Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 1

Verses 1-31

From Adam to the Sons of Keturah

v. 1. Adam, Sheth, Enosh, the members of the families in the direct order of succession only being mentioned,

v. 3. Henoch, who was taken up into heaven by the Lord, Methuselah, the man who reached the highest age recorded in history, Lamech,

v. 4. Noah, with whom the list of the antediluvian patriarchs is brought to an end, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, all three sons of Noah being mentioned as the founders of the world after the Flood.

v. 7. And the sons of Javan: Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. The seven sons and seven grandsons of Japheth were the founders of strong nations. Cf Genesis 10:2-5.

v. 10. And Cush begat Nimrod; he began to be mighty upon the earth, the first ruler of a world empire.

v. 12. and Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (of whom came the Philistines,) and Caphthorim. These two were brother nations.

v. 16. and the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite, all these nations being established afterwards to the southeast and east of the Mediterranean Sea. Cf Genesis 10:6-20.

v. 17. The sons of Shem: Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech (or Mash), the last four being sons of Aram and grandsons of Shem. These nations were found principally on the Arabian Peninsula and in the valley of the Euphrates and TigrIsaiah

v. 19. And unto Eber were born two sons; the name of the one was Peleg (division), because in his days the earth was divided; and his brother's name was Joktan.

v. 22. and Ebal (or Obal), and Abimael, and Sheba,

v. 23. and Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. The nations were found from Asia Minor eastward to India. Cf Genesis 10:21-31.

v. 24. Here follows Shem's line to Abraham: Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,

v. 27. Abram; the same is Abraham, the Lord Himself having changed his name, Genesis 17:5.

v. 28. The sons of Abraham: Isaac, the son of promise and bearer of the Messianic prophecy, and Ishmael.

v. 31. Jetur, Naphish, arid Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael, Genesis 25:12-16. These names are perpetuated in the clans and tribes of the Arabs to the present day, a witness of the fulfilment of God's promises. He is true and faithful and will not let His words fall to the ground.

Verses 32-54

The Descendants of Esau and the Dukes of Edom

v. 32. Now, the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine, the half-brothers of Ishmael; she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah, these being the founders of nomadic tribes in the northern part of Arabia and in Syria. Cf Genesis 25:1-2; Genesis 36:35; Job 2:11 . And the sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan.

v. 33. And the sons of Midian: Ephah, and Epher, and Renoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons, the descendants, of Keturah.

v. 34. And Abraham begat Isaac, this verse continuing the enumeration of 1 Chronicles 1:28. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel.

v. 35. The sons of Esau, who forfeited his birthright and was not the bearer of the Messianic promise: Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah. Cf Genesis 36:9-14.

v. 39. And the sons of Lotan: Rori, and Roman (or Heman); and Timna was Lotan's sister.

v. 40. The sons of Shobal: Alian (or Alvan), and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah.

v. 41. The sons of Anah: Dishon. And the sons of Dishon: Amram (or Hemdan), and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.

v. 42. The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, and Zavail, and Jakan (or Akan ). The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. Cf Genesis 36:20-28. These men were founders of nomadic tribes occupying the country between the Red Sea and the Euphrates, some of the mightiest ones being found near the boundary of Chaldea.

v. 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. This has been identified with O'Daeb, a well known town in the center of Al Dahna, a great northern desert in the direction of Chaldea and the Euphrates.

v. 50. And when Baal-hanan was dead, Hadad (or Hadar) 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. It appears from this that the country had no definite capital at this time, and that the royal power was not hereditary. Probably the ruler was elected from the total number of princes or most influential sheiks.

v. 51. Hadad died also, and after his death the office of king seems to have been abolished. And the dukes of Edom were: Duke Timnah, Duke Aliah, Duke Jetheth,

v. 54. Duke Magdiel, Duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom. For the entire passage compare Genesis 36:31-43. This list has only geographical importance, as naming the chief Edomite principalities. It has been preserved to show how completely the Lord fulfilled His promise concerning Esau.