1 Chronicles 1-4
Jehovah’s Word Is Alive
Highlights From the Book of 1 Chronicles
CHAPTER 1
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1:18—Who was Shelah’s father—Cainan or Arpachshad? (Luke 3:35, 36)
Arpachshad was the father of Shelah. (Genesis 10:24; 11:12) The term “Cainan” at Luke
3:36 may well be a corruption of the term “Chaldeans.” If this is so, the original text may
have read, “the son of Chaldean Arpachshad.” Or it may be that the names Cainan and
Arpachshad refer to one and the same person. Not to be overlooked is the fact that the
expression “son of Cainan” is not found in some manuscripts.—Luke 3:36, footnote.
1:1–9:44. The genealogies of real people prove that the entire arrangement of true
worship is based, not on myth, but on fact.
CHAPTER 2
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2:15—Was David the seventh son of Jesse? No. Jesse had eight sons, and David
was the youngest. (1 Samuel 16:10, 11; 17:12) One of the sons of Jesse evidently died
without having any children. Since that son would have no bearing on genealogical
records, Ezra omitted his name.
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Why does 1 Chronicles 2:13-15 refer to David as the seventh son of Jesse,
whereas 1 Samuel 16:10, 11 indicates that he was the eighth?
The Scriptures state that Jesse “had eight sons.” (1 Samuel 17:12) One of his sons
evidently did not live long enough to get married and have children. Having no
descendants, he would have no claim in tribal inheritance nor any bearing on
genealogical records of Jesse’s lineage. [w02 9/15 p. 31]
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2:15—Was David the seventh son of Jesse? No. Jesse had eight sons, and David
was the youngest. (1 Samuel 16:10, 11; 17:12) One of the sons of Jesse evidently died
without having any children. Since that son would have no bearing on genealogical
records, Ezra omitted his name.
CHAPTER 3
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Who was the father of Shealtiel? (1 Chron. 3:16-18)
Certain texts indicate that Jeconiah (King Jehoiachin) was the fleshly father of
Shealtiel. (1 Chronicles 3:16-18; Matthew 1:12) But the Gospel writer Luke called
Shealtiel the “son of Neri.” (Luke 3:27) Neri apparently gave his daughter to Shealtiel as a
wife. Since the Hebrews commonly referred to a son-in-law as a son, especially in
genealogical listings, Luke could properly call Shealtiel the son of Neri. Similarly, Luke
referred to Joseph as the son of Heli, who was actually the father of Joseph’s wife,
Mary.—Luke 3:23.
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3:17—Why does Luke 3:27 refer to Jeconiah’s son Shealtiel as the son of Neri?
Jeconiah was the father of Shealtiel. However, Neri apparently gave his daughter to
Shealtiel as a wife. Luke referred to Neri’s son-in-law as Neri’s son just as he did in the
case of Joseph, calling him the son of Mary’s father, Heli.—Luke 3:23.
3:17-19—How were Zerubbabel, Pedaiah, and Shealtiel related? Zerubbabel was
a son of Pedaiah, who was a brother of Shealtiel. Yet, the Bible at times calls Zerubbabel
the son of Shealtiel. (Matthew 1:12; Luke 3:27) This could be because Pedaiah died and
Shealtiel raised Zerubbabel. Or perhaps since Shealtiel died without having a child,
Pedaiah performed brother-in-law marriage, and Zerubbabel was the firstborn of that
union.—Deuteronomy 25:5-10.
CHAPTER 4
POINT TMS – What three requests did Jabez make of Jehovah, and what does
this teach us about prayer? (1 Chron. 4:9, 10) [Oct. 5, w10 10/1 p. 23]
Jabez was a man of prayer. He began his prayer by pleading for God’s blessing. He
then made three requests that reflect a heart
full of faith.
First, Jabez implored God, saying:
“Enlarge my territory.” (Verse 10) This
honorable man was no land-grabber,
coveting what belonged to his fellow man.
His earnest request may have had more to
do with people than land. He may have
been asking for the peaceful enlargement of
his territory so that it could hold more
worshippers of the true God.
Second, Jabez pleaded for God’s “hand”
to be with him. God’s symbolic hand is his applied power, which he uses to help his
worshippers. (1 Chronicles 29:12) To receive the requests of his heart, Jabez looked to
the God whose hand is not short toward those who show faith in him.—Isaiah 59:1.
Third, Jabez prayed: “Preserve me from calamity, that it may not hurt me.” The
expression “that it may not hurt me” may suggest that Jabez prayed, not to escape
calamity, but to be kept from being grieved or overcome by the effects of evil.
Jabez’ prayer revealed his concern for true worship and his faith and trust in the
Hearer of prayer. How did Jehovah respond? This brief account concludes with the
words: “Accordingly God brought to pass what he had asked.”
The Hearer of prayer has not changed. He delights in the prayers of worshippers.
Those who place their faith and trust in him may have this confidence: “No matter what it
is that we ask according to his will, he hears us.”—1 John 5:14.
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4:9, 10. Jehovah answered the fervent prayer of Jabez for a peaceful enlargement of
his territory so that it might accommodate more God-fearing people. We too need to offer
heartfelt prayers for an increase as we zealously share in the disciple-making work.