ScriptureDepth's study of 1 Chronicles 2
“The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah; which three were born to him of Shua’s daughter the Canaanitess. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in Yahweh’s sight; and he killed him.”
1 Chronicles 2:3
The writer narrates the lineage of Judah, noting Er's wickedness before Yahweh, which leads to his death and impacts the family line.
What 1 Chronicles 2 is about
Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher are the sons of Israel (vv. 1-2). Judah’s sons include Er, Onan, and Shelah. Er was wicked, and Yahweh killed him (v. 3). Tamar bore Perez and Zerah, making Judah's total sons five. The line continues with Perez, whose sons are Hezron and Hamul (vv. 4-5). Descendants of Judah include Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara (v. 6). The genealogy leads to David, with Jesse as his father and Eliab as his firstborn (vv. 10-15). Caleb's lineage follows, starting with his sons from Azubah and Jerioth (vv. 18-19). His son Hur became the father of Bezalel (v. 20). Caleb's family connections include several other sons and concubines, leading to important towns and families (vv. 42-55).
Readers are left with the detailed lineage of Israel and Judah, connecting to David and local families.
1 Chronicles 2 at a glance
- 1 Chronicles 2:1–5Sons of Israel and Judah's Lineage
- 1 Chronicles 2:6–15Descendants of Judah and David's Line
- 1 Chronicles 2:16–55Caleb's Lineage and Familial Connections
Key verse: 1 Chronicles 2:3
Summary and study helps: AI-drafted (September 2026), checked by automated Scripture gates. Spotted an error? Report it. Fixes are listed on the corrections page.
Chapter text
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Sons of Israel and Judah's Lineage 1 Chronicles 2:1–5
1Verse 1. These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, 2Verse 2. Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. 3Verse 3. The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah; which three were born to him of Shua’s daughter the Canaanitess. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in Yahweh’s sight; and he killed him. 4Verse 4. Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five. 5Verse 5. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.
Descendants of Judah and David's Line 1 Chronicles 2:6–15
6Verse 6. The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara; five of them in all. 7Verse 7. The son of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass in the devoted thing. 8Verse 8. The son of Ethan: Azariah. 9Verse 9. The sons also of Hezron, who were born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai. 10Verse 10. Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah; 11Verse 11. and Nahshon became the father of Salma, and Salma became the father of Boaz,
12Verse 12. and Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse; 13Verse 13. and Jesse became the father of his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimea the third, 14Verse 14. Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, 15Verse 15. Ozem the sixth, David the seventh;
Caleb's Lineage and Familial Connections 1 Chronicles 2:16–55
16Verse 16. and their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three. 17Verse 17. Abigail bore Amasa; and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite. 18Verse 18. Caleb the son of Hezron became the father of children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth; and these were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon. 19Verse 19. Azubah died, and Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur. 20Verse 20. Hur became the father of Uri, and Uri became the father of Bezalel. 21Verse 21. Afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he took as wife when he was sixty years old; and she bore him Segub.
22Verse 22. Segub became the father of Jair, who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead. 23Verse 23. Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath, and its villages, even sixty cities. All these were the sons of Machir the father of Gilead. 24Verse 24. After Hezron died in Caleb Ephrathah, Abijah Hezron’s wife bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa. 25Verse 25. The sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were Ram the firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah. 26Verse 26. Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah. She was the mother of Onam. 27Verse 27. The sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.
28Verse 28. The sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada. The sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur. 29Verse 29. The name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail; and she bore him Ahban and Molid. 30Verse 30. The sons of Nadab: Seled and Appaim; but Seled died without children. 31Verse 31. The son of Appaim: Ishi. The son of Ishi: Sheshan. The son of Sheshan: Ahlai. 32Verse 32. The sons of Jada the brother of Shammai: Jether and Jonathan; and Jether died without children. 33Verse 33. The sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel.
34Verse 34. Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha. 35Verse 35. Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant as wife; and she bore him Attai. 36Verse 36. Attai became the father of Nathan, and Nathan became the father of Zabad, 37Verse 37. and Zabad became the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal became the father of Obed, 38Verse 38. and Obed became the father of Jehu, and Jehu became the father of Azariah, 39Verse 39. and Azariah became the father of Helez, and Helez became the father of Eleasah,
40Verse 40. and Eleasah became the father of Sismai, and Sismai became the father of Shallum, 41Verse 41. and Shallum became the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah became the father of Elishama. 42Verse 42. The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph; and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron. 43Verse 43. The sons of Hebron: Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema. 44Verse 44. Shema became the father of Raham, the father of Jorkeam; and Rekem became the father of Shammai. 45Verse 45. The son of Shammai was Maon; and Maon was the father of Beth Zur.
