All the Genealogies of the Bible: Visual Charts and Exegetical Commentary

By Nancy S. Dawson, Eugene H. Merrill and Andreas J. Köstenberger

Presents every genealogy in the Bible in a simple, visual format.

The Bible contains hundreds of genealogies that fulfill many different purposes, but the significance of these genealogies can be difficult to grasp. In All the Genealogies of the Bible, Nancy Dawson visual presents every genealogy in the Bible, providing an essential guide to biblical understanding of chronology, lineage, history, and culture.

Esteemed biblical scholars Eugene Merrill and Andreas Kostenberger supplement Dawson's work with brief commentary on each genealogy. Dawson works with both complete genealogies and partial lists, piecing together names in different passages to illustrate the interrelationships of various biblical characters for deeper study.

Including more than 340 genealogies, All the Genealogies of the Bible is organized in biblical order and is equipped with tools you'll need to navigate the book easily:

• A detailed table of contents
• A Complete Index of Names
• Comprehensive cross-referencing

 

A one-of-a-kind reference work, All the Genealogies of the Bible will be useful for pastors, Bible teachers, students, and anyone wanting to study the Bible more deeply from the unique vantage point of its many genealogies.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Oct 31, 2023
• ISBN: 9780310536598

Nancy S. Dawson

Nancy S. Dawson (PhD, University of Tennessee) is a freelance writer and biblical researcher. She holds a doctorate in biology and has studied at Duke Divinity School. She has taught at both Western Kentucky University and Texas A&M University.

Book preview

It is hard to exaggerate the value of Nancy Dawson’s All the Genealogies of the Bible. This weighty volume is much more than a list of genealogies and diagrams; it is a carefully researched study of history and interpretation of the hundreds of biblical persons—who they were, where they came from, when they lived, and in which Scripture passages they appear. This wonderful book will save Bible students and veteran scholars countless hours. Highly recommended.

Craig A. Evans, John Bisagno Distinguished Professor of Christian Origins, Houston Christian University

How I wish I’d had this resource in Sunday school, throughout my biblical survey courses in seminary, and during my PhD! Teachers, students, and Bible lovers everywhere will find this book invaluable. Nancy Dawson is to be congratulated on this substantial achievement.

Jill Firth, lecturer in Hebrew and Old Testament, Ridley College Melbourne Australia

What an amazing reference tool this is! I am excited to see such a careful examination of all the genealogies in the Hebrew Old Testament and in the Greek New Testament. It represents a splendid achievement and will provide a useful guide for research in the biblical understanding of chronology, lineage, history, and culture.

Richard S. Hess, distinguished professor of Old Testament and Semitic languages, Denver Seminary

This book is a treasure chest packed deep with a delightful miscellany of biblical names and notes. Each page promises insights into the intergenerational, intermillennial networks that populated the world of the text. Accessible to the common reader, this is also a handbook for academics. It can be both a leisurely read and a reliable go-to when in a hurry.

Havilah Dharamraj, faculty in Old Testament, South Asia Institute of Advanced Christian Studies, Bangalore, India

Researched and presented with fastidiousness born of faith, All the Genealogies of the Bible offers an unparalleled resource to go deeper in biblical study. Seemingly no familial connection is left unaddressed, and the results appear in both charts and explanatory commentary. Dawson has dedicated herself to this hard work so that other scholars can benefit from her gift as they join her in taking the project of exegesis into solid and insightful territory.

Amy Peeler, Kenneth T. Wessner Chair of Biblical Studies, Wheaton College

Readers today tend to skim the plentiful genealogies in Scripture or ignore them entirely. This book, a culmination of Dawson’s long years of extraordinary research into these records, offers a treasure trove of information that should kindle the reader’s appreciation for their historical and theological significance. They should not be ignored or discounted since they show the importance of family to God. The surprising connections also reveal the remarkable diversity yet continuity of God’s people and unveil how God’s promises have been kept and God’s purposes achieved through flawed individuals in history.

David E. Garland, professor of Christian Scriptures, Truett Seminary, Baylor University

A remarkable and exhaustive achievement treating an often-overlooked genre within the Scriptures. Dawson deserves rich commendation for unraveling one of the most complicated questions we have in biblical studies.

Gary M. Burge, emeritus professor of New Testament, Wheaton College; adjunct professor of New Testament, Calvin Seminary

This is the first of its kind: a book of genealogies that is both easy to use and comprehensive in its details and explanations. The theological significance accompanying each genealogy often gives an unexpected insight, and the diagrams bring clarity to the Bible passages. The charts and expositions remind us that these family trees consist of real people getting on with God’s work and hoping to be remembered. The notes in smaller print shouldn’t be ignored. They address many of the underlying genealogical complexities that have put off readers and scholars alike and offer plausible solutions. This volume will be the first one off the shelf when I’m exploring Bible genealogies, because all the information is there, and it is presented clearly.

Rev. Dr. David Instone-Brewer, honorary research fellow, Tyndale House, Cambridge

Biblical genealogies are more than simply lists of ancestors or descendants. They often indicate the historical setting of a narrative, connect one narrative to another, and identify a person by connection to his ancestors. Moreover, when they lead to Jesus, they emphasize God’s enduring commitment to his promise to redeem humankind from sin and death. Nancy S. Dawson’s comprehensive work on genealogies goes beyond simple genealogical lists and charts. Each genealogy is thoroughly annotated with notes that connect the reader to the scriptural text, discuss textual anomalies and difficulties, and aid in understanding the import of the persons and event to which they are connected. For any person interested in the details of the Bible’s genealogies, this work will prove invaluable.

Andrew E. Steinmann, distinguished professor emeritus of theology and Hebrew, Concordia University, Chicago

Genealogical context is often ignored by students of the Bible and yet it is key to identity in the ancient world as well as the message of Scripture. This volume provides a treasure trove of data enabling readers of Scripture to now engage with the many lists found throughout the Bible to discover their riches. It also will enable interpreters to locate the countless figures in the Bible within the sociological framework of the Bible’s communities. This is the new starting point for those interested in biblical genealogy and lists.

