From 1 Chronicles 7-8
The genealogy shows something of the grand narrative of Israel. The people listed are sometimes good, sometimes bad. Sometimes faithful, sometimes rejecting God. Jesus in the gospel says the wheat and the weeds grow up together.
This post is part of my bible in a year series.
Passage and Comments
Names upon names are listed in the genealogy. Many we have never heard of. However they are still part of the grand narrative of scripture.
29 Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon, and the name of his wife was Maacah. 30 His firstborn son: Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, 31 Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, 32 and Mikloth (he fathered Shimeah). Now these also lived opposite their kinsmen in Jerusalem, with their kinsmen. (1 Chr 8.29-32)
The father son relationships are mentioned and so are the locations where they lived. Gibeon and Jerusalem. What story to tell each of these have we don’t know.
33 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish of Saul, Saul of Jonathan, Malchi-shua, Abinadab and Eshbaal; 34 and the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal was the father of Micah. (1 Chr 8.33-34)
People we do know about are the kings Saul and David. Saul and his son Jonathan are mentioned.
Not all the people in the genealogies lived faithful lives. Saul rejected the LORD’s command and turned away, preferring the praise of men. He also tries several times to kill David the next in line.
Jonathan was different. He trusted in the LORD. Through him the LORD won several battles against great numbers. Despite his relation to Saul he made a covenant with David, the LORD’s next chosen king and warned him advance of Saul’s intentions.
The genealogy lists those with and without faith alongside each other.
35 The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz. 36 Ahaz fathered Jehoaddah, and Jehoaddah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri fathered Moza. 37 Moza fathered Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 38 Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. 39 The sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third. 40 The sons of Ulam were men who were mighty warriors, bowmen, having many sons and grandsons, 150. All these were Benjaminites. (1 Chr 8.35-40)
The genealogy continues on. More names and brief descriptions of people’s lives. Perhaps the unfaithful and faithful mixed together.
Story of Israel
As we read through the genealogies (or perhaps skim) we are occasionally exposed to the wider narrative. The good and the bad are listed in one great list of names. On people Israel. The two cannot be easily separated.
Story of Jesus
In the gospel Jesus warns his disciples the world is mixed up of good and the bad.
24 He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field, 25 but while his men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26 So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared also.
27 And the servants of the master of the house came and said to him, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have weeds?’
28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’
So the servants said to him, ‘Then do you want us to go and gather them?’
29 But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Gather the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.’ ” (Mt 13.24-30)
Saul caused a lot of grief for Samuel, his son Jonathan and David. Yet he was still included in God’s plans, the big story of Israel and God’s people had to do as best they could when he was around.
His inclusion in the genealogy reminds us God is in control. And people like him may dominate our lives for a time. But in the end God’s purposes go on.
Copyright © Joshua Washington and thescripturesays, 2016. All Rights Reserved.
