1Ch 2:3-15 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for 1Chr 2:3-15: 2:3–4:23 While the genealogies present the entire people of Israel (2:1-2 ), David’s ancestors in the tribe of Judah receive priority. Summary for 1Chr 2:3-8: 2:3-8 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 . 2:3 Er and Onan , the first two sons of Judah, were destroyed because of their sin (Gen 38:6-10 ). The descendants of Shelah are listed as an appendix at the end of the genealogies of Judah (1 Chr 4:21-23 ).

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.