Mark J. Boda, professor of Old Testament, McMaster Divinity College, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Genealogies. We’ve all skipped them. This volume tells us why we shouldn’t and equips us not to do so again in the future. Readers of the Bible are indebted to Dr. Dawson for providing us with an exhaustive guide to what are probably the least accessible passages in Scripture—including the regulations for distinguishing between clean and unclean in Leviticus—and meticulously unpacking the information each contains and the significance of the family connections that the authors of Scripture thought so important as to include.

David A. deSilva, Trustees’ Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Greek, Ashland Theological Seminary

For many, reading the genealogies of Scripture is like having devotions in a telephone book. Scholars generally commend research projects that begin with exhaustive collection of the data from the primary sources. In that respect Dawson has magnificently achieved the goal she set out to accomplish. . . . Her encyclopedic assembly of the genealogical data found in the Scriptures has yielded a trove of new and creative insights and intriguing solutions to many genealogical riddles, including the relationship between the genealogies of Jesus found in Matthew’s and Luke’s gospels. Given the detail with which the author has assembled the data, this volume should stimulate many biblical students’ curiosity about the nature and function of genealogies in the Scriptures. However, this work should also spawn a new series of scholarly projects that build on Dawson’s work and unlock the genealogical riddles that remain.

Daniel I. Block, PhD, Gunther H. Knoedler Professor Emeritus of Old Testament, Wheaton College

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ZONDERVAN ACADEMIC

All the Genealogies of the Bible

Copyright © 2023 by Nancy S. Dawson Publications, LLC

Published in Grand Rapids, Michigan, by Zondervan. Zondervan is a registered trademark of The Zondervan Corporation, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc.

Requests for information should be addressed to [e-mail].

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ePub Edition © May 2024: ISBN 978-0-3105-3659-8

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Dawson, Nancy S., author. | Merrill, Eugene H., author. | Köstenberger, Andreas J., 1957– author.

Title: All the genealogies of the Bible : visual charts and exegetical commentary / Nancy S. Dawson, Eugene H. Merrill, Andreas J. Köstenberger.

Description: Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 2023. | Includes bibliographical references and index.

Identifiers: LCCN 2023014117 (print) | LCCN 2023014118 (ebook) | ISBN 9780310536222 (hardcover) | ISBN 9780310536598 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Bible—Handbooks, manuals, etc. | Genealogy in the Bible. | BISAC: RELIGION / Biblical Studies / History & Culture | RELIGION / Biblical Studies / History & Culture

Classification: LCC BS569 .D39 2023 (print) | LCC BS569 (ebook) | DDC 220.9—dc23/eng/20230512

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2023014117

LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2023014118

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.Zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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Please note that footnotes in this ebook may contain hyperlinks to external websites as part of bibliographic citations. These hyperlinks have not been activated by the publisher, who cannot verify the accuracy of these links beyond the date of publication.

To my husband, Dr. William D. Dawson,

for his perennial love and support

CONTENTS

How to Use This eBook

Preface

Abbreviations

Primary Dictionaries

Scripture Quotations and Bibles

Bibliography

Other Works on the Subject of Biblical Genealogies Consulted in This Work

Introduction

Old Testament Genealogies

Genesis 2: Adam and Eve

Genesis 4: Cain and Lamech

Genesis 4: Seth

Genesis 10: Noah’s Descendants: The Table of Seventy Nations

Genesis 11: Shem

Genesis 11: Terah and Nahor

Genesis 11: Abraham

Genesis 11: Lot and His Descendants, the Moabites and Ammonites

Genesis 16: Ishmael and His Descendants, the Ishmaelites

Genesis 25: Abraham’s Descendants through Keturah

Genesis 35: The Twelve Sons of Jacob, the Eponymous Originators of the Twelve Tribes of Israel

Genesis 36: Esau, the Ancestor of the Edomites

Genesis 36: Esau’s Wives

Genesis 36: Amalek, the Ancestor of the Amalekites

Genesis 36: The Chiefs of Edom

Genesis 37: Joseph and His Sons Manasseh and Ephraim

Genesis 46: The Extended Family of Jacob (Seventy Descendants) Who Migrated to Egypt

Exodus 2: Moses and Zipporah

Exodus 6: Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, the Leaders of Israel

Exodus 18: Moses’ Sons, Gershom and Eliezer, and Their Descendants Who Served in Solomon’s Temple

Exodus 31: Bezalel, the Chief Artisan of the Tabernacle and Its Furnishings, and His Assistant Oholiab

Numbers 1: Genealogical Record of the First Census of the Tribes of Israel

Numbers 2: Genealogical Registry and Organization of The Tribal Encampment in the Wilderness and the Number of Men in the Army

Numbers 3: Aaron, the High Priest of Israel

Numbers 3: Levi and the Levitical Clans at the Time of the First Census

Numbers 7 and 10: Genealogical Record of the Leaders of the Twelve Tribes at the Dedication of the Tabernacle and the Order of the Tribal Departure from Mount Sinai

Numbers 13: Genealogical Record of the Twelve Spies of the Promised Land

Numbers 16: Korah and the Descendants of Reuben Who Died in the Korah-Reubenite Rebellion

Numbers 25: Phinehas, the Faithful High Priest in the Aaronic Priesthood

Numbers 26: The Tribes of Israel at the Time of the Second Census

Numbers 34: Genealogical Record of the Leaders Appointed to Divide the Promised Land

Deuteronomy 1: The Giant Anakites, including Goliath and His Descendants

Joshua 1: Joshua, the Successor of Moses and Leader of the Nation of Israel

Joshua 2: Rahab, the Prostitute of Jericho

Joshua 14: The Clan of Jephunneh the Kenizzite

Judges 1: Summary List of the Leaders and Judges of Israel

Judges 3: Othniel (Kenizzite), the First Judge of Israel

Judges 3: Ehud, the Second Judge of Israel

Judges 4: Deborah, the Fourth Judge of Israel

Judges 4: Heber and Jael (Kenites) and Their Descendants Who Comingled with the Pious Jabez–Rekabite Scribal Community near Jerusalem

