1 Chronicles Chapter 1

From Adam to Abraham

1Chronicles 1:1 Adam, Sheth, Enosh,

The first thing we notice here is a difference in spelling of some of the names. Sheth was spelled Seth And Enosh was spelled Enos in the book of Genesis at least in the KJV bible. We notice too that there is no mention of the names of Abel and Cain or any other sons or daughters. After the flood of Noah, no one remained except the line of Noah. All others were drowned in the flood. It is sad to think about that all had fallen away from God and went into wickedness except Noah who was from the line of Seth, the third son of Adam and Eve. Noah's wife, three sons, and the son's wives were the only ones worthy to escape the flood in Noah's day. 8 people.

There is a verse in the New Testament that comes to mind.

Matthew 7:13 Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:
14 Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

After the fall of man caused by believing the word of Satan rather than the word of God, it opened the door to evil, suffering, death, deception, hate, division and murder. The majority seems to be those that turned away from the God who created them. God created us with a free will and the ability to make choices.

It is sad and should not discourage us from trying to save all we can. That narrow way is salvation through faith in Jesus. The whole reason Jesus came is to save those that are lost. If we neglect, take lightly or refuse that way of salvation, there is no other way. Even living a good life and doing good will not save anyone apart from Jesus. If there were another way, Jesus would not have had to come and live among us, and become our subsitute by dying for our sins when He did not commit any sin.

The perfect Son of God took our place. He was then resurrected from the dead thereby making the way that any that believed and received Him, could escape eternal destruction in hell but receive eternal life after one's physical death. The soul and spirit do not die. They have to depart from the body and go to either heaven or hell to await the judgment.

Only the Israelis can actually trace their genealogy from Adam, at least from the bible. We know that the many from the north came from Japheth, the east and around Africa from Ham and the middle eastern people came from Shem. Even that is not certain because of intermarrying and such. Maybe there are some hidden accounts that have not been discovered yet that would trace all the tribes of all mankind but through Jesus, we really don't have to know. He is the way out of sin and what caused the fall in the first place. Faith in Him reverses the curse that sin caused. He is truly the way, the truth and the life.

1Chronicles 1:2 Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered,
3 Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech,

Nothing much is known about some of these. Kenan was spelled Cainan and Jered was spelled Jared in the book of Genesis. Henoch was spelled Enoch. From the book of Enoch (Some disagree on whether the book of Enoch we have today is genuine), we read that the invasion of the fallen angels to take wives of the daughters of men happened in the days of Jared. In books about Jewish history like Josephus and Enoch more is explained about Genesis chapter 6 which tells us about that time in history. None of the books I've read on the subject say anything about the sons of God being the line of Seth and the daughters of men being from the line of Cain as modern scholars have interpreted to mean. I don't see how that would have caused giants. Sons of God in other parts of the bible are interpreted to mean angels. The book of Job is one book that translates the sons of God as angels. It's scary to think about though but it is hard to see any other interpretation except what the bible actually says.

I was shocked when I found this from the Ante-Nicene Fathers volume 8 from the words of Rueben (Son of Jacob) to his children:

"Therefore flee fornication, my children, and command your wives and your daughters that they adorn not their heads and their faces; because every woman who acteth deceitfully in these things hath been reserved to everlasting punishment. For thus they allured the Watchers before the flood; and as these continually beheld them, they fell into desire each of the other, and they conceived the act in their mind, and changed themselves into the shape of men, and appeared to them in their congress with their husbands; and the women, having in their minds desire toward their apparitions, gave birth to giants, for the Watchers appeared to them as reaching even unto heaven."

The watchers are the angels. Not all the angels are fallen only the ones that sinned in this manner. There is controversy among us believers as to the meaning of Genesis 6. I take the bible literally and believe what is written whether it scares me or not. Rueben seems to blame the women and tells women to dress modestly and not adorn themselves so that they cause the temptation of being overcome by those that are stronger then they are. I wonder if this is why some religions force women to wear coverings. Something to think about I guess. Still it's kind of scary. Except for the book of Peter and Jude.

2Peter 2:4 For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell, and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgment;
5 And spared not the old world, but saved Noah the eighth person, a preacher of righteousness, bringing in the flood upon the world of the ungodly;

We see the fallen angels that sinned suffered judgment.

Jude 1:6 And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.

We know that Enoch was translated and did not die a natural death before the flood. This is a picture of the rapture of the church in the latter times.

Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

We see that Enoch escaped the flood by being taken to Heaven without dying and Noah escaped the flood by God preserving Him through the flood. Enoch's son Mehuselah lived the longest of any man on the earth but died the same year of the flood. The flood didn't come until Mehuselah and Lamech died. It seems that all others living on the earth in Noah's day perished in the flood.

1Chronicles 1:4 Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.

Imagine just 8 people were saved by the Ark because of the righteousness of Noah who followed God and found grace in the eyes of God. His wife, three sons and their wives were able to survive and save the whole future human race. I picture Noah as someone who was a criticial thinker. He didn't follow the crowds or the ways of others but made his own decisions and followed God. He wasn't given to idolatry, violence and the hate that surrounded him. He preached the ways of God and His righteousness.

God gives people time to repent, when things get to the point of no return, He brings judgment. Noah was saved by faith. He obeyed God our creator, and in doing so saved the human race.

Hebrews 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

We would not even be here if not for the faith of one man. We would not have experienced the presence of God in our lives after coming to Jesus. We would have have been filled with His Holy Spirit and we would not be experiencing eternal life with Jesus in the future.

1Chronicles 1:5 The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
6 And the sons of Gomer; Ashchenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.
7 And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.

