Moza, and Gazez: and Haran begat Gazez.

47And the sons of Jahdai; Regem, and Jotham, and Geshan, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph.

48Maachah, Caleb's concubine, bare Sheber, and Tirhanah.

49She bare also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbenah, and the father of Gibea: and the daughter of Caleb [was] Achsah.

50These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim,

51Salma the father of Bethlehem, Hareph the father of Bethgader.

52And Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim had sons; Haroeh, [and] half of the Manahethites.

53And the families of Kirjathjearim; the Ithrites, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; of them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites.

54The sons of Salma; Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Ataroth, the house of Joab, and half of the Manahethites, the Zorites.

55And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, [and] Suchathites. These [are] the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

1 Chronicles 2 begins by listing the twelve sons of Israel, then primarily focuses on the extensive genealogy of Judah, tracing the lineage from his sons, particularly Pharez, down to King David. The chapter also details the descendants of Hezron, including the lines of Caleb and Jerahmeel, highlighting various family branches, marriages, and the establishment of certain towns. This detailed record emphasizes the foundational families of Judah and their historical connections.

Medium Summary

The chapter opens by enumerating the twelve sons of Israel, setting the stage for the subsequent genealogical focus. It then delves into the intricate lineage of Judah, beginning with Er, Onan, and Shelah, and continuing through Pharez and Zerah. A significant portion traces the line from Pharez's son Hezron, through Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, Salma, Boaz, Obed, and Jesse, culminating in the birth of King David and his siblings. The text also elaborates on the descendants of Hezron's other sons, Jerahmeel and Caleb, detailing their wives, children, and the formation of numerous family branches. Noteworthy inclusions are the mention of Bezaleel through Hur, and Jair's acquisition of cities in Gilead. The chapter meticulously records the complex interconnections and perpetuation of these foundational families within the tribe of Judah, including unique instances like Sheshan's daughter marrying his Egyptian servant.

Long Summary

Chapter 2 of 1 Chronicles commences with a foundational list of the twelve sons of Israel, establishing the broad context for the subsequent detailed genealogies. The primary focus then shifts to the tribe of Judah, beginning with his first three sons, Er, Onan, and Shelah, noting Er's wickedness and divine judgment. The narrative quickly moves to Pharez and Zerah, born to Judah through Tamar, who become key progenitors. From Pharez, the lineage of Hezron is extensively traced, leading to Ram, Amminadab, and Nahshon, who is identified as a prince of Judah. This line continues through Salma, Boaz, Obed, and Jesse, culminating in the birth of King David, the seventh son, alongside his six brothers and two sisters, Zeruiah and Abigail, whose notable sons are also mentioned. Beyond the direct line to David, the chapter meticulously records the descendants of Hezron's other prominent sons: Jerahmeel and Caleb. The lineage of Caleb, son of Hezron, is detailed through his wives Azubah and Ephrath, highlighting Hur and his grandson Bezaleel, a significant figure in the construction of the Tabernacle. Hezron's later marriage to the daughter of Machir, father of Gilead, introduces the line of Segub and Jair, who established control over numerous cities in Gilead. The extensive progeny of Jerahmeel, Hezron's firstborn, is also presented, including multiple wives and a complex succession of sons and grandsons. A unique instance is recorded where Sheshan, having no sons, gives his daughter in marriage to his Egyptian servant Jarha, ensuring the continuation of his family line. The chapter further elaborates on the descendants of Caleb, the brother of Jerahmeel, through various concubines and wives, listing numerous family heads and the founding of towns. Finally, the chapter concludes with the families descending from Caleb, son of Hur, specifically Shobal and Salma, who are identified as fathers of Kirjathjearim and Bethlehem respectively, and the families of scribes associated with Jabez. This comprehensive record underscores the importance of lineage, land inheritance, and the perpetuation of tribal identity within Judah.

Core Concepts

  • Genealogical FoundationThe chapter serves as a foundational genealogical record, beginning with the sons of Israel and then meticulously tracing the intricate family lines primarily within the tribe of Judah. It establishes the historical framework for the subsequent narratives in Chronicles.
  • Lineage of DavidA central focus is the detailed tracing of the royal line from Judah through Pharez, Hezron, Ram, Nahshon, Boaz, Obed, and Jesse, directly culminating in King David. This highlights the divine promise and the establishment of the Davidic dynasty.
  • Prominence of JudahThe extensive detail given to Judah's descendants, including the lines of Pharez, Zerah, Hezron, Jerahmeel, and Caleb, underscores the preeminence and numerical strength of this tribe within Israel. It shows Judah as the primary tribe from which leadership and heritage flow.
  • Family Succession and InheritanceThe chapter illustrates various methods of family succession, including direct male lineage, the role of daughters in continuing a line (e.g., Sheshan's daughter), and the acquisition of land and cities through family heads like Jair. This demonstrates the importance of perpetuating the family name and holdings.
  • Intermarriage and IntegrationInstances like Judah's marriage to a Canaanitess, Hezron's marriage to a daughter of Machir from Gilead, and Sheshan's daughter marrying an Egyptian servant, illustrate the diverse marital practices and the integration of individuals from different backgrounds into the Israelite family lines.
  • Notable Individuals and ConnectionsKey figures such as Bezaleel (craftsman of the Tabernacle) and Achar (Achan, the troubler of Israel) are briefly mentioned within their respective genealogies, connecting these historical figures to their tribal and family origins.
  • Tribal and Clan IdentityThe meticulous listing of sons, wives, and the founding of towns (e.g., Bethlehem, Kirjathjearim, Bethzur) emphasizes the formation and identity of various clans and sub-tribes within Judah, detailing their origins and relationships.