1 Chronicles 2: The sons of Israel, and the line of Judah to David
A free study, verse by verse. Text: World English Bible. Notes come from the Hebrew. How to read a study
What happens?
The chapter lists the twelve sons of Israel, then follows Judah. It names Judah's sons, among them Perez, whose line runs through Hezron and Ram down to Boaz, Obed, Jesse and David, with Jesse's sons and David's sisters. The sons of Hezron are Jerahmeel, Ram and Caleb. After the line of Ram to David, the chapter lists the families that came from Jerahmeel and from Caleb, among them men called the father of places such as Tekoa, Hebron, Kiriath Jearim and Bethlehem.
Who is speaking?
The narrator gives the list. No one speaks in this chapter, and no verse is in gold. God's own words are printed in gold, and those verses are marked God speaks
1These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
In plain English: These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
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2Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
In plain English: Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
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3The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah, which three were born to him of Shua’s daughter the Canaanitess. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in Yahweh’s sight; and he killed him.
In plain English: The sons of Judah were Er, Onan and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bath-shua (or: Shua's daughter) the Canaanite woman. Er, Judah's firstborn, was evil in Yahweh's eyes, and he put him to death.
The Hebrew words: "Bath-shua" is bat-shua. The Hebrew is the same whether it is a name or the words "Shua's daughter", since bat is the dictionary's "a daughter". says Judah saw "the daughter of a certain Canaanite man named Shua".
Good to know: This verse says only "he put him to death" and does not name who. says "Yahweh killed him".
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4Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
In plain English: Tamar, his daughter-in-law, bore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
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5The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.
In plain English: The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.
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6The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara—five of them in all.
In plain English: The sons of Zerah were Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol and Dara, five of them in all.
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7The son of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass in the devoted thing.
In plain English: The sons of Carmi: Achar, who troubled Israel, who acted unfaithfully in the devoted things.
The Hebrew word: "Achar" is akar. The text itself gives the reason: he "troubled" Israel, and the word for "troubled" is akar, which the dictionary gives as "properly, to roil water; figuratively, to disturb or afflict". has "Achan, the son of Carmi", who "took some of the devoted things". In Joshua says to him, "Why have you troubled us? Yahweh will trouble you today."
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8The son of Ethan: Azariah.
In plain English: The son of Ethan was Azariah.
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9The sons also of Hezron, who were born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai.
In plain English: The sons of Hezron, who were born to him, were Jerahmeel, Ram and Chelubai.
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10Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;
In plain English: Ram fathered Amminadab, and Amminadab fathered Nahshon, the leader of the descendants of Judah.
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11and Nahshon became the father of Salma, and Salma became the father of Boaz,
In plain English: Nahshon fathered Salma, and Salma fathered Boaz.
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12and Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse;
In plain English: Boaz fathered Obed, and Obed fathered Jesse.
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13and Jesse became the father of his firstborn Eliab, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third,
In plain English: Jesse fathered Eliab, his firstborn, then Abinadab the second, Shimea the third,
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14Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,
In plain English: Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,
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15Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh;
In plain English: Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh.
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16and their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three.
In plain English: Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab and Asahel, three.
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17Abigail bore Amasa; and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.
In plain English: Abigail bore Amasa, and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.
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18Caleb the son of Hezron became the father of children by Azubah his wife, and by Jerioth; and these were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.
In plain English: Caleb the son of Hezron fathered children (the Hebrew just says fathered) by Azubah, a wife, and by Jerioth. These were her sons: Jesher, Shobab and Ardon.
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19Azubah died, and Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur.
In plain English: Azubah died, and Caleb took Ephrath for himself, and she bore him Hur.
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20Hur became the father of Uri, and Uri became the father of Bezalel.
In plain English: Hur fathered Uri, and Uri fathered Bezalel.
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21Afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he took as wife when he was sixty years old; and she bore him Segub.
In plain English: Afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead. He had taken her when he was sixty years old, and she bore him Segub.
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22Segub became the father of Jair, who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead.
In plain English: Segub fathered Jair, who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead.
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23Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath, and its villages, even sixty cities. All these were the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.
In plain English: Geshur and Aram took Havvoth Jair (or: the towns of Jair) from them (or: someone took Havvoth Jair from Geshur and Aram), with Kenath and its villages (literally: its daughters), sixty cities. All these were the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.
The Hebrew words: "Havvoth Jair" is the name given in : Jair "called them Havvoth Jair". "Villages" is word for word "daughters", the dictionary's "a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship)". The verse says sixty cities, and verse 22 says Jair had twenty-three cities in Gilead; the text gives both numbers and does not explain them.
