1–2 These verses list the twelve sons of Israel (Genesis 35:23–26).
Judah (2:3–55)
3–9 Departing from his custom in the first chapter, here the writer focuses first on the chosen line of Judah,8 and in particular, on Judah’s son Perez (verse 4), Perez’s son Hezron (verse 5), and Hezron’s three sons, Jerahmeel, Ram and Caleb9(verse 9). Perez, Hezron and Ram were in God’s chosen line leading to David, and eventually to Christ (Ruth 4:18–19; Matthew 1:3).
10–17 Verses 10–12 list the descendants of Ram in a direct line to Jesse, the father of David (Ruth 4:19–22). Then verses 13–17 list the sons of Jesse.
18–24 Verses 18–20 list descendants of Caleb, and verses 21–24 list further descendants of Caleb’s father Hezron.
25–41 These verses list the descendants of Jerahmeel, son of Hezron.
42–55 These verses list the various clans descended from Caleb.
1Ch 2:3. The sons of Judah- Judah is here placed first, for nearly the same reasons as those assigned in the note on the first verse of the former chapter. The Saviour of the world, the seed of the woman, was ordained to descend from him.
1Ch 2:7. And the sons of Carmi; Achar- The sons of Zimri; Carmi. The sons of Carmi, Achar, &c. Houbigant. See Jos 7:1.
1Ch 2:15. Ozem the sixth, David the seventh- Ozem the sixth, Elihu the seventh, David the eighth. Houbigant. Comp. 1Sa 16:11; 1Sa 17:12 from which it will appear that Jesse had eight sons, and that David was the youngest of them. Houbigant follows the Syriac and Arabic.
REFLECTIONS.-We have here the illustrious family of Jacob; and of them, Judah, as most distinguished, has the pre-eminence in his genealogy. Of him we have the largest account, not only because he was of the royal tribe, but for the Messiah's sake, who sprung from him. The names of many of his descendants, Er, Onan, Achan, and Tamar, his incestuous daughter-in-law, are marked with infamy in Scripture: yet to these was the friend of sinners allied, and from her descended. Let not the greatest criminals despair!
The family of Jesse is particularly taken notice of, for David's sake, of whom, as concerning the flesh, Christ came. He is called the seventh son of Jesse; though in 1Sa 16:10. Jesse had eight, and he was the youngest. Perhaps one of them died before he came to the crown, or one of the eight might be by another wife.
1Ch 2:18. Begat children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth- Begat children of Azubah his wife; and her sons were these, Jerioth, Jesher, &c. Houbigant.
1Ch 2:24. And after that Hezron was dead, &c.- And after that Hezron was dead, Caleb came into Ephratah; but the wife of Hezron was Abiah, who bare unto him, &c. Houbigant.
1Ch 2:50. These were the sons of Caleb, the son of Hur- These were the sons of Hur, the son of Caleb, the first born of Ephratah. Houbigant. See the 19th verse.