Judges 6–8; 10–11: Gideon (Fifth Judge) and His Son, Abimelek the False Judge, Jair (Seventh Judge), and Jephthah (Eighth Judge): Judges of Israel from the Tribe of Manasseh

Judges 10: Tola, the Sixth Judge of Israel

Judges 12: Ibzan (Ninth Judge) and Elon (Tenth Judge): Two Judges from the Tribe of Zebulun

Judges 12: Abdon, the Eleventh Judge of Israel

Judges 13: Samson, the Twelfth Judge of Israel

Ruth 1: Boaz, Elimelek, and Naomi and the Descendants of Boaz the Judahite and Ruth the Moabitess

1 Samuel 1: Eli and the Eli Priesthood

1 Samuel 1: Samuel, the Prophet–Priest–Judge of Israel

1 Samuel 7: The Family of Abinadab Who Oversaw the Ark of the Covenant

1 Samuel 9: King Saul

1 Samuel 14: The Military Leaders under Saul, David, Absalom, and Solomon

1 Samuel 15: Agag, King of the Amalekites

1 Samuel 16: Jesse and the Judahites Who Lived in Bethlehem and Nearby Cities

1 Samuel 25: Nabal and Abigail

2 Samuel 5: Bathsheba

2 Samuel 6: Obed-Edom, the Levitical Gatekeeper and Keeper of the Ark

2 Samuel 7: Various Nathan Figures in the Old Testament

2 Samuel 8 & 20: The Chief Officials in King David’s Administration

2 Samuel 16: Possible Genealogy of Shimei, the Benjamite who Cursed King David

2 Samuel 17: Barzillai the Gileadite

2 Samuel 20: Possible Genealogy of Sheba the Rebel

2 Samuel 21: Rizpah, the Concubine of King Saul

1 and 2 Kings: Summary of the Genealogical Record of the Kings of the United and Divided Kingdoms

1 Kings 4: The Chief Officials in King Solomon’s Administration

1 Kings 7: Huram, the Master Craftsman of Solomon’s Temple

1 Kings 11: King Solomon

1 Kings 11: Genealogical List of the Adversaries of King Solomon

1 Kings 11: Jeroboam I, King of Israel

1 Kings 11: Tribes of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah

1 Kings 12: Rehoboam, King of Judah

1 Kings 15: Abijah, King of Judah

1 Kings 15: Asa, King of Judah

1 Kings 15: Nadab, King of Israel

1 Kings 15: Baasha, King of Israel

1 Kings 15: Jehoshaphat, King of Judah

1 Kings 16: Jehu, the Prophet-Seer

1 Kings 16: Elah, King of Israel

1 Kings 16: Zimri, King of Israel

1 Kings 16: Omri, King of Israel

1 Kings 16: Ahab, King of Israel

1 Kings 16: Hiel of Bethel, the Rebuilder of Jericho

1 Kings 17: Elijah the Prophet

1 Kings 19: Elisha the Prophet

1 Kings 22: Micaiah the Prophet

1 Kings 22: Ahaziah, King of Israel

2 Kings 3: Joram, King of Israel

2 Kings 8: Jehoram, King of Judah

2 Kings 8: Ahaziah, King of Judah

2 Kings 9: Jehu, King of Israel

2 Kings 11: Queen Athaliah, the Illegitimate Ruler of Judah

2 Kings 11: Jehosheba, the Wife of Jehoiada the Priest

2 Kings 11: Joash, King of Judah

2 Kings 12: Amaziah, King of Judah

2 Kings 13: Jehoahaz, King of Israel

2 Kings 13: Jehoash, King of Israel

2 Kings 14: Jeroboam II, King of Israel

2 Kings 15: Azariah (Uzziah), King of Judah

2 Kings 15: Jotham, King of Judah

2 Kings 15: Zechariah, King of Israel

2 Kings 15: Shallum, King of Israel

2 Kings 15: Menahem, King of Israel

2 Kings 15: Pekahiah, King of Israel

2 Kings 15: Pekah, King of Israel

2 Kings 15: Hoshea, King of Israel

2 Kings 15: Ahaz, King of Judah

2 Kings 16: Hezekiah, King of Judah

2 Kings 18: Eliakim, the Palace Administrator Who Replaced Shebna the Scribal Secretary During the Reign of King Hezekiah of Judah

2 Kings 20: Manasseh, King of Judah

2 Kings 21: Amon, King of Judah

2 Kings 21: Josiah, King of Judah

2 Kings 22: Shaphan, Scribal Secretary under King Josiah and King Jehoiakim of Judah

2 Kings 22: Huldah the Prophet

2 Kings 22: The Royal Advisors Sent by King Josiah to Huldah the Prophet

2 Kings 23: Jehoahaz (Shallum), King of Judah

2 Kings 23: Eliakim (Jehoiakim), King of Judah

2 Kings 24: Jehoiachin (Jeconiah), King of Judah

2 Kings 24: Zedekiah (Mattaniah), King of Judah

2 Kings 25: Genealogical Record of Advisors to King Zedekiah and Leaders of Judah Who Were Executed by the Babylonians at Riblah

2 Kings 25: Gedaliah, Governor over the Remnant People of Judah During the Early Days of the Exile

1 Chronicles 1: Adam’s Descendants: Nations Descended from Noah’s Sons and the Line of Abraham and His Descendants

1 Chronicles 1: Abraham’s Descendants through Hagar (Hagrites) and Ishmael (Ishmaelites)

1 Chronicles 1: Abraham’s Descendants through Keturah

1 Chronicles 1: Abraham’s Descendants through Esau

1 Chronicles 1: Seir the Horite

1 Chronicles 1: Genealogical Record of the Succession of Edomite Kings

1 Chronicles 2: Jacob (Israel) and His Twelve Sons

1 Chronicles 2: Judah Showing the Line of the Messiah

1 Chronicles 2: King David

1 Chronicles 2: Hezron

1 Chronicles 2: Jerahmeel and His Descendant, Elishama, Who Appears to Be a Compiler of Historical and Genealogical Records in 1 & 2 Chronicles

