1 Chronicles 2:28
The sons of Onam: Shammai and Jada. The sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur.
The sons of Onam
This phrase introduces us to the lineage of Onam, a descendant of Judah. The name "Onam" in Hebrew (אוֹנָם) can be associated with strength or vigor. In the context of genealogies, the mention of sons signifies the continuation of a family line, which was crucial in ancient Israelite society for maintaining tribal identity and inheritance rights. This lineage reflects God's faithfulness in preserving the tribes of Israel, fulfilling His promises to Abraham about his descendants.

Shammai and Jada
These are the sons of Onam. The name "Shammai" (שַׁמַּי) can mean "astonishment" or "desolation," while "Jada" (יָדָע) means "he knew" or "knowledge." The naming of individuals often carried significant meaning, reflecting either the circumstances of their birth or the hopes and prayers of their parents. In a broader theological context, these names remind us of the human experience of awe and understanding in relation to God's work in the world.

The sons of Shammai
This phrase transitions to the next generation, emphasizing the importance of family continuity. In the Hebrew culture, genealogies were not just records of ancestry but were also testimonies of God's providence and the unfolding of His divine plan through human history. Each generation had a role in the larger narrative of God's people.

Nadab and Abishur
These are the sons of Shammai. "Nadab" (נָדָב) means "noble" or "generous," and "Abishur" (אֲבִישׁוּר) means "my father is a wall" or "father of the wall," suggesting protection and strength. These names reflect attributes that were valued in the community, such as nobility, generosity, and strength. In a spiritual sense, they can inspire believers to embody these virtues in their own lives, recognizing that each person is part of God's unfolding story.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Onam
A descendant of Judah, Onam is part of the genealogical record that traces the lineage of the tribe of Judah. His inclusion highlights the importance of family heritage in Israel's history.

2. Shammai
One of Onam's sons, Shammai is part of the genealogical line that contributes to the broader account of Judah's descendants.

3. Jada
Another son of Onam, Jada is mentioned alongside his brother Shammai, indicating the continuation of the family line.

4. Nadab
A son of Shammai, Nadab's mention signifies the ongoing lineage and the importance of family records in the chronicling of Israel's history.

5. Abishur
Another son of Shammai, Abishur is part of the genealogical record, emphasizing the detailed nature of the chronicler's work in preserving Israel's heritage.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Genealogy
The genealogies in the Bible, such as in 1 Chronicles, remind us of the importance of heritage and God's faithfulness through generations. They show how God works through families and history to fulfill His promises.

God's Faithfulness Across Generations
The detailed records of family lines demonstrate God's ongoing faithfulness to His people. We can trust that God is at work in our own family histories and lives.

The Role of Individuals in God's Plan
Each person listed, no matter how briefly mentioned, played a role in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan. This encourages us to see our own lives as part of God's larger account.

The Significance of Judah's Lineage
The tribe of Judah is significant in biblical history, leading to King David and ultimately to Jesus Christ. This highlights the importance of understanding our spiritual heritage.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does understanding the genealogies in 1 Chronicles help us appreciate the continuity of God's plan throughout the Bible?

2. In what ways can we see God's faithfulness in our own family histories, and how can this encourage us in our faith journey?

3. How does the lineage of Judah, as detailed in 1 Chronicles, connect to the promises made to Abraham and David?

4. What can we learn from the fact that each individual, even those briefly mentioned, is part of God's redemptive history?

5. How does the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1, which includes the line of Judah, fulfill the promises and prophecies found in the Old Testament?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 49
The blessings of Jacob to his sons, including Judah, provide context for the significance of Judah's lineage, which is detailed in 1 Chronicles.

Ruth 4
The genealogy of David, which includes the tribe of Judah, connects to the broader account of God's covenant with David and the messianic line.

