Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Chapters 2–8. The Genealogies of the Tribes of Israel The Chronicler deals very unequally with the tribes in their genealogies; as the following table shews: 1 Chronicles 2:1 to 1 Chronicles 4:23. Judah (102 verses). 1 Chronicles 4:24-43. Simeon (20 verses). 1 Chronicles 5:1-26. Reuben, Gad, and Eastern Manasseh (26 verses). 1 Chronicles 6:1-81. Levi (81 verses). 1 Chronicles 7:1-40. Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Eastern Manasseh (again), Ephraim, and Asher (40 verses). 1 Chronicles 8:1-40. Benjamin, though already noticed in 1 Chronicles 7:6-11 (40 verses). Zebulun and (perhaps) Dan (cp. 1 Chronicles 7:12, note) are omitted. It may easily be seen that the tribes in which the Chronicler is really interested are the three southern tribes, Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, together with the priestly tribe, Levi. The order in which the tribes are mentioned is at first geographical, Judah and Simeon the southern tribes first, then the eastern tribes Reuben, Gad, Manasseh; the rest follow in no fixed order. Now these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron; the firstborn Amnon, of Ahinoam the Jezreelitess; the second Daniel, of Abigail the Carmelitess: Ch. 1 Chronicles 3:1-24. The Genealogy of the House of David1–4 (= 2 Samuel 3:2-5). The Sons born to David in Hebron 1. Daniel] LXX. (B) Δαμνιήλ, (A) Δαλουιά. In 2 Samuel 3:3 Chileab, but LXX. Δαλουιά. The real name of David’s second son remains therefore uncertain. The third, Absalom the son of Maachah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur: the fourth, Adonijah the son of Haggith: 2. Geshur] Cp. 1 Chronicles 2:23, note.The fifth, Shephatiah of Abital: the sixth, Ithream by Eglah his wife. 3. Eglah his wife] In 2 Samuel 3:5 “Eglah David’s wife,” where however David is probably a wrong reading for the name of a previous husband of Eglah.These six were born unto him in Hebron; and there he reigned seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years.
And these were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shimea, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon, four, of Bathshua the daughter of Ammiel: 5–9 (= ch. 1 Chronicles 14:4-7 and 2 Samuel 5:14-16). The Sons born to David in Jerusalem5. Shimea] in 1 Chronicles 14:4 and 2 Samuel 5:14 (R.V.) Shammua. Nathan] Through him our Lord’s descent is traced in Luke 3:31. Solomon] Only here are other sons besides Solomon attributed to Bath-sheba. Bathshua] is a slight variation in pronunciation (with a consequent variation in meaning) of Bath-sheba. the daughter of Ammiel] of Eliam (perhaps a by-form of Ammiel) in 2 Samuel 11:3. An Eliam son of Ahithophel, David’s counsellor, is mentioned in 2 Samuel 23:34; Bath-sheba may therefore have been grand-daughter to Ahithophel. Notice that the Chronicler does not call Bath-sheba the wife of Uriah the Hittite; he nowhere refers to David’s great sin. Ibhar also, and Elishama, and Eliphelet, 6. Elishama] in 1 Chronicles 14:5 and 2 Samuel 5:15 Elishua, no doubt the right reading, for otherwise (cp. 1 Chronicles 3:8) we have two sons of David named Elishama.Eliphelet] in 1 Chronicles 14:5 (R.V.) Elpelet; in 2 Samuel 5:15 the name is wanting. Eliphelet cannot be right, for it re-occurs as the name of the thirteenth son in 1 Chronicles 3:8. On the other hand Elpelet may be right here and Eliphelet in 1 Chronicles 3:8, for according to Hebrew custom two brothers might bear names of similar sound and significance. And Nogah, and Nepheg, and Japhia, 7. Nogah] so 1 Chronicles 14:6; in 2 Samuel 5:15 the name is wanting.And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet, nine. 8. Eliada] so in 2 Samuel 5:16, but in 1 Chronicles 14:7 Beeliada (i.e. Baaliada). The original reading, probably Baaliada (“The Lord—the Baal—knows”), seems to have been changed to Eliada (“God knows”) at the time at which the Hebrews ceased to apply the title Baal to Jehovah. From Hosea 2:16 it appears that Baal once used as an epithet of Jehovah fell into disuse owing to its overpoweringly heathen associations. Cp. 1 Chronicles 8:33, note.These were all the sons of David, beside the sons of the concubines, and Tamar their sister.
And Solomon's son was Rehoboam, Abia his son, Asa his son, Jehoshaphat his son, 10. Abia] R.V. Abijah, as in 2 Chronicles 13:1 ff. He is called Abijam in 1 Kings 14:31; 1 Kings 15:1 ff. Abia is the Greek form of the name; Matthew 1:7 (A.V.).10–16. The Line of Davidic Kings Two things are to be noted in this list: (1) Johanan’s name is given in 1 Chronicles 3:15, though he was never king, (2) Zedekiah’s name appears to be twice given, once among the sons of Josiah (1 Chronicles 3:15) and again in his place according to the succession (1 Chronicles 3:16). Joram his son, Ahaziah his son, Joash his son,
Amaziah his son, Azariah his son, Jotham his son, 12. Azariah] This king is usually called Uzziah; see note on 2 Chronicles 26:1.Ahaz his son, Hezekiah his son, Manasseh his son,
Amon his son, Josiah his son.