1 Chronicles 2: Caleb and Kenaz, the Sons of Jephunneh the Kenizzite

1 Chronicles 3: David’s Children Born in Hebron and Jerusalem

1 Chronicles 3: King Solomon and His Descendants Until the Time of the Exile

1 Chronicles 3: Zerubbabel and Shealtiel and the Double Line of the Messiah through King David’s Sons, Nathan and Solomon

1 Chronicles 4: Judah (All Clans, Including Lineages of Kings, Bethlehemites, Judges, Founders of Cities, Priests, Wise Men, and Scribes)

1 Chronicles 4: Hur and Salma, the Co-Founders of Bethlehem

1 Chronicles 4: Simeon

1 Chronicles 5: Reuben

1 Chronicles 5: Gad

1 Chronicles 5: Manasseh: The Half-Tribe of East Manasseh

1 Chronicles 6: Levi: High Priests, Priests, Levites, and Musicians in Solomon’s Temple

1 Chronicles 7: Issachar

1 Chronicles 7: Benjamin (Benjamites Who Were Fighting Men)

1 Chronicles 7: Naphtali

1 Chronicles 7: Manasseh (The Half-Tribe of West Manasseh)

1 Chronicles 7: Ephraim

1 Chronicles 7: Asher

1 Chronicles 8: Benjamin and His Descendants Who Settled in Geba and Manahath (Post-Exile)

1 Chronicles 8: The Benjamites Who Settled in and around Jerusalem and in Moab (Post-Exile)

1 Chronicles 8 and 9: The Descendants of King Saul Living in Gibeon and Jerusalem (Post-Exile)

1 Chronicles 9: Genealogical Registry of Provincial Leaders Who Settled in Jerusalem (Post-Exile)

1 Chronicles 9: The Leaders from the Tribes of Judah and Benjamin Who Dwelled in Jerusalem (Post-Exile)

1 Chronicles 9: The Kohathite Attending Priests in the Second Temple (Post-Exile)

1 Chronicles 9: Seven Levitical Leaders in the Second Temple (Post-Exile)

1 Chronicles 9: Registry and the Levitical Gatekeepers and the Priestly Overseer of the Grain Offerings in the Second Temple (Post-Exile)

1 Chronicles 9: Genealogy and Responsibilities of Specific Levites in the Second Temple

1 Chronicles 11: Genealogical Registry of the Mighty Warriors in King David’s Army

1 Chronicles 12: Genealogical Registry of the Men from the Tribes of Benjamin, Gad, and Manasseh Who Joined David’s Army at Ziklag

1 Chronicles 12: Genealogical Registry of the Men in David’s Army at Hebron

1 Chronicles 15: The Priests and Levites Who Brought the Ark of the Covenant from the House of Obed-Edom to the Tent-Tabernacle in the City of David

1 Chronicles 15: Genealogical Registry of Musicians and Doorkeepers Who Led the Procession When the Ark of the Covenant Was Brought to the City of David

1 Chronicles 16: Genealogical Registry of Kohathite Priests and Levites Appointed by King David to Care for the Ark of the Covenant in the City of David

1 Chronicles 16: Genealogical Registry of the Levites Who Oversaw the Ark of the Covenant in the City of David and the Tabernacle at Gibeon

1 Chronicles 23: The Twenty-Four Levitical Leaders (Gershonites, Kohathites, and Merarites) Who Oversaw the Religious Personnel in Solomon’s Temple

1 Chronicles 24: Genealogical Registry of the Twenty-Four Divisions of Kohathite Attending Priests Who Rotated Service in Solomon’s Temple (Sixteen from the Aaron–Eleazar–Zadok Line and Eight from the Aaron–Ithamar Line)

1 Chronicles 24: Additional Levites (Kohathites and Merarites) Who Served in Solomon’s Temple

1 Chronicles 25: The Twenty-Four Musician Leaders in Solomon’s Temple

1 Chronicles 26: The Kohathite–Korahite and Merarite Gatekeepers in Solomon’s Temple

1 Chronicles 26: Probable Genealogy of Ahijah, the Priestly Overseer of the Temple Treasuries and Dedicated Things in Solomon’s Temple

1 Chronicles 26: The Levitical Leaders Who Assisted in the Oversight of the Treasuries and Dedicated Things in Solomon’s Temple and in the King’s Business Throughout Israel

1 Chronicles 27: Genealogical Registry of the Officials over the Twelve Army Divisions Who Served the King Monthly in Jerusalem

1 Chronicles 27: Genealogical Record of the Leaders of the Tribes of Israel During the Davidic Monarchy

1 Chronicles 27: Genealogical Record of the State Officials Over the King’s Property

1 Chronicles 27: Genealogical Record of the Advisors to King David

2 Chronicles 17: Genealogical Record of the Teachers of the Law During the Reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah

2 Chronicles 17: Genealogical Record of the Military Leaders During the Reign of King Jehoshaphat of Judah

2 Chronicles 18: Genealogical Record of the Prophets and Seers During the Reigns of King Ahab of Israel and King Jehoshaphat of Judah

2 Chronicles 22: Probable Genealogy for Jehoiada the Priest Who Masterminded the Overthrow of Queen Athaliah of Judah

2 Chronicles 23: Genealogical Record of the Judahite Officers Who Assisted Jehoiada the Priest in the Overthrow of Queen Athaliah

2 Chronicles 24: The Servants Who Murdered King Joash of Judah

2 Chronicles 28: Genealogical Record of the Leaders of Israel Who Advised That Prisoners of War from Judah and Jerusalem Be Returned