What changes: Read the first way, Geshur and Aram took these towns from Jair's people. Read the second way, someone took them from Geshur and Aram. The Hebrew has the single verb "he took" and the words "from them", and does not say who "he" or "them" are.
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24After Hezron died in Caleb Ephrathah, Abijah, Hezron’s wife, bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.
In plain English: After the death of Hezron in Caleb Ephrathah, Abijah, Hezron's wife, bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.
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25The sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were Ram the firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah.
In plain English: The sons of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron, were Ram the firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem and Ahijah.
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26Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah. She was the mother of Onam.
In plain English: Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah. She was the mother of Onam.
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27The sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.
In plain English: The sons of Ram, the firstborn of Jerahmeel, were Maaz, Jamin and Eker.
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28The sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada. The sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur.
In plain English: The sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada. The sons of Shammai were Nadab and Abishur.
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29The name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail; and she bore him Ahban and Molid.
In plain English: The name of Abishur's wife was Abihail, and she bore him Ahban and Molid.
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30The sons of Nadab: Seled and Appaim; but Seled died without children.
In plain English: The sons of Nadab were Seled and Appaim. Seled died without sons.
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31The son of Appaim: Ishi. The son of Ishi: Sheshan. The son of Sheshan: Ahlai.
In plain English: The son of Appaim was Ishi. The son of Ishi was Sheshan. The son of Sheshan was Ahlai.
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32The sons of Jada the brother of Shammai: Jether and Jonathan; and Jether died without children.
In plain English: The sons of Jada, the brother of Shammai, were Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without sons.
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33The sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel.
In plain English: The sons of Jonathan were Peleth and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel.
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34Now Sheshan had no sons, but only daughters. Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha.
In plain English: Sheshan had no sons, only daughters. Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha.
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35Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant as wife; and she bore him Attai.
In plain English: Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant as a wife, and she bore him Attai.
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36Attai became the father of Nathan, and Nathan became the father of Zabad,
In plain English: Attai fathered Nathan, and Nathan fathered Zabad,
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37and Zabad became the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal became the father of Obed,
In plain English: and Zabad fathered Ephlal, and Ephlal fathered Obed,
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38and Obed became the father of Jehu, and Jehu became the father of Azariah,
In plain English: and Obed fathered Jehu, and Jehu fathered Azariah,
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39and Azariah became the father of Helez, and Helez became the father of Eleasah,
In plain English: and Azariah fathered Helez, and Helez fathered Eleasah,
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40and Eleasah became the father of Sismai, and Sismai became the father of Shallum,
In plain English: and Eleasah fathered Sismai, and Sismai fathered Shallum,
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41and Shallum became the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah became the father of Elishama.
In plain English: and Shallum fathered Jekamiah, and Jekamiah fathered Elishama.
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42The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph, and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.
In plain English: The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph, and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.
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43The sons of Hebron: Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema.
In plain English: The sons of Hebron were Korah, Tappuah, Rekem and Shema.
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44Shema became the father of Raham, the father of Jorkeam; and Rekem became the father of Shammai.
In plain English: Shema fathered Raham, the father of Jorkeam, and Rekem fathered Shammai.
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45The son of Shammai was Maon; and Maon was the father of Beth Zur.
In plain English: The son of Shammai was Maon, and Maon was the father of Beth Zur.
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46Ephah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez; and Haran became the father of Gazez.
In plain English: Ephah, Caleb's concubine, bore Haran, Moza and Gazez, and Haran fathered Gazez.
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47The sons of Jahdai: Regem, Jothan, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph.
In plain English: The sons of Jahdai were Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah and Shaaph.
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48Maacah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah.
In plain English: Maacah, Caleb's concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah.
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49She bore also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbena and the father of Gibea; and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah.
In plain English: She also bore Shaaph the father of Madmannah, and Sheva the father of Machbena and the father of Gibea. The daughter of Caleb was Achsah.
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50These were the sons of Caleb, the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim,
In plain English: These were the descendants of Caleb, the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim,
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51Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth Gader.
In plain English: Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth Gader.
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52Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim had sons: Haroeh, half of the Menuhoth.
In plain English: Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim had sons: Haroeh, and half of the Menuhoth (or: Manahathites).
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53The families of Kiriath Jearim: the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; from them came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites.
In plain English: The families of Kiriath Jearim were the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites and the Mishraites. From these came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites.
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54The sons of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites.
In plain English: The sons of Salma were Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites.
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55The families of scribes who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.
In plain English: The families of scribes who lived at Jabez were the Tirathites, the Shimeathites and the Sucathites. These were the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.
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