1 Ch. 9: The Benjamin Gate

1 Chronicles 9:1 "All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel."

This chapter describes where some of the tribes of Israel settled back on their own property after the exile. Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim and Manasseh were the main four. Their numbers are counted. So...were these places that Nebuchadnezzar gave to them to live in, or is this completely post-exile. I'unno. It was after a time of the scattering. Anyway, they are all numbered.

The Levites are listed next. In addition to serving in the house of God, the tent, they had to be the gatekeepers and guard the place. Phinehas was in charge of the gatekeepers at one point, and you may remember Phinehas from this awesome episode. This guarding was serious business. But guarding is only necessary if you care about something. 

Next we have the genealogy of Saul. Curiously, in 1 Samuel, we have Abiel being the father of Kish, while in Chronicles, Ner is the father of Kish. Perhaps there was some half-brothering going on, or Abiel or Ner were higher up in the family tree than the other. I'unno. 

1 Ch. 8: Saul's Folks

1 Chronicles 8:33 "Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal."

We got the geneaology of Saul in here, from Benjamin himself, on through the sons of Ulam. They were archers, which is neat. You gotta have archers.

1 Ch. 7: Geneaologies Continue

1 Chronicles 7:40 "All these were descendants of Asher—heads of families, choice men, brave warriors and outstanding leaders. The number of men ready for battle, as listed in their genealogy, was 26,000."

The genealogy winds its way through the remaining tribes: Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh (t'other half), Ephraim and Asher.

For some reason, the genealogy for Issachar and Benjamin  and Asher lists fighting men. Not sure why that is...where they the goons of Israel? The heavies? I don't know. 

What's up with Naphtali? No grandchildren?

Zelophehad, who died with no sons, and had the daughters instead descended from Manasseh, by the way.

1 Ch. 4: The Mantra of Jabez

1 Chronicles 4:10 "Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request."

Jacob's sons' lines, those of Judah and Simeon are listed here. And it's just a long list of names...weird sounding names. With a couple of little bits here and there.

The first such diversion is that of Jabez. He is mentioned in this scripture as being more honorable than his brothers. And this verse blew up into the much ballyhooed "Prayer of Jabez" phenomenon that swept Christendom 5-10 years ago. I never read any of those books/calendars/keychains/cds/journals/whatever. So I don't know what the big deal with the book was. But I do remember it saturating the market, which always makes me skeptical. First of all, who wouldn't pray something like this? Maybe someone who didn't believe in God, as Jabez apparently did. I don't know if he lived during a fallen time, or during a time of high belief in God, the former being more reason to call him out, I suppose. But God saw fit to grant Jabez his wish. So, I wonder what Jabez did with a life of rich blessing and no pain. What would you do?

Simeon's family (as well as Judah's for that matter) increased greatly. The large numbers, through the lens of the covenant agreement, point to Israel's devotion to God at this point. Good food, rich pasture, military victory...the land was cooperating, which points to a pretty good, solid relationship between God and his people. We'll see if the numbers dwindle as we get on into the kings.

1 Ch. 3: David's Folk

1 Chronicles 3:17 "The descendants of Jehoiachin the captive: Shealtiel his son."

The narrative moves ahead of where we were at least...with Jehoiachin's offspring. 

1 Ch. 2: Israel's Line

1 Chronicles 2:1 "These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher."

More genealogy. They're all here, from Israel's (Jacob's sons) up through the descendants of Salma. There are some kings here that are familiar, that are kind of passed over in the "so-and-so begat so-and-so" fashion. 

No other nation is given a similar genealogy.

Some of these names I haven't heard before. Is it because I missed them? Maybe. There are a lot of names. Who can keep track of them? Anyway, that's not the nature of this study. And some names I haven't gotten to yet, probably. I'm only a fraction of the way through the Bible, but if these names are significant, I'll get to their vignettes soon, I'm sure.

Why a genealogy? What is the point of this record? Why is this history so important? How accurate is it? How many more are coming?

Who begat who? Its here. Who descended from who? That's here too. I guess its kind of interesting to see who was who's peer, and to get a perspective of how far apart in the Bible certain characters were.

1 Ch. 1: Adam - Edom; Edom - Adam

1 Chronicles 1:51 "Hadad also died."

What do you do in a book called 1 Chronicles? You chronicle stuff, I suppose. This chapter starts at the beginning, with Adam, and ends up with the death of Hadad, and the chiefs of Edom, who descended from Esau at the fooling of Isaac. Basically its a list of the important people. Not much to it here...everyone's here, up to Jacob and Esau. I guess the main thing to take here is that there was some history from Esau to Edom, which more or less disppears from view during the times of the conquest, save for some battles here and there against Edom. Bela, son of Beor is probably the most ... infamous? I guess we'll see what happens to Israel later.

It's a pause in the action.

Ex. 6: Israelites to Moses: "Whatever, loser."

The LORD was definitely ready for this type of reaction. He didn't even mention the fact that Moses should have expected this kind of response from Pharaoh. He told Moses, "You watch...because of me, he will let them go...he will drive them out of his land." Because of God. Not because little old Moses with his couple of tricks was going to convince him.

Interesting here is how God reveals Himself to Moses. Not as God Almighty as he had to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but as Jehovah (KJV) or LORD (NIV). I'm not sure if this is a next level of revelation, if Jehovah is some sort of a superior title to God almighty...but I thought I read how God revealed himself as the LORD in time past. Maybe I missed it. The point is, God is making himself known in a real way to Moses, and gives him a message to prophesy to the Israelites.

He established His covenant with them (Gen 15:18). To give them the land of Canaan (Gen. 17:8), the land of their wandering, where they were strangers.

He has also heard their outcry, from being enslaved by the Egyptians.

He has remembered His covenant.

God is the LORD, and he will bring them out from under the burdens of the Egyptians. I think the KJV says it beautifully here. He will bring them out from under their burdens. It is their yoke to carry. A burden is the Egyptian existence, and the covenant God has planned for the Israelites will not be a burden. It was not the intent. He will redeem them from their slavery with an outstretched arm, to bring them to Himself.

God will be their God, and they will be His people. And for their inheritance, God will give them the land He promised.

And the Israelites, still smarting from what happened the last time they tried this whole "God" thing, weren't listening. Would it have mattered to them if Moses had mentioned that Pharaoh would refuse their exodus, having had his heart hardened by the LORD? Would they trust a God who would harden their taskmaster's heart?

God gives Moses another opportunity before Pharaoh, but Moses reverts back to his Burning Bush attitude. "If the Israelites won't listen to me, why would Pharaoh listen to me, as I am one of faltering lips?" But God gave His command.

Then we have another genealogy. And God's command to Moses is reiterated. Very important. Very challenging.