2 Chronicles 29: The Kohathite Priests, Levites, and Singers Who Cleansed the Temple During the Reign of King Hezekiah of Judah

Ezra 1: Sheshbazzar and Zerubbabel, the Governors over the Restored Community in Jerusalem (Post-Exile)

Ezra 2: Joshua, the High Priest in the Second Temple, and His Descendants (Post-Exile)

Ezra 2: Genealogical Record of the Captives Who Returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel and Joshua (Post-Exile)

Ezra 3: Genealogical Record of the Overseers of the Construction of the Second Temple (Post-Exile)

Ezra 7: Ezra, the Priestly Scribe and Teacher of the Law (Post-Exile)

Ezra 8: Genealogical Record of the Kohathite Priests and the Heads of Israelite Families Who Returned to Jerusalem with Ezra

Ezra 8: Genealogical Record of the Leaders and the Learned Men Commissioned by Ezra to Summon Levites in Babylon to Return to Jerusalem and Serve in the Second Temple

Ezra 8: The Additional Levitical Merarites and Temple Servants Who Were Chosen to Return to Jerusalem and Serve in the Second Temple

Ezra 8: Genealogical Record of the Kohathite Priests Set Apart by Ezra to Carry the Silver, Gold, and the Dedicated Offerings to Jerusalem

Ezra 8: Genealogical Record of the Priests and Levites in Jerusalem Who Weighed the Silver, Gold, and the Articles That Were Brought from Babylon

Ezra 10: Genealogical Record of the Leaders Who Supported and Who Opposed Ezra’s Plan for Putting Away Pagan Wives

Ezra 10: Genealogical Record of the Priests, Levites, and Israelites Who Had Taken Pagan Wives in Babylonian Captivity

Nehemiah 1: Nehemiah and the Leaders Who Were Appointed by Nehemiah over the City of Jerusalem

Nehemiah 2: The Enemies of Nehemiah Who Ruled in the Provinces Surrounding Judah

Nehemiah 6: Shemaiah, the Jewish Secret Informant for the Enemies of Nehemiah Who Opposed the Rebuilding of the Wall around Jerusalem

Nehemiah 6: Intermarriage of Jews and the Tobiads in the Post-Exile: Meshullam’s Daughter (a Jewess) and Jehohanan (a Tobiad)

Nehemiah 8: Genealogical Record of the Leaders and Priests Who Stood at the Left and Right Hand of Ezra During the Reading of the Law of Moses

Nehemiah 8: Genealogical Record of the Levites Who Helped the People Understand the Reading of the Law of Moses

Nehemiah 9: Genealogical Record of the Levitical Leaders of Worship During the Feast of Tabernacles That Was Celebrated After the Completion of the Wall around Jerusalem

Nehemiah 10: Genealogical Record of the Priests, Levites, and Leaders of the People Who Sealed the Covenant with Nehemiah, the Governor of Judah

Nehemiah 11: The Tithe of People Chosen to Repopulate Jerusalem in the Post-Exile

Nehemiah 11: The Representative Priests Chosen to Dwell in Jerusalem in the Post-Exile

Nehemiah 11: The Levitical Leaders Chosen to Dwell in Jerusalem in the Post-Exile

Nehemiah 12: Genealogical Record of the Heads of the Kohathite Priests and Levites Who Returned to Jerusalem with Zerubbabel and Joshua in the Post-Exile

Nehemiah 12: Genealogical Record of the Heads of Priests, Levites, and Gatekeepers Who Served in the Second Temple in the Days of Joiakim the High Priest, Ezra the Priestly Scribe, and Nehemiah the Governor

Nehemiah 12: Genealogical Record of the Thanksgiving Choirs Led by Ezra and Nehemiah During the Dedication of the Wall around Jerusalem and the Celebration at the Second Temple

Nehemiah 13: Genealogical Record of the Treasurers Appointed Over the Temple Storehouses

Nehemiah 13: Intermarriage of Jews and Samaritans That Compromised the Purity of the Holy Priesthood of Israel

Esther 2: Mordecai and Esther, Jews Living in Persia

Esther 3: Haman the Agagite

Job 1: The Family of Job

Job 1: Possible Ancestry of Job the Patriarch

Job 2: Job’s Friends: Zophar, Bildad, Eliphaz, and Elihu

Isaiah 1: Isaiah, Prophet of God to the Southern Kingdom of Judah (Pre-Exile)

Jeremiah 1: Jeremiah, the Prophet-Priest of God to the Southern Kingdom of Judah (Pre-Exile)

Jeremiah 20: Pashhur, an Unfaithful Kohathite Priest and the Official over Solomon’s Temple (Pre-Exile)

Jeremiah 21: Pashhur and Zephaniah Who Were Sent by King Zedekiah to Inquire of Jeremiah About the Fate of Jerusalem (Pre-Exile)

Jeremiah 26: Uriah the Prophet in the Days of King Jehoiakim of Judah (Pre-Exile)

Jeremiah 26: Ahikam, the Scribe Who Befriended Jeremiah the Prophet in the Days of King Jehoiakim of Judah

Jeremiah 28: Hananiah the False Prophet (Pre-Exile)

Jeremiah 29: Elasah the Scribe and Gemariah the Priest Who Took the Letter of Jeremiah the Prophet to the Captives in Babylon

Jeremiah 32: Baruch, the Scribe and Amanuensis of Jeremiah the Prophet

Jeremiah 35: The Rekabites (Kenite Descendants)

Jeremiah 36: Gemariah the Scribe, a Contemporary of Jeremiah the Prophet (Pre-Exile)

Jeremiah 36: The Officials and Scribes in the Palace of King Jehoiakim Who Heard the Reading of the Scroll of Jeremiah (Pre-Exile)

Jeremiah 36: Jehudi, the Court Official in the Days of Jeremiah the Prophet (Pre-Exile)

Jeremiah 36: Men Sent by King Jehoiakim (Eliakim) to Seize Baruch and Jeremiah in Jerusalem (Pre-Exile)

