1 Chronicles 1

The first chapter of 1 Chronicles opens the genealogies that extend from chapter 1 through chapter 9. Condensing the genealogies scattered throughout Genesis and focusing chiefly on names, it traces a line of descent from the beginning of humanity to the ancestors of Israel.

Outline

• Verses 1–4 Ten generations run from Adam to Noah, followed by Noah's sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
• Verses 5–23 The descendants of Japheth, Ham, and Shem are listed in turn. Nimrod, Ham's grandson, is introduced as one who "began to be mighty upon the earth." Of Peleg, son of Eber, the text records that in his days "the earth was divided."
• Verses 24–27 Ten generations run from Shem to Abram, that is, Abraham.
• Verses 28–33 The twelve sons of Abraham's son Ishmael are listed, along with the descendants born to Abraham's concubine Keturah.
• Verses 34–42 Isaac's sons Esau and Israel appear, followed by the descendants of Esau and the descendants of Seir.
• Verses 43–54 The eight kings who ruled Edom before any king reigned over Israel are listed, together with the chiefs of Edom.

Key Verses

• 1 Chronicles 1:1 "Adam, Sheth, Enosh" — The history of Israel begins with the first human being.
• 1 Chronicles 1:27 "Abram; the same is Abraham" — A genealogy that had encompassed all of humanity narrows to the line of Abraham.
• 1 Chronicles 1:34 "The sons of Isaac; Esau and Israel" — Jacob is called by the name "Israel," which leads into the twelve sons listed in the next chapter.

People and Places

• Adam, Seth, Enoch, Methuselah, Noah: ancestors who lived before the Flood.
• Shem, Ham, and Japheth: the three sons of Noah, ancestors of many nations.
• Nimrod: the son of Cush, introduced as the first to become a mighty one (an outstanding warrior).
• Peleg: the son of Eber, in whose days the earth is recorded to have been divided.
• Terah, Abraham, Isaac: the direct ancestors of Israel.
• Ishmael: a son of Abraham who had twelve sons.
• Keturah: Abraham's concubine, whose descendants include Midian.
• Esau and Israel: the two sons of Isaac.
• Seir: presented as the ancestor of the native inhabitants of the land of Edom.
• Peoples and lands: Canaan, Philistia, Assyria, Amalek, Edom, Moab

Points for Reflection

The names in this chapter are drawn from Genesis 5, Genesis 10, Genesis 11, Genesis 25, and Genesis 36. The chapter also differs from Genesis in places. For example, verse 17 includes Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech in the list of Shem's sons, whereas Genesis 10:23 presents them as sons of Aram. Some scholars regard this as an omission that occurred in copying; others view it as a feature of the chapter's abbreviated format.

Some hold that the date of creation can be calculated from the genealogies. Others, by contrast, maintain that biblical genealogies may omit generations.

In the New Testament, the genealogy of Jesus in Luke 3 traces back to Adam, as this chapter does. The genealogy in Matthew 1 begins with Abraham.