1 Chronicles 2:1 - Meaning and Application

Here is the family of Jacob. His twelve sons are named here, that well-known group often celebrated throughout the Bible, from beginning to end. Everywhere we turn, we meet the twelve tribes that came from these twelve patriarchs. Some of these men had poor personal character, especially the first four, yet God still passed his covenant promise to their children. That was because this was a matter of grace, free favor, not something earned by works, so no one could boast.

Here is also the family of Judah. That tribe was more praised, more numerous, and more honored than any other, so its family line is given first and in the greatest detail. In the early branches of this noble tree, from which Christ was to come, we find some very wicked people. Er, Judah’s eldest son, was evil in the Lord’s sight and was cut off early by God’s judgment, because the Lord killed him (1 Chronicles 2:3). His brother Onan was no better and met the same end. We also meet Tamar, Judah’s daughter-in-law, with whom he committed incest (1 Chronicles 2:4). And we meet Achan, also called Achar, meaning “troublemaker,” who brought trouble on Israel by taking what was devoted to destruction (1 Chronicles 2:7). This reminds us that even the best and most respected families can have people who disgrace them.

Alongside these shameful names, we also find some very wise and good men, such as Heman and Ethan, Calcol and Dara. They were likely not Zerah’s direct sons, but later descendants, named because they brought honor to their family. When the Holy Spirit wanted to show Solomon’s wisdom, he said Solomon was wiser than these four men, who are called Ezrahites, meaning descendants of Zerah (1 Kings 4:31). For four brothers to be known for wisdom and godliness was rare indeed.

We also meet some great men, such as Nahshon, who was prince of Judah when Israel was organized in the wilderness and led the tribe at the front of the march. We also meet Salmon, or Salma, who held that place of honor when Israel entered Canaan (1 Chronicles 2:10, 1 Chronicles 2:11).

Then comes the family of Jesse, recorded carefully because of David, and because of David’s greater Son, the Messiah, who would be a shoot from Jesse’s stump (Isaiah 11:1). This shows that David was Jesse’s seventh son. It also shows that his three great commanders, Joab, Abishai, and Asahel, were the sons of one sister, and Amasa was the son of another. Three of those four died violently, though they had once been feared by the mighty.