46Verse 46. Ephah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez; and Haran became the father of Gazez. 47Verse 47. The sons of Jahdai: Regem, Jothan, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph. 48Verse 48. Maacah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah. 49Verse 49. She bore also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbena, and the father of Gibea; and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah. 50Verse 50. These were the sons of Caleb, the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim, 51Verse 51. Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth Gader.
52Verse 52. Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim had sons: Haroeh, half of the Menuhoth. 53Verse 53. The families of Kiriath Jearim: the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; from them came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites. 54Verse 54. The sons of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites. 55Verse 55. The families of scribes who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.
World English Bible (public domain)
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Main themes in 1 Chronicles 2
Genealogy and Identity
In 1 Chronicles 2, the text establishes genealogy and identity through the listing of the sons of Israel, starting with Reuben, Simeon, and others in v. 1. Judah's lineage is particularly noted, as Er, Onan, and Shelah are mentioned in v. 3, signifying their role within Israel's history. The chapter continues to detail the descendants of Judah, connecting identity with family lines, particularly emphasizing the connection to David.
God's Promises
This chapter presents God's promises through the lineage of Judah, especially concerning the future kingship. Notably, in vv. 12-13, the line from Boaz to Jesse is established, leading to David, underscoring the fulfillment of God's promise to provide a king from Judah. The genealogical record serves to affirm these divine promises as it ties key figures to their ancestral roots.
Heritage and Legacy
This chapter details familial connections, particularly through the lineage of David. In verses 11-12, the genealogy traces the line from Nahshon to Boaz, noting significant figures in Israel’s history. The genealogical record illustrates how lineage informs the identity and status of the tribes of Israel, shaping their communal connections and roles within the broader narrative.
Divine Sovereignty
Divine sovereignty is present in this genealogy as it shows the unfolding of God's plan through specific individuals. In v. 4, the mention of Judah's sons, including the wickedness of Er leading to his death, indicates God's control over the lineage. The lineage outlined in the chapter emphasizes how God orchestrates history through these chosen families, guiding the future of Israel according to His purposes.
Chapter outline
How 1 Chronicles 2 unfolds
1 Chronicles 2:1–5 Sons of Israel and Judah's Lineage
The names of the sons of Israel include Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, and others, with Judah's line featuring 'Er' and 'Perez', noting Judah's wicked firstborn who was killed by Yahweh (vv. 1-5).
1 Chronicles 2:6–15 Descendants of Judah and David's Line
The descendants of Judah include Zerah's sons, Achar's transgression, and a detailed lineage leading to David, mentioning notable names like 'Nahshon', 'Boaz', and 'Jesse' (vv. 6-15).
1 Chronicles 2:16–55 Caleb's Lineage and Familial Connections
Caleb's lineage includes his children with his wives Azubah and Ephrath, alongside connections to Jerahmeel's family, detailing numerous descendants and their cities, including 'Ashhur' and 'Tekoa' (vv. 16-55).
Key verses
1 Chronicles 2:3The writer narrates the lineage of Judah, noting Er's wickedness before Yahweh, which leads to his death and impacts the family line.
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Study questions
Questions for studying 1 Chronicles 2
- observeIn v6, who are the sons listed under Zerah?
- observeWhat does the phrase 'the troubler of Israel' in v7 refer to?
- interpretThe family line in v12: why is Boaz's inclusion essential to the genealogy?
- interpretIn v23, why is Jair mentioned in relation to the cities?
- applyWhen have you felt the weight of family legacy as seen in this chapter?
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Cross-references
Passages that echo 1 Chronicles 2
- 1 Chronicles 41 Chronicles 2:24 and 1 Chronicles 4:5Both mention Ashhur: 1 Chronicles 2:24 states he is the father of Tekoa, while 1 Chronicles 4:5 also identifies him as having two wives.
- Genesis 461 Chronicles 2:3 and Genesis 46:12Both name Judah’s sons: 1 Chronicles 2:3 lists Er, Onan, and Shelah while Genesis 46:12 includes Perez and Zerah.
- Ruth 41 Chronicles 2:4 and Ruth 4:18Both mention Perez: 1 Chronicles 2:4 states he was born to Tamar, while Ruth 4:18 notes Perez as the ancestor of Hezron.
- Matthew 11 Chronicles 2:4 and Matthew 1:3Both mention Perez: 1 Chronicles 2:4 states Judah became the father of Perez, while Matthew 1:3 recounts the same lineage.
- Genesis 381 Chronicles 2:3 and Genesis 38:7Both mention Er: 1 Chronicles 2:3 states he was wicked, while Genesis 38:7 states Yahweh killed him.
- Joshua 71 Chronicles 2:6 and Joshua 7:1Both mention Zerah: 1 Chronicles 2:6 states he had five sons, while Joshua 7:1 notes a descendant named Achan.
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