Matthew 1
The genealogy of Jesus Christ traces back to Judah, showing the fulfillment of God's promises through the lineage detailed in 1 Chronicles.
The Human FamilyW. Clarkson 1 Chronicles 2:1-55
On the Genealogical TablesR. Glover 1 Chronicles 1-6
GenealogiesJ.R. Thomson 1 Chronicles 1-9
People
Abiah, Abigail, Abihail, Abijah, Abinadab, Abishai, Abishur, Achan, Achar, Achsa, Achsah, Ahban, Ahijah, Ahlai, Amasa, Amminadab, Appaim, Aram, Ardon, Asahel, Asher, Ashur, Atarah, Attai, Azariah, Azubah, Bathshua, Benjamin, Bezaleel, Boaz, Bunah, Calcol, Caleb, Carmi, Chelubai, Dan, Dara, Darda, David, Eker, Elasah, Eleasah, Eliab, Elishama, Ephah, Ephlal, Ephratah, Ephrath, Er, Eshtaolites, Eshtaulites, Ethan, Gad, Gazez, Gesham, Geshem, Hamul, Haran, Hareph, Haroeh, Hazi-hammana-hethites, Helez, Heman, Hemath, Hezron, Hur, Ishi, Issachar, Ithrites, Jabez, Jada, Jahdai, Jair, Jamin, Jarha, Jehu, Jekamiah, Jerahmeel, Jerioth, Jesher, Jesse, Jether, Jithrites, Joab, Jonathan, Joseph, Jotham, Kenites, Korah, Levi, Maacah, Maachah, Maaz, Machir, Manahathites, Manahethites, Maon, Menahethites, Mesha, Mishraites, Molid, Moza, Nadab, Nahshon, Naphtali, Nathan, Nethaneel, Netophathites, Obed, Onam, Onan, Oren, Ozem, Pelet, Peleth, Perez, Pharez, Puhites, Puthites, Raddai, Raham, Rechab, Regem, Rekem, Reuben, Salma, Salmon, Segub, Seled, Shaaph, Shallum, Shammai, Sheber, Shelah, Shema, Sheshan, Sheva, Shimea, Shimeathites, Shimma, Shobab, Shobal, Shua, Shumathites, Simeon, Sisamai, Sucathites, Suchathites, Tamar, Tappuah, Tirathites, Tireathites, Tirhanah, Uri, Zabad, Zareathites, Zaza, Zebulun, Zerah, Zereathites, Zeruiah, Zimri, Zorathites, Zoreathites, Zorites, Zur
Places
Aram, Edom, Geshur, Gilead, Hammath, Havvoth-jair, Jabez, Kenath
Topics
Abishur, Abi'shur, Jada, Nadab, Onam, Shammai, Sham'mai, Sons
Dictionary of Bible Themes
1 Chronicles 2:3

     5688   firstborn

Library
Canaan
Canaan was the inheritance which the Israelites won for themselves by the sword. Their ancestors had already settled in it in patriarchal days. Abraham "the Hebrew" from Babylonia had bought in it a burying-place near Hebron; Jacob had purchased a field near Shechem, where he could water his flocks from his own spring. It was the "Promised Land" to which the serfs of the Pharaoh in Goshen looked forward when they should again become free men and find a new home for themselves. Canaan had ever been
Archibald Sayce—Early Israel and the Surrounding Nations

The Quotation in Matt. Ii. 6.
Several interpreters, Paulus especially, have asserted that the interpretation of Micah which is here given, was that of the Sanhedrim only, and not of the Evangelist, who merely recorded what happened and was said. But this assertion is at once refuted when we consider the object which Matthew has in view in his entire representation of the early life of Jesus. His object in recording the early life of Jesus is not like that of Luke, viz., to communicate historical information to his readers.
Ernst Wilhelm Hengstenberg—Christology of the Old Testament

Chronicles
The comparative indifference with which Chronicles is regarded in modern times by all but professional scholars seems to have been shared by the ancient Jewish church. Though written by the same hand as wrote Ezra-Nehemiah, and forming, together with these books, a continuous history of Judah, it is placed after them in the Hebrew Bible, of which it forms the concluding book; and this no doubt points to the fact that it attained canonical distinction later than they. Nor is this unnatural. The book
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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