Nuggets in A Lists

By Mary Vee
I Chronicles 1-9

From the Genealogies in Chronicles

*Once Nehemiah cleaned up the problems in Jerusalem a meeting was called to make a list. A genealogy from Adam to the current generation. Proof had to be given of Jewish heritage. In the list recorded in I Chronicles some amazing nuggets, kinda like: did you knowisms could be found. Here are some:

Photo Courtesy Nimrod the mighty hunter

Nimrod grew to be a mighty warrior.

Eber had two sons. One was named Peleg because in his time the earth was divided. (Possibly this is when the continents drifted.)

Bela and other kings reigned in Edom before any Israelite kings reigned.

Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua. Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the Lord's sight. The Lord put him to death. Tamar, Judah's daughter-in-law, bore him Perez and Zerah. 

Achar brought trouble on Israel by violating the ban on taking devoted things.

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, "Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain." And God granted his request.

Ge Harashim was given this name because his people were craftsmen.

These records are from ancient times. Er, Laadah, Jokim, and Josh were the potters who lived at Netaim and Gederah. They stayed there and work for the king.

The men listed above by name were leaders of their clans. They had large families and went to the outskirts of Gedor to the east of the valley in search of pasture for their flocks. They found rich, good pasture, and the land was spacious, peaceful and quiet. Some Hamites had lives there formerly. The same men came to Judah in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. They attacked the Hamites in their dwellings and also the Meunites who were there and completely destroyed them. They settled in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks. Five hundred of these Simonites invaded the hill country of Seir. They killed the remaining Amalekites who had escaped and moved into the land.

Jehozadak was deported when the Lord sent Judah and Jerusalem into exile.

The Levites were assigned to most duties in the tabernacle, the house of God. But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and the altar of incense and all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel as Moses the servant of God had commanded.

Ezer and Elead were killed by the native-born men of Gath when they went down to seize their livestock. Their father Ephraim mourned for them many days, and his relatives came to comfort him.

All the named descendants of Asher were heads of families, choice men, brave warriors and outstanding leaders.

All Israel was listed in the genealogies recorded in the book of the kings of Israel. 

As for Judah and Jerusalem, these people were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness to God. The first to resettle back on their own property in their own towns were some Israelites, priests, Levites and temple servants. The list of their family names follows.

The gatekeepers were responsible for guarding the thresholds of the Tent just as their fathers had been responsible for guarding the entrance to the dwelling of the Lord. The gatekeepers had been assigned to their positions of trust by David and Samuel. Their descendants were in charge of guarding the gates of the house of the Lord and guarded the four sides: east, west, north, and south. Their brothers in their villages had to come from time tot time and share the duties for a seven-day period.

But the four principal gatekeepers, who were Levites, were entrusted with the responsibility for the rooms and treasuries in the house of God. They would spend the night stationed around the house of God. They had charge of the key for opening it each morning.

A Levite named Mattihiah, the firstborn son of Shallum was entrusted with the responsibility for baking the offering bread.

Those who were musicians, heads of Levite families, stayed in the rooms of the temple and were exempt from other duties because they were responsible for the work day and night.

The more we read the Bible and become interested in connections, the more important the list given in I Chronicles becomes.

Come back next time, because interesting events happen in Jerusalem in days to come.
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sources: New International Version, New King James Version