Gen 47:27 ¶ And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.
The LORD God, the faithful covenant-keeping God, will remain faithful to His covenant people.
1.
Outline of Chapter 2
a.
v1-2: the 12 sons of Israel/Jacob, the father of Judah
- The
12 sons are here mentioned by name;
- The
first 4 according to their birth of Leah: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.
-
Then the two sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, Issachar, and Zebulun.
- And
between Dan and Naphtali, the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, are placed
Joseph and Benjamin, the sons of Rachel.
b. v3-4: the sons of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob; Judah the father of Pharez and Zerah.
c. v5-8: the posterity of Pharez and Zerah, the sons of Judah; Pharez the father of Hezron.
d.
v9-12: the sons of Hezron, a son of Pharez, particularly the posterity of Ram,
a son of Hezron, from whom sprung Jesse and his family.
e.
v13-17: sons of Jesse, the father of David, 7th sons.
f. v18-24 the sons of Caleb: another son of Hezron, the same son that is called Chelubai, v9.
g. v25-33 the posterity of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron, and particularly
h. v34-41 the posterity of Sheshan, a descendant of his.
i. v42-55 other sons of Caleb, with their posterity, and the chapter is closed with the families of the Scribes in Jabesh – the city of the learned.
j.
Summary of the holy line traced and covered in chapter 2:
-
Judah > Pharez > Hezron > Aram > Amminadab > Nahshon > Salmon
> Boaz > Obed > Jesse > David.
Chapter 3 picks up with David, “Now these were the sons of David…”
2.
Some notes on the information attached to some names
a.
v1: The LORD changed Jacob’s name to Israel, to honour him. See Gen 32:28. He
wrestled with God.
b.
v3: The sons of Judah: the genealogy begins with him, though the fourth son of
Jacob.
-
Chronicles treat chiefly of the kings of Judah.
-
Also, not only Jesse and David sprang from him, but also the promised Messiah.
-
“daughter of Shua the Canaanites”
-
“Er… was evil in the sight of the LORD”: he did that which is evil. Er was the
husband of Tamar. Onan was slain, too; he despised the duty required of him as a
brother. Gen 38:10. Shelah was spared – Num 26:20
-
“Tamar, his daughter-in-law”: through incest, bore a twin to Judah. Gen 38:27
c.
v7: “Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed”:
-
Achar, who was the grandson of Zimri; his proper name was Achan, Joshua 7:1.
Here he is called Achar by way of reproach.
-
Achar signifies: "who transgressed in the thing accursed"; devoted to
the Lord, by taking it away for his own use, Jos 6:17. Thus, the valley in
which he was put to death was called Achor, Joshua 6:26.
d. v10: “Nashon, prince of the children of Judah” only here, Nahshon the son of Amminadab, is called the prince of the children of Judah; is written for the honour of David, who descended from him; and Salmon, his son, is here called Salma.
e. v15: “the seventh” - Jesse had eight sons, 1 Sam 16:10. One is not counted here, for some reason.
f.
v16: “whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail.”
- the
3 sons of Zeruiah were all valiant men and captains in David’s army.
-
Though their fathers’ names are nowhere mentioned.
g.
v18: “Caleb the son of Hezron” – see verse 9, Chelubai, brother of Jerameel
-
wives Azubah/Jerioth (18), Ephrath (v19), the 3rd was not named (v42),
concubines Ephah (v46) and Maachah (v48)
h.
v30: “… died without children.”
i.
v31,34: “… the children of Sheshan; Ahlai… Sheshan had no sons, but daughters”
-
plural children (daughters) but only one named, the one given to Jarha
j. v42: More sons of Caleb mentioned; these were by a third wife, Azubah, Ephrath being dead, 2:19.
k.
v49: “and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah”
-
Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, had a daughter of this name, but neither he nor
she is here meant, Joshua 15:16
- By whom Caleb, the son of Hezron, had this daughter, is not said; perhaps by
Maachah, his concubine last mentioned.
l.
v50: “These were the sons of Caleb, the son of Hur…”
-
This is another Caleb, the grandson of Caleb, the son of Hezron, called after
his name; he was the son of Hur, the firstborn of his wife Ephrath, 2:19