The descendants of Japheth ended up in what we now call Europe, Russia and the countries in the north.

1Chronicles 1:8 The sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
9 And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.

The desendants of Ham went south to Africa and also some in the land of Canaan which is now where Israel is.

1Chronicles 1:10 And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth.

Nimrod rebelled against God. He was strong and powerful, perhaps the first dictator or tyrant that ruled with cruelty although he seemed to be a hero to others. He started the first false religious system that used force. He caused the building of the tower of Babel. I guess he didn't learn for the destruction of the world by the flood which he would have known about. No fear of God in his ways at all. This was the beginning of the kingdom of Babylon which was against the true God. Some teach Babylon will be revived in the latter days and judged again.

1Chronicles 1:11 And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,

Here we have Mizraim the founder of Egypt. It is sad that so many started countries that went into idolatry. So many desendants of Ham ended up in idolatry.

1Chronicles 1:12 And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (of whom came the Philistines,) and Caphthorim.

The Philistines were another enemy of Israel. We see King David and Samson fighting them continually.

1Chronicles 1:13 And Canaan begat Zidon his firstborn, and Heth,
14 The Jebusite also, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite,
15 And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,
16 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.

The Canaanites were many that were driven out by the Israelites under the leadership of Joshua. There were many giants among them.

1 Chronicles 1:17 The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.

The descendants of Shem went to the middle east. Abraham's family was in the area of Syria, but journeyed south to the land of Canaan. This was the line that God chose to eventually bring Jesus our Christ to be born as a human and die for the sins of all who would believe in Him as Lord and savior. This salvation would be so powerful that it would reach the Gentile nations also. Gentiles being all that were not of Israel to whom the message of the gospel came first.

1Chronicles 1:18 And Arphaxad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber.
19 And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; because in his days the earth was divided: and his brother's name was Joktan.

There is disputes about what is meant here about the earth being divided. The one I kind of accept is that God divided the earth and it became continents like we have today. If we look at a map of the world, we can see how they once fitted together. This may have happened after the tower of Babel incident when God confused the languages and many went in different directions but God also may have divided the earth by moving separating them by great oceans like we have today.

1Chronicles 1:20 And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,
21 Hadoram also, and Uzal, and Diklah,
22 And Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
23 And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
24 Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,
25 Eber, Peleg, Reu,
26 Serug, Nahor, Terah,
27 Abram; the same is Abraham.

The main focus of this genealogy is to show the lineage from Shem to Abraham which is where our God eventually sent His Son Jesus to become human, live among humans to save us from sin and reconcile us back to God. This is available to all who would believe in Him.

From Abraham to Jacob

1Chronicles 1:28 The sons of Abraham; Isaac, and Ishmael.
29 These are their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
30 Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema,
31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.

Ishmael was the son born from Hagar the woman that came back with them when they left Egypt. He came into being when God promised Abraham a child and they had faith but figured out how to help God bring it about since Sarah was barren. When God makes a direct promise, we don't have to help him carry it out. This really made a mess out of everything. Abraham eventually had to send them away because Sarah and the handmaid couldn't get along and also because God had other plans for Ishmael separate from Isaac.

1Chronicles 1:32 Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan.
33 And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons of Keturah.

They gave the genealogy of the children by Keturah and Hagar first so as to consentrate on Isaac who was the one chosen to continue the line from Abraham to Jesus Christ.

1Chronicles 1:34 And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac; Esau and Israel.

I notice too that God doesn't always pick the firstborn which is the usual one to receive inheritances.

1Chronicles 1:35 The sons of Esau; Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.
36 The sons of Eliphaz; Teman, and Omar, Zephi, and Gatam, Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek.

Eliphaz was one of the visitors to Job when he was going through his troubles. That means Job existed about the same time. At the same time or after the days of Jacob and Esau.

1 Chronicles 1:37 The sons of Reuel; Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
38 And the sons of Seir; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan.
39 And the sons of Lotan; Hori, and Homam: and Timna was Lotan's sister.
40 The sons of Shobal; Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon; Aiah, and Anah.
41 The sons of Anah; Dishon. And the sons of Dishon; Amram, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.
42 The sons of Ezer; Bilhan, and Zavan, and Jakan. The sons of Dishan; Uz, and Aran.
43 Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel; Bela the son of Beor: and the name of his city was Dinhabah.

I sometimes wonder if the world would be better off not to have kings and one man in authority. An exception would be when Jesus returns and rules. Kings and such seem to have problems with pride and the temptation to try to control everyone instead of ruling to keep the innocent safe and just punish those that are real criminals.

1Chronicles 1:44 And when Bela was dead, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.
45 And when Jobab was dead, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead.
46 And when Husham was dead, Hadad the son of Bedad, which smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith.

Here is another reason having kings is troublesome. People want to be the head and rule so bad, they will kill the present king to take their place.

1Chronicles 1:47 And when Hadad was dead, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.
48 And when Samlah was dead, Shaul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead.
49 And when Shaul was dead, Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.
50 And when Baalhanan was dead, Hadad reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pai; and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
51 Hadad died also. And the dukes of Edom were; duke Timnah, duke Aliah, duke Jetheth,
52 Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,
53 Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,
54 Duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom.

Notice that they became seekers after titles so they could lord over others. We have the first control freaks. If people lived as long as they did before the flood, it would have been worse when tyrants and evil rulers reigned. God had a reason to make our earthly lives shorter. Through Christ though we can have eternal life without troubles, fears, sickness and death. Christ must be the only Lord. When we come to Jesus and receive the Holy Spirit within us, we can see a different way to live. We then have the power to choose God's ways, love our fellow human beings and keep the word of God.

1 Chronicles Chapter 2