A SIMPLIFIED CHART OF THE GENEALOGIES
INTRODUCTION
These accounts are given again to re-establish the nation. They have been in captivity for 70 years, they are returning and it is necessary to know who, what, when, and where. While each name may not be “important” in our minds, it is again vital to us that we understand that to the Almighty God, the Creator of the universe, and the Savior of mankind, they are important for He had them recorded via inspiration. This alone and for no other reason makes them more important than any other piece of earthly information we may have ever come by. If we think remembering our spouse’s name, parent’s name, grandparent’s name, or some other progenitor’s or even a national leader’s name is important – seeing, reading, knowing (maybe not by memorization, but to ignore these and say they are important) is of greater consequence and value multiplied times over. It is all because of Who had the names recorded.
JUDAH
JUDAH
Why is special attention given to Judah’s family? It is the royal tribe, the location of the Seed line of the Messiah, the location of the blessing that each of us enjoy today. Without knowledge of this line we would not have salvation. The Messiah Himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no man cometh to the Father but by me” (John 14:6). This is then information about the Messiah’s family, it is what makes Him truly human – therefore a fitting and understanding priest, and a fitting and worthy sacrifice for me.
Who is Jabez? It is worthy to note the attitude specifically recorded about this man. His name is mentioned in verses 9-10 of chapter 4. “The experience of sorrow was associated with his birth. He did not want to lead a sorrowful life so he walked with God and he was kept from evil. Buried here in an ancient family record is the affirmation that any person who will trust God can master circumstances which otherwise would defeat him.”[1]
We find listed Caleb that great spy that went in with Joshua and stood firm for God in the face of ten unfaithful that lead astray and entire generation – 603,448 fighting men died while he and Joshua alone survived. He then takes that special inheritance and fights the giants in his old age. Here is a great example listed in this genealogy for us – we must never give up the work of God.
His nephew Othniel is listed also. He is one that will assist his uncle in taking the land of the giants and one of the judges of Israel (Jud. 3:9-10).
With the reference to Shelah and his sons in verses 21-23 we find some of the trades or occupations of Judah’s descendants – they were highly skilled craftsmen in the manufacture of linen and pottery.
SIMEON
A question as we come to Simeon--We often here of the ten lost tribes of Israel? Who are they? Which ten tribes are lost? Judah is often said to refer to Judah and Benjamin? So is Simeon, who’s inheritance is among the tribe of Judah then one of the lost tribes? What of the Levites, are they a lost tribe? Rather, think now as we come to the first tribe after Judah recorded back to the simplified genealogy – all of the tribes came home. There are no ten lost tribes of Israel. It was (and is) a figure of speech used to describe the immoral and rebellious northern kingdom during the time of the divided kingdom. Since the northern kingdom was carried away and declared by God to be put away (Jer. 3:6ff). A put away women could not be taken back. Therefore many conclude those tribes lost. Look though at God’s description of the case in Jeremiah 3:18 – “In those days the house of Judah shall walk with the house of Israel, and they shall come together out of the land of the north to the land that I have given for an inheritance unto your fathers.” Here is that great promise renewed. They will all come home – why? To bring the Messiah into the world. The are the example of a people that have a mission and responsibility from God, are we today any different? Note likewise how God described this again in Ezekiel 37:15ff. When we hear people say that Israel must be returned to their land to fulfill these prophecies, we must turn back to the Bible and understand, those prophecies were made prior to the captivity and have already been fulfilled. The entirety of the Bible as it pertains to our salvation—the saving of you and me—is the bringing of the Messiah into the world.
The descendants of Simeon are reviewed in verses 24-43. Since he was not in the direct line of descent leading to Christ, this record is included simply to remind the reader that Jacob had other sons beside Judah. Jacob practically disinherited Simeon at the time of the pronouncement of the patriarchal blessing (Genesis 49:5-7). Simeon had a rather numerous family; however, by God’s own design, this tribe was never to be a great, one in Israel. The Simeonites took their possession within the limits of the territory of Judah. Some of their chief villages were Beersheba, Hormah, and Ziklag. All of these places are important in Hebrew history. When David came on the scene he found the Simeonites living in the territory which had been theirs since Joshua’s day… The Simeonite people for the most part were shepherds and they lived in good pasture lands [“the land was wide”]. The reference to “Ham” in v. 40 simply states that some of these people who settled mainly in Canaan and Egypt at one time lived in the southern tract of Judah.[2]
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