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roots and branches

1 Chronicles 1:1-54

1 Chronicles 1:1 Adam, Seth, Enosh,
1 Chronicles 1:2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared,
1 Chronicles 1:3 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech,
1 Chronicles 1:4 Noah, Noah’s sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
1 Chronicles 1:5 Japheth’s sons: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras.
1 Chronicles 1:6 Gomer’s sons: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah.
1 Chronicles 1:7 Javan’s sons are Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.
1 Chronicles 1:8 Ham’s sons are Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
1 Chronicles 1:9 Cush’s sons: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, and Sabteca. Raama’s sons: Sheba and Dedan.
1 Chronicles 1:10 Cush fathered Nimrod, who was the first to become a great warrior on the land.
1 Chronicles 1:11 Mizraim fathered the people of Lud, Anam, Lehab, Naphtuh,
1 Chronicles 1:12 Pathrus, Casluh (the Philistines came from them), and Caphtor.
1 Chronicles 1:13 Canaan fathered Sidon as his firstborn and Heth,
1 Chronicles 1:14 as well as the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites,
1 Chronicles 1:15 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,
1 Chronicles 1:16 Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites.
1 Chronicles 1:17 Shem’s sons: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech.
1 Chronicles 1:18 Arpachshad fathered Shelah, and Shelah fathered Eber.
1 Chronicles 1:19 Two sons were born to Eber. One of them was named Peleg because the land was divided during his lifetime, and his brother’s name was Joktan.
1 Chronicles 1:20 Joktan fathered Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah,
1 Chronicles 1:21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah,
1 Chronicles 1:22 Ebal, Abimael, Sheba,
1 Chronicles 1:23 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All of these were Joktan’s sons.
1 Chronicles 1:24 Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah,
1 Chronicles 1:25 Eber, Peleg, Reu,
1 Chronicles 1:26 Serug, Nahor, Terah,
1 Chronicles 1:27 and Abram (that is, Abraham).
1 Chronicles 1:28 Abraham’s sons: Isaac and Ishmael.
1 Chronicles 1:29 These are their family records: Nebaioth, Ishmael’s firstborn, Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam,
1 Chronicles 1:30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema,
1 Chronicles 1:31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were Ishmael’s sons.
1 Chronicles 1:32 The sons born to Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan’s sons: Sheba and Dedan.
1 Chronicles 1:33 Midian’s sons: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All of these were Keturah’s descendants.
1 Chronicles 1:34 Abraham fathered Isaac. Isaac’s sons: Esau and Israel.
1 Chronicles 1:35 Esau’s sons: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah.
1 Chronicles 1:36 Eliphaz’s sons: Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, and Kenaz; and by Timna, Amalek.
1 Chronicles 1:37 Reuel’s sons: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
1 Chronicles 1:38 Seir’s sons: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan.
1 Chronicles 1:39 Lotan’s sons: Hori and Homam. Timna was Lotan’s sister.
1 Chronicles 1:40 Shobal’s sons: Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. Zibeon’s sons: Aiah and Anah.
1 Chronicles 1:41 Anah’s son: Dishon. Dishon’s sons are Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran.
1 Chronicles 1:42 Ezer’s sons are Bilhan, Zaavan, and Jaakan. Dishan’s sons: Uz and Aran.
1 Chronicles 1:43 These kings reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the Israelites: Bela, son of Beor. Bela’s town was named Dinhabah.
1 Chronicles 1:44 When Bela died, Jobab, son of Zerah from Bozrah, reigned in his place.
1 Chronicles 1:45 When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.
1 Chronicles 1:46 When Husham died, Hadad, son of Bedad, who defeated Midian in the territory of Moab, reigned in his place. Hadad’s town was named Avith.
1 Chronicles 1:47 When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah reigned in his place.
1 Chronicles 1:48 When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the Euphrates River reigned in his place.
1 Chronicles 1:49 When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan, son of Achbor, reigned in his place.
1 Chronicles 1:50 When Baal-Hanan died, Hadad reigned in his place. Hadad’s city was named Pai, and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, daughter of Matred and daughter of Me-zahab.
1 Chronicles 1:51 Then Hadad died. Edom’s chiefs: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth,
1 Chronicles 1:52 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon,
1 Chronicles 1:53 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar,
1 Chronicles 1:54 Magdiel and Iram. These were Edom’s chiefs.

roots and branches

The list of names in this chapter is impressive. Although the chapter traces some of the family tree of Israel, it mostly lists the descendants of Adam who branched off to make an impact on the world in another way. People hearing these words in biblical times would be impressed by how many geographical names they include. They would have heard of great places in the world, and this chapter will remind them that great places were founded by great people. Israelites hearing these words would also hear the names of their enemies: the descendants of Esau, Ishmael, Egypt.

I am fascinated by the PBS program “Finding Your Roots.” Each episode traces the ancestry of some celebrities, reveling secrets they did not know about their family — and thus themselves.

What kind of an impact on this world will we make? When people hear our name on a genealogy list long after we are gone, will it be with pride, disgust, or indifference? It is time to make an impact for the gospel.

LORD, guide our lives so that we make a difference for you.

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