Why Does Chronicles Begin with Genealogies?
Why Does Chronicles Begin with Genealogies?
I’ve just finished writing a commentary on 1-2 Chronicles, which will be published in Zondervan’s Story of God Bible Commentary Series this October. In anticipation of this commentary, I’ll be writing a few blogs on Chronicles as I realize that it is one of the more neglected books in the Old Testament. I’m hoping that a few introductory blogs might be helpful to get us reorientated toward this theologically rich book.
One of the questions I’m often asked is: “Why all the genealogies in Chronicles?”
I can almost hear a visceral groan emerging in the question! And I get it. Even for someone who loves genealogies and has studied them, they can be confusing, and Chronicles begins with nine chapters of them. In my commentary I discuss why genealogies are important and give tips on how to interpret them, but in this blog, I simply want to highlight three important theological points that are being communicated in the opening chapters of Chronicles. If you want the condensed version (and three points of application), you’ll find them at the end of the blog, but I hope you’ll stay with me for a few minutes to read more.
1. God’s Creational Purposes Are Being Fulfilled Through Israel.
The first point is that the opening chapter of Chronicles resounds with the hopeful message that God’s creational purposes are being fulfilled through Abraham’s descendants, that is, through the people of Israel. The first word in Chronicles is “Adam,” and we are immediately introduced to his linear genealogy that extends ten generations to Noah and his three sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. One might be tempted to think that Adam and the creation story would be long forgotten during this final period of the Old Testament, but quite the contrary, the ancient Scriptures are recalled, giving vision and hope for the returnees living in challenging times. God’s people were struggling with their identity and role amid the vast Persian Empire, and the Scriptures remind them who they are.
The opening linear genealogy has been taken directly from Genesis (Gen. 5:1-32), although it is more concise since only names are given: “Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah” (1:1-4a). There’s no “begetting” and “and he died” here, just a short list of names. A second linear genealogy has been taken from Genesis, and again, only names are given: “Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, Eber, Peleg, Reu, Serug, Nahor, Terah, Abram, that is Abraham” (1:24-27; cf. Gen. 11:10-26). These two linear genealogies communicate that God’s creational purposes that began at creation with Adam are being realized through Abraham and his descendants. In the book of Genesis, the genealogies end with Jacob’s blessing on his sons (and two grandsons) who will become the twelve tribes of Israel, but in Chronicles, the genealogies narrow further to focus on Jacob’s fourth-born son Judah, whose line leads to King David. The Chronicler is communicating that God’s creational purposes given to Adam are not only being realized through Jacob’s descendants (“all Israel”), but they will ultimately be taken up by the tribe of Judah. The Davidic king from this tribe will rule over God’s sacred kingdom, in accordance with God’s creational plan. Even though the returnees were living in a small province of Judah amid a vast Persian Empire, they were to understand that God’s creational purposes were being realized through them. They were part of a bigger story. Amid their challenging circumstances, the returnees needed to remember that God was still at work, fulfilling his plan for his creation. We need to remember that our God is still at work today, fulfilling his cosmic plan through the church.
2. God’s People Are To Be a Worshiping and Witnessing People Among the Nations
The second point is seen in the segmented (“branching out”) genealogy that has been placed in between the two linear genealogies (1 Chr. 1:5-23). This genealogy, which has again been taken directly from Genesis, recalls the Table of Nations, where the descendants of Noah’s sons are given (Gen. 1:1-32). This highly stylized genealogy of “seventy” descendants represents the nations of the ancient world. The linear genealogies communicate that God has set apart his people from the nations, but the Table of Nations located in between provides the context for Israel’s calling: God has set apart his people to live among the nations. The returnees were no longer living during the flourishing kingdoms of David or Solomon, but rather, they were surrounded by nations, with Samaritans to the north, Edomites to the south, Ammonites to the east, and Phoenicians to the west. Their context is now global.
But this is God’s plan, already anticipated in Genesis.
God has set apart his people to be a worshiping and witnessing people among the nations, and there is the expectation in Chronicles that all the nations will praise God and glory in his holy name. Already in the genealogies, the tribe of Judah is the most ethnically diverse, which hints at this international theme. People from the nations, including Canaanites, Ishmaelites, Arameans, Egyptians, Moabites, and Midianites, have been incorporated into it. When the Levites bring the ark into Jerusalem, they lead God’s people in worship, exhorting God’s people to proclaim his name and mighty deeds among the nations of the earth. There is the expectation that all creation will praise God’s name (1 Chr. 16). This is why the temple narrative is framed by two proclamations from foreign dignitaries, when the king of Tyre praises the Lord as creator: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who made heaven and earth! (2 Chr. 2:12), and when the queen of Sheba enters Jerusalem and offers praise: “Praise be to the Lord your God” (2 Chr. 9:8). The temple in Jerusalem evokes praises to the Lord, but it comes from foreign leaders, and they come into Jerusalem with gifts from afar. One day, hundreds of years later, magi from the east will bring gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the King of Kings as they bow down before him in worship. This is the global vision that is being presented in Chronicles. The Table of Nations in the opening chapter provides a “world map” for God’s people, setting their calling within a global context. They have been set apart to worship the Lord and proclaim his name among the nations. This is our sacred calling.
3. God’s People Are a Unified People Living Under the Rule of a Son of David
The final point about these opening chapters is that the genealogies present a vision for a united people of God. This takes us now to the full list of genealogies (1 Chr. 1–9). The two most important genealogies are the tribes of Judah (2:3–4:23) and Levi (6:1-81), which comprise almost fifty percent of the genealogies. This underscores that the kingdom is a sacred kingdom, ruled by a Davidic king and a Levitical priest (they will one day be fulfilled in Jesus, the priestly king from the order of Melchizedek). But the extended genealogies also include the tribes of Simeon, Reuben, Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher (this is why there are so many chapters!). The inclusion of these other tribes presents a vision for a united people of God (often referred to as “all Israel” by the Chronicler), despite their history of two hundred years of division. For example, when all the tribes give their full support to David when he becomes king, this is evidence of the unity of “all Israel” (1 Chr. 11–12). The Chronicler also highlights times when northerners join the southern kingdom to become the one people (2 Chr. 30), and even the last chapter of the genealogies picks up this theme, for the returnees were not only from the tribes of Judah, Levi, and Benjamin, but also Ephraim and Manasseh, who represent the northern tribes (1 Chr. 9:2-3). Old hostilities and divisions needed to be set aside in view of God’s call to be a united people, who gather together to sing praises to the Lord among the nations. God’s plan was always for the one people of God, and this is a central theme in the opening genealogies. We, too, have been set apart to be the united people of God, declaring the praises of him who called us out of darkness.
Three Points of Application:
1. Regardless of our circumstances, we are to remember that God’s creational purposes are being fulfilled through the church today. Our identity and calling are to be found in the ancient Scriptures. God is at work.
2. The church is the “gathered” people of God, who gather together in weekly worship and proclaim the mighty name of our Lord Jesus. We have been set apart to serve him, but our calling is lived out among people who do not know him. God has a plan to bless our neighbors, co-workers, and people in our local community through the church, as we proclaim and live out the gospel.
3. We live in a time of cultural and ethnic divisions, but God has set us apart to be the one people of God, under the Lordship of Jesus. We are known by a watching world as Christ-ians, united in Christ. Jesus is calling people from all tribes, nations, and tongues to join with all creation in giving praise to his great name.
May the Lord help us to live up to our sacred calling.
Dr. Carol Kaminski