Jeremiah 37: Jehukal the Court Official and Zephaniah the Priest in the Days of King Zedekiah of Judah (Pre-Exile)

Jeremiah 37: Irijah, the Captain of the Guard in the Days of King Zedekiah of Judah (Pre-Exile)

Jeremiah 38: The Officials to King Zedekiah Who Cast Jeremiah into the Cistern (Pre-Exile)

Jeremiah 38: Record of Officers under King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon Who Invaded Jerusalem

Jeremiah 42: Jezaniah/Azariah and Johanan, the Army Officers Who Led a Remnant of People to Egypt (Early Exile)

Ezekiel 1: Ezekiel, the Prophet-Priest of God (Pre-Exile and Exile)

Ezekiel 8: Jaazaniah the Scribe Who Served as a Priest to Idol Worshipers in Solomon’s Temple in the Days of Ezekiel the Prophet (Pre-Exile)

Ezekiel 11: Jaazaniah and Pelatiah, the Wicked Counselors in Jerusalem (Pre-Exile)

Daniel 1: Daniel and His Comrades

Hosea 1: Hosea, the Prophet of God to the Northern Kingdom of Israel

Joel 1: Joel, the Prophet of God to the Southern Kingdom of Judah and to Jerusalem

Amos 1: Amos, the Prophet of God to the Northern Kingdom of Israel

Amos 7: Amaziah, the Priest at Bethel

Obadiah: Possible Genealogy of Obadiah, the Prophet of God Who Prophesied against the Edomites (Post-Exile)

Jonah 1: Jonah, the Prophet of God to the Ninevites of Assyria

Micah 1: Micah, the Prophet of God to the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah

Nahum 1: Nahum, the Prophet of God against the Enemy Nation of Assyria

Habakkuk 1: Habakkuk, the Prophet of God to the Southern Kingdom of Judah (Pre-Exile)

Zephaniah 1: Zephaniah, the Prophet of God to the Southern Kingdom of Judah (Pre-Exile)

Haggai 1: Haggai, the Prophet of God to the Restored Community in Jerusalem (Post-Exile)

Zechariah 1: Zechariah, the Prophet of God to the Restored Community in Jerusalem (Post-Exile)

Zechariah 6: Men Who Brought Gifts from the Israelite Captives in Babylon to the Newly Established Community in Jerusalem (Post-Exile)

Malachi 1: Malachi, the Prophet of God to the Restored Community in Jerusalem (Post-Exile)

New Testament Genealogies

Matthew 1: Jesus the Messiah: The Matthean Account

Matthew 1: Jesus and His Immediate Family

Matthew 1: Mary and Joseph (Based on Scripture and Church Tradition) and How Mary and Joseph May Have Been Related

Matthew 2: Herod the Great and the Herodian Dynasty

Matthew 4: Simon Peter and Andrew, the Apostles of Jesus

Matthew 4: James and John, the Apostles of Jesus

Matthew 9: Matthew and James, the Apostles of Jesus

Matthew 10: Genealogical Record of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus

Matthew 26: The Influential Family of Annas and Caiaphas, the High Priests

Matthew 27: Simon of Cyrene Who Carried the Cross of Jesus

Matthew 27: Specific People Mentioned at Jesus’ Crucifixion

Mark 1: Mark (John) the Evangelist and the Author of the Gospel of Mark

Luke 1: Luke, the Author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles

Luke 1: Elizabeth and Zechariah and John the Baptist

Luke 3: Jesus: The Lukan Account

John 11: Martha, Lazarus, and Mary of Bethany, the Friends of Jesus

Acts 1: Genealogical Record of the People Present in the Upper Room Prayer Meeting after Jesus’ Ascension

Acts 4: Barnabas the Cyrene, Who Was Actively Involved in the Early Church and in Paul’s Missionary Journeys

Acts 6: Record of the Seven Men Chosen to be Deacons in the Early Church

Acts 7: Paul the Apostle (Also Called Saul of Tarsus)

Acts 12: Record of the Prophets and Teachers in the (Syrian) Church at Antioch Who Commissioned Barnabas and Saul on Their First Missionary Journey

Timothy: Timothy, Coworker of Paul and Recipient of the Pauline Epistles of 1 & 2 Timothy

Titus: Titus, Companion of Paul the Apostle and Recipient of the Pauline Epistle of Titus

Supplementary Genealogies

Supplement 1: The Pharaohs of the Twelfth and Eighteenth Dynasties of Egypt

Supplement 2: The High Priests of Israel

Supplement 3: The Kings of Assyria

Supplement 4: The Kings of Babylon

Supplement 5: The Kings of Persia

Supplement 6: The Ptolemies and the Ptolemaic Dynasty

Supplement 7: The Seleucids and the Seleucid Dynasty

Supplement 8: The Maccabees and the Hasmonean Dynasty (Rulers and High Priests of Israel)

Supplement 9: Flavius Josephus, the Roman-Jewish Historian

Supplement 10: The Roman Emperors

Supplement 11: Key Events in the History of Israel (586 B.C.–A.D. 135)

Supplement 12: Rulers of Palestine in the Intertestamental Period (336 B.C.–A.D. 14)

Supplement 13: Roman Rulers of Judea and Galilee (47 B.C.–ca. A.D. 66)

Subject Index

Scripture Index

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PREFACE

In a rather serendipitous way, I met Nancy Dawson in my study several years ago, and I was immediately aware that I was engaged with a woman on a mission. She cut to the quick with a sack full of manuscripts she had composed, and when I saw they consisted of endless lists of genealogies, I was immediately transfixed because I saw, like the first scholars who saw the Dead Sea Scrolls, that she had done something that, to my knowledge, had never been done before, namely, produced a work containing every genealogy of the Bible from the longest to the shortest. Those of us engaged in biblical studies have time and again come across genealogical texts, especially in the Old Testament, that we knew to be important simply because they were in the canon, but we either struggled with them endlessly and fruitlessly to see how they worked, we gave them short shrift as a nod at least to completeness of investigation, or we ignored them completely, none of which is a good option. Having now done two commentaries on 1 and 2 Chronicles (including one for Zondervan in 1988¹), I have come to see how important this genre is to this summary and climactic conclusion to the Masoretic canon. And it is not just informative to the historical record but deeply and profoundly theological, for the working out of the saving purposes of God was through persons who lived and died and left progeny to carry on the mission. Who they were, how they were related both vertically and laterally, and what role they played—all this is an ingredient in the matrix of the Heilsgeschichtliche kind of theology found in the Old Testament.

