The Family Record
Lists of names that may seem tedious — but each one represents a life, a family, a thread in the tapestry God has been weaving since creation.
1Adam, Seth, Enosh,
2Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,
3Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah.
4The sons of Noah:
28The sons of Abraham were Isaac and Ishmael.
29These are their genealogies:
43These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites:
52Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,
53Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,
54Magdiel, and Iram. These were the chiefs of Edom.
The Chronicler opens with a genealogy spanning from Adam to Abraham to Esau and the chiefs of Edom. This compressed lineage traces humanity's story through the chosen line, establishing Israel's place in the broader family of nations.
Written for the post-exilic community (ca. 400-350 BC), Chronicles served to reconnect a displaced people with their ancestry and identity. The Chronicler drew from Genesis and other sources to demonstrate continuity from creation to the restored community.
The genealogy asserts that Israel's story is embedded in the universal story of humanity from Adam onward. By tracing lineage through specific chosen figures, the Chronicler establishes divine election as the thread running through human history.
Your story is part of a larger story. The Chronicler's sweeping genealogy reminds us that God has been working purposefully through history long before any individual's lifetime.
Tap any verse for its meaning, any word for its Hebrew or Greek root, and follow every cross-reference without losing your place.
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Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible — used by permission, Bible Hub.