1Ch 2 | TNotes

Summary for 1Chr 2:3-15: 2:3–4:23 ^a While the genealogies present the entire people of Israel (2:1-2 ^b), David’s ancestors in the tribe of Judah receive priority.
Summary for 1Chr 2:3-8: 2:3-8 ^c The genealogy of Judah is as comprehensive as possible, recording peripheral material as the background to the main line of David’s ancestors. Cp. Gen 46:12 ^d. 2:3 ^e Er and Onan, the first two sons of Judah, were destroyed because of their sin (Gen 38:6-10 ^f). The descendants of Shelah are listed as an appendix at the end of the genealogies of Judah (1 Chr 4:21-23 ^g).
Summary for 1Chr 2:4-5: 2:4-5 ^h The main ancestral line of David descends from Perez, one of the sons of Tamar, Judah’s widowed daughter-in-law.

• Hamul, one of Perez’s sons, is ignored completely; the Chronicler might not have had information about him.
Summary for 1Chr 2:6-8: 2:6-8 ⁱ For the genealogy of Zerah, cp. Josh 7:1 ^j, 17 ^k; 1 Kgs 4:31 ^l (Mahol might be another name for Zerah).
2:7 ^m set apart for the Lord: See thematic note for Complete Destruction at end of chapter.
Summary for 1Chr 2:9-55: 2:9-55 ⁿ The descendants of Hezron are given down to the time of David, in several sections: the direct line from Hezron to David (2:9-17 ^o; cp. Ruth 4:18-22 ^p), the other descendants of Hezron (1 Chr 2:18-41 ^q), then the descendants of Hezron’s son Caleb (2:42-55 ^r). 2:9 ^s Caleb was the most notable immediate descendant of Hezron, so the author covers his descendants in detail (2:42-55 ^t). This Caleb was apparently not the same individual as Caleb son of Jephunneh, a descendant of Kenaz (see study note on 4:13-15).
Summary for 1Chr 2:10-17: 2:10-17 ^u The passage dedicated to the descendants of Ram provides a direct line of descent from Ram to Jesse, then records Jesse’s children.
Summary for 1Chr 2:14-15: 2:14-15 ^v The Chronicler lists David as the seventh son of Jesse, while Samuel makes him the eighth (1 Sam 16:6-13 ^w; 17:12 ^x). Samuel does not provide the names of David’s fourth, fifth, or sixth brothers (Nethanel, Raddai, and Ozem). Later, the Chronicler lists a brother named Elihu, who might or might not have been an additional son (see study note on 1 Chr 27:18). The number seven (the “perfect” number) perhaps symbolizes that David was chosen by God to rule.
2:20 ^y The Lord chose Bezalel, a craftsman descended from Hezron, to construct the Tabernacle (see Exod 31:1-2 ^z).
Summary for 1Chr 2:21-23: 2:21-23 ^aa Some of the families of Gilead, listed elsewhere as members of the tribe of Manasseh (cp. Num 32:39-42 ^ab), also had a connection with the tribe of Judah.
2:24 ^ac Tekoa was a small Judean village southeast of Bethlehem (see also 4:5-8 ^ad).

Thematic note: Complete Destruction
God instructed Saul to “completely destroy” the Amalekites, who had ambushed the Israelites after the Exodus (see Exod 17:8-16 ^ae; Deut 25:17-19 ^af). The Hebrew word kharam (“completely destroy”) often means dedicating something or someone completely to the Lord, either by destroying it (1 Sam 15:3 ^ag; Josh 6:17-18 ^ah) or by giving it as an offering (see Lev 27:28-29 ^ai; Josh 6:19 ^aj).
Complete destruction was called for in cases where those to be destroyed had committed a severe offense against God, such as worshiping false gods (Deut 7:1-6 ^ak; 13:12-18 ^al). In 1 Samuel 15:3 ^am, complete destruction is prescribed as God’s judgment on a nation that mistreated his chosen people. Those who curse God’s family are, in turn, cursed (Gen 12:3 ^an).
God still judges the godless and impenitent. But in the new covenant, Christians are not called to be agents of such judgment. God calls us to exercise his mercy toward those who wrong us (see Luke 9:51-56 ^ao). We must completely destroy whatever within ourselves wars against Christ (Rom 8:12-13 ^ap; Col 3:5 ^aq). And we must overcome the enemies of Christ by our faith, by the Good News, and by our love (Eph 6:10-20 ^ar; 1 Jn 2:9-17 ^as). God will mete out judgment according to his justice and in his time (Rom 12:19 ^at; 2 Thes 1:6-10 ^au).

Passages for Further Study
Exod 22:20 ^av; Lev 27:28-29 ^aw; Num 21:2-3 ^ax; Deut 7:1-6 ^ay, 26 ^az; 13:12-18 ^ba; Josh 6:17-19 ^bb; 7:11-26 ^bc; 1 Sam 15:3 ^bd; 1 Kgs 20:42 ^be; Isa 43:26-28 ^bf