And the sons of Josiah were, the firstborn Johanan, the second Jehoiakim, the third Zedekiah, the fourth Shallum. 15. the firstborn Johanan] This son of Josiah never came to the throne, nor is anything known of him except from this passage. Perhaps he died before he grew up.Zedekiah] Though reckoned third here, he was younger than Shallum (=Jehoahaz); cp. 2 Chronicles 36:2 (= 2 Kings 23:31) with 2 Chronicles 36:11 (= 2 Kings 24:18). Shallum] To be identified with Jehoahaz; cp. 2 Chronicles 36:1 with Jeremiah 22:11. And the sons of Jehoiakim: Jeconiah his son, Zedekiah his son. 16. Jeconiah] This name is sometimes shortened to Coniah (Jeremiah 22:14) and written (with a slight change of meaning) Jehoiachin (2 Chronicles 36:8-9; 2 Kings 24:6 ff.).Zedekiah his son] Zedekiah was heir, not son, to Jeconiah, whom he succeeded in the kingdom. His relationship to Jeconiah was that of uncle. And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel his son, 17. the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel] R.V. the sons of Jeconiah, the captive (mg., Assir); Shealtiel. Assir is a significant name of Jeconiah given him after his removal to Babylon. Salathiel (cp. Luke 3:27 A.V.) is the Greek form of Shealtiel.It should be noted that the fact that Jeconiah had sons is not at variance with Jeremiah’s denunciation of him (Jeremiah 22:30). That passage gives the answer to Jeconiah’s expectation of a speedy return to his kingdom (ib. Jeremiah 22:27); Jeremiah says that neither he nor any of his seed shall recover the lost throne: “Reckon him childless, for no son of his shall succeed him on his throne.” 17–19 a. The Davidic Line from Jeconiah to Zerubbabel A difficulty arises from the fact that whereas Zerubbabel is here represented apparently as the son of Pedaiah and consequently nephew of Salathiel (= Shealtiel), he is elsewhere called the Song of Solomon of Shealtiel (Ezra 3:2; Haggai 1:1; Haggai 2:2; cp. Luke 3:27-31). The LXX. solves the difficulty by reading Salathiel (= Shealtiel) in 1 Chronicles 3:19. It may be however that the names given in 1 Chronicles 3:18 (including Pedaiah) are the names of the sons of Shealtiel. Another possible solution is that Zerubbabel was grand-son both to Shealtiel and Pedaiah, according to such a scheme as the following:— Pedaiah Shealtiel " " a daughter = a son " Zerubbabel. A minor difficulty arises from the fact that Salathiel (= Shealtiel) is here connected with David through Solomon, whereas in Luke 3:27-31 his descent is traced through Solomon’s brother Nathan. However, intermarriage at some point in the genealogy between the two Davidic families would explain the difficulty. Malchiram also, and Pedaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. 18. Malchiram also] R.V. and Malchiram.Shenazar, Jecamiah] R.V. Shenazzar, Jekamiah. And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei: and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister: 19. the sons of Zerubbabel] R.V. = LXX.; A.V. = Heb.19. their sister] R.V. was their sister. 19b–24. The Davidic Line from Zerubbabel The text of these verses is very uncertain. In 1 Chronicles 3:20 the names of five sons are given, but their father’s name (perhaps Meshullam) is wanting. In 1 Chronicles 3:21-22 the LXX. differs from the Heb. in such a way as to affect the number of steps in the genealogy; the Heb. seems to reckon but one generation between Hananiah and Shemaiah, the LXX. on the contrary reckons six; the result on the whole genealogy being that the LXX. counts eleven generations after Zerubbabel as against six in the Heb. In 1 Chronicles 3:22 again the sons of Shemaiah are reckoned to be six, but only five names are given both in Heb. and LXX. And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushabhesed, five. 20. and Hashubah] Probably we should read “The sons of Meshullam: Hashubah.” See above.Jushab-hesed] The name means “Mercy is restored.” Many such significant names belong to the period of the Return. And the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah: the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shechaniah. 21. and Jesaiah … Shechaniah] The LXX. reads (with some blunders hi reproducing the names), “and Jesaiah his son, Rephaiah his son, Arnan his son, Obadiah his son, Shechaniah his son,” thus adding five steps to the genealogy. The difference of reading in the Heb. text thus suggested is very slight. Probably the LXX. is to be followed.And the sons of Shechaniah; Shemaiah: and the sons of Shemaiah; Hattush, and Igeal, and Bariah, and Neariah, and Shaphat, six.
And the sons of Neariah; Elioenai, and Hezekiah, and Azrikam, three. 23. Elioenai] A significant name meaning, “Mine eyes are towards Jehovah”; cp. Jushab-hesed (1 Chronicles 3:20).Hezekiah] R.V. Hizkiah. And the sons of Elioenai were, Hodaiah, and Eliashib, and Pelaiah, and Akkub, and Johanan, and Dalaiah, and Anani, seven. 24. Hodaiah] R.V. Hodaviah (as in 1 Chronicles 5:24). Another significant name “Thank ye Jehovah.”The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission. Bible Hub |
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