Reflections on 1 Chronicles 1

 1 Chronicles 01(Contemporary English Version)

1. Adam was the father of Seth, and his descendants were Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah, who had three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
   
2. (SEE 1:1)
   
3. (SEE 1:1)
   
4. (SEE 1:1)
   
5. Japheth was the father of Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras, and they were the ancestors of the kingdoms named after them.
   
6. Gomer was the ancestor of Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.
   
7. Javan was the ancestor of Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
   
8. Ham was the father of Ethiopia, Egypt, Put, and Canaan, and they were the ancestors of the kingdoms named after them.
   
9. Ethiopia was the ancestor of Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah, and Sabteca. Raamah was the ancestor of Sheba and Dedan.
   
10. Ethiopia was also the father of Nimrod, the world's first mighty warrior.
    
11. Egypt was the ancestor of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim,
    
12. Pathrusim, Casluhim, and Caphtorim, the ancestor of the Philistines.
    
13. Canaan's oldest son was Sidon; his other son was Heth.
    
14. Canaan was also the ancestor of the Jebusites, the Amorites, the Girgashites, the Hivites, and Arkites, the Sinites, the Arvadites, the Zemarites, and the Hamathites.
    
15. (SEE 1:14)
    
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17. Shem was the ancestor of Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech; they were the ancestors of the kingdoms named after them.
    
18. Arpachshad was Shelah's father and Eber's grandfather.
    
19. Eber named his first son Peleg, because in his time the earth was divided into tribal regions. Eber's second son was Joktan,
    
20. the ancestor of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, Ebal, Abimael, Sheba, Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab.
    
21. (SEE 1:20)
    
22. (SEE 1:20)
    
23. (SEE 1:20)
    
24. Shem's descendants included Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, and Abram, later renamed Abraham.
    
25. (SEE 1:24)
    
26. (SEE 1:24)
    
27. (SEE 1:24)
    
28. Abraham was the father of Isaac and Ishmael.
    
29. Ishmael had twelve sons, who were born in the following order: Nebaioth, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah.
    
30. (SEE 1:29)
    
31. (SEE 1:29)
    
32. Abraham and his slave woman Keturah had six sons: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan.
    
33. Midian was the father of Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah.
    
34. Abraham's son Isaac was the father of Esau and Jacob.
    
35. Esau was the father of Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
    
36. Eliphaz was the father of Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna, and Amalek.
    
37. Reuel was the father of Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
    
38. Seir was the father of Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.
    
39. Lotan was the father of Hori and Homam; Lotan's sister was Timna.
    
40. Shobal was the father of Alvan, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. Zibeon was the father of Aiah and Anah.
    
41. Anah was the father of Dishon and the grandfather of Hemdan, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.
    
42. Ezer was the father of Bilhan, Zaavan, and Jaakan. Dishan was the father of Uz and Aran.
    
43. Before kings ruled in Israel, Bela son of Beor ruled the country of Edom from its capital of Dinhabah.
    
44. After Bela's death, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah became king.
    
45. After Jobab's death, Husham from the land of Teman became king.
    
46. After Husham's death, Hadad son of Bedad became king and ruled from Avith. Earlier, Bedad had defeated the Midianites in the territory of Moab.
    
47. After Hadad's death, Samlah from Masrekah became king;
    
48. after Samlah's death, Shaul from the town of Rehoboth on the Euphrates River became king;
    
49. and after Shaul's death, Baal Hanan son of Achbor became king.
    
50. After Baal Hanan's death, Hadad ruled from Pai. His wife was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred and granddaughter of Mezahab.
    
51. The Edomite clans were Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,
    
52. Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,
    
53. Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,
    
54. Magdiel, and Iram.

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The chronicler begins his book by tracing David's lineage all the way back to the first man, Adam. This, of course, is also Jesus' lineage up to the time of David. The first chapter of 1 Chronicles traces the lineage from Adam to Jacob, which is illustrated below. At the point where Jacob (Israel) enters the picture, the line of his brother, Esau, is traced first, which concludes the chapter. Jacob's lineage will begin in chapter 2.

Adam and Noah and Abraham are significant in our minds because of the pivotal roles they played in history. But in between their names in this lengthy list are many names of which we have never heard. They are insignificant to us, but not to God and His purposes. Without them Noah and Abraham would not have come along, nor would the tribes of Israel or David.

When we raise the question of what purpose God might have for us, we are usually thinking of the present. But beyond the present, what purpose might God have for us in the future? Though we may feel our role in the present is insignificant, what significant role might God have for us to play for the future beyond our lifetime?