I feel honored to have worked alongside Professor Dawson on this project for many years, driven by my increasing appreciation for the prodigious expenditure of time and effort invested in it. To my knowledge, it is sui generis, without a peer in its comprehensively studious attention to detail. Besides this are the abundant and thorough notations throughout on all matter of aspects of the various lists. These alone make up a commentary on some of the biblical books, notably 1 Chronicles 1–9. The Zondervan editorial team is to be complimented for seeing the value of a technical work like this and for carrying it to a brilliant conclusion.

Eugene H. Merrill, PhD, contributing author of the Old Testament Genealogies

Note

1. 1, 2 Chronicles, Bible Study Commentary, Lamplighter Books (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1988), 19–41.

ABBREVIATIONS

PRIMARY DICTIONARIES

Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary. Yale University as assignee, New York: Doubleday, a division of Random House, 1992, accessed through Accordance Bible Software.

Easton Bible Dictionary. M.G. Easton, Third Edition, Thomas Nelson, 1897, accessed through Accordance Bible Software. Contents: Vol. 1, A–C; Vol. 2, D–G; Vol. 3, H–J; Vol. 4, K–N; Vol. 5, O–Sh; Vol. 6, Si–Z.

Eerdmans Dictionary of the Bible. David Noel Freedman, ed. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2000, accessed through Accordance Bible Software.

Holman’s Bible Dictionary. Chad Brand, Charles Draper, Archie England, eds. Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 2003, accessed through Accordance Bible Software.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE). James Orr, John L. Nuelsen, Edgar Young Mullins, Morris O. Evans, eds. (Chicago: Howard-Severance Company, 1915), Vol. 1, A–D; Vol. 2, E–J; Vol. 3, K–P; Vol. 4 Q–Z; accessed through Accordance Bible Software.

New International Dictionary of Old Testament Theology and Exegesis. Willem A. VanGemeren, ed., Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012.

SCRIPTURE QUOTATIONS AND BIBLES

Scripture quotations were primarily taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Also consulted were the following Bible translations:

English Standard Version (ESV) Holy Bible. Wheaton: Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers, 2016.

New American Standard Bible (NASB). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1977.

The NIV Study Bible (Fully Revised Edition). General Editor: Kenneth L. Barker; Associate Editors: Craig L. Blomberg, Jeannine K. Brown, Mark L. Strauss, Michael J. Williams. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2020.

NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2016.

New King James Version (NKJV) Holy Bible. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

The bibliography is restricted to primary sources and treatments of biblical genealogies that were helpful in this work. For additional books and journal articles on specific topics, see the references cited in the book.

Brown, Francis, with S. R. Driver and Charles A. Briggs. The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (HALOT) based on the Lexicon of H. F. William Gesenius. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1952.

Brown, Francis, S. R. Driver, and Charles A. Briggs. The Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon (BDB) based on the lexicon of William Gesenius. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2015.

Curtis, Edward L., and Albert A. Madsen. A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Books of Chronicles. Edinburgh: T&T Clark, 1910.

Dorsey, David A. The Literary Structure of the Old Testament: A Commentary on Genesis–Malachi. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1999.

Edersheim, Alfred. The Temple–Its Ministry and Services. Updated ed. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1994.

Eusebius’ Ecclesiastical (Church) History. New updated ed. Translated by C. F. Cruse. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 2004.

Finegan, Jack. Handbook of Biblical Chronology. Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1998.

Koehler, Ludwig, and Walter Baumgartner. The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament (HALOT) Study Edition. Vol.1: א – ע (1-906) and Vol. 2: פ – ת Aramaic (907–2010); Translated and edited under M. E. J. Richardson. Leiden: Brill, 2001.

Jeremias, Joachim. Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus. Philadelphia: Fortress, 1969, 1975.

Johnson, Marshall D. The Purpose of the Biblical Genealogies. London: Cambridge University Press, 1969.

Josephus, Flavius. The New Complete Works of Josephus including The Life of Flavius Josephus, Jewish Antiquities, Jewish Wars, and Against Apion. Translated by William Whiston, Commentary by Paul L. Maier. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1999.

Merrill, Eugene H. Kingdom of Priests: A History of Old Testament Israel. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1996 (1st edition) and 2008 (2nd edition).

———. A Commentary on 1 & 2 Chronicles. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2015.

Rainey, Anson F., and R. Steven Notley. The Sacred Bridge–Carta’s Atlas of the Biblical World. Jerusalem: Carta, 2014.

Steinmann, Andrew E. From Abraham to Paul: A Biblical Chronology. St. Louis: Concordia, 2011.

The Cambridge Ancient History Vol. 1, Part 2 (3rd edition), 1971, edited by I. E. S. Edwards, C. J. Gadd, N.G. L. Hammond; Vol. 2, Part 1 (3rd edition), 1973, edited by I. E. S. Edwards, C. J. Gadd, N. G. L. Hammond, E. Solleberger; Vol. 3, Part 1 (2nd edition), 1982, edited by John Boardman, I. E. L. Edwards, N. G. L. Hammond, E. Solleberger; and Vol. 3, Part 2 (2nd edition), 1992, edited by John Boardman, I. E. L. Edwards, N. G. L. Hammond, E. Solleberger. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Shaw, Ian, ed. The Oxford History of Ancient Egypt. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2000.

Thiele, Edwin R. The Mysterious Numbers of the Hebrew Kings. New revised ed. Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1994, from the 1983 Zondervan edition.

VanderKam, James C. From Joshua to Caiaphas (High Priests after the Exile). Minneapolis: Fortress and, Assen, the Netherlands: Royal Van Gorcum, 2004.

Wilson, Robert R. Genealogy and History in the Biblical World. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1977.

OTHER WORKS ON THE SUBJECT OF BIBLICAL GENEALOGIES CONSULTED IN THIS WORK

Levin, Yigal. Understanding Biblical Genealogies in Currents in Research: Biblical Studies 9 (2001): 11–46.

Sparks, James T. The Chronicler’s Genealogies: Towards an Understanding of 1 Chronicles 1–9. Atlanta: Society of Biblical Literature, 2008.

Wilson, Robert R. The Old Testament Genealogies in Recent Research. JBL 94 (1975): 169–89. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3265728?origin=crossref&seq=1.

INTRODUCTION

Scripture contains extensive genealogical records that were precisely documented and preserved through countless generations. Collectively, they form a highly valued written record that was safeguarded in family archives, public registries, and royal annals. The biblical genealogies form a major literary genre of the Bible and a means to interpret biblical narratives more accurately. The genealogies are much more than a nexus of names or a list of who’s who in the Bible because they address an overarching question: Who are the people of God? To understand the genealogies is to reveal the big picture of how God worked through his covenant family to bring about the line of the Messiah and salvation for his people.

In 1975, Robert R. Wilson wrote in his article, The Old Testament Genealogies in Recent Research, that although the general public tends to regard the Old Testament genealogies as unnecessary parentheses in the biblical text, biblical scholars have always been intrigued by them. This scholarly interest is not a modern phenomenon but one that has its roots in the biblical period.¹ While scholars debate the reliability of various extrabiblical genealogies, Christian scholars are in general agreement that the biblical genealogies are authentic, historically accurate, and reliable. Operating on that premise, this work explores and delineates the lineages of individuals, families, clans, and tribes everywhere they are documented in Scripture, including the patriarchs, judges, kings, priests, Levites, and—most importantly—Jesus the Messiah. This work allows the reader to discover God’s Word anew through the unique lens of biblical genealogies and offers modern Christians a new way to appreciate their spiritual heritage.

Need and Intended Audience

Although they have been accepted as an important facet of Scripture, biblical genealogies have not been studied because they can present challenges and practical difficulties; readers are often confounded by them and struggle to see their significance. Sadly, there is a tendency to skip over them entirely. While taking coursework at the Duke Divinity School, I looked for a comprehensive book on biblical genealogies, but at the time, no such resource was available. Thus, a great need seemed to exist to simplify the genealogical data, outline complicated lineages, disentangle branches of large family trees, and portray familial relationships in a clear, concise manner. In 2000, responding to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, I began a critical read of Scripture to elucidate all the genealogies and to assemble them into a single complete collection. The well-researched biblical monograph that follows, which was developed over the course of two decades, now provides succinct, visual genealogical charts that will allow clergy, laity, theologians, and scholars to prepare insightful lectures and sermons, write accurate commentaries, and improve biblical lexicography. The charts serve as valuable information for personal study and aid in many fields of biblical inquiry, such as onomastics, historiography, and archaeology (e.g., toward understanding epigraphic inscriptions, ostraca, seals, bullae, and the like).

Methods

A critical reading of Scripture with a focus toward understanding the biblical genealogies was the key to analyzing and systematically documenting them. Genealogies were directly deduced from the biblical text. The myriad of filiations (lineages / branches / kinship groups) are condensed into genealogical charts that are arranged canonically according to the book of the Bible where the main character of the chart is first introduced (see Table of Contents). Naming conventions follow the New International Version (NIV) 2011 translation; any departures from the NIV are clearly noted. The use of extrabiblical genealogical information was confined to several New Testament charts about Jesus’ immediate and extended family (see Genealogy of Jesus section below) in which attestations about his ancestry from church tradition and the apocryphal literature were evaluated for relevance and possible validity. Genealogical information deemed spurious, legendary, or in direct opposition to the scriptural account was rejected; information that appeared to be consistent and/or at least complementary to well-understood genealogies and patterns in the biblical text were evaluated and considered for inclusion in the final charts as appropriate.

This work addresses individuals across the span of biblical history (i.e., creation, antediluvian and patriarchal eras, Israelite sojourn in Egypt, exodus and wilderness years, conquest of Canaan, time of the judges, united and divided monarchy, exile, post-exile, the intertestamental era, time of Jesus and his followers in the Gospels, Pauline missionary journeys, and the church leaders of the first century).

Each chart title introduces the main character(s) to be traced. Two chart subtitles are used to indicate, first, the general timeframe for when the person(s) lived, and second, the main scriptural references used in the genealogical compilation. Horizontal lines in the genealogies indicate the offspring of a given parent or descendant(s) of an eponymous ancestor. Single vertical lines in the genealogies indicate direct father-to-son/heir relationships, and double vertical lines indicate where two or more generations are omitted (i.e., either generations selectively omitted by the biblical author or omitted by the author of this work to conserve space when full genealogies are given elsewhere). The exegetical commentary that follows the chart was written by the author and the contributing author-editors to address the biblical and theological significance of the genealogy. Notes below the commentary discuss additional aspects, such as textual variants; personal, hypocoristic, and place names; Hebrew notations; lifespans; chronological considerations; and the like. The notes section also points the reader to other charts in the work to consult for pertinent information. Exhaustive subject and Scripture indices at the end of the book allow the reader to readily locate the files of interest and to quickly ascertain basic familial relationships (e.g., Moses, son of Amram and Jochebed and husband of Zipporah). It should be stated up front that certain enigmatic genealogies are shrouded in complexity and cannot always be resolved with certainty; thus, scholars may approach the problems differently. The genealogical filiations and accompanying dating system used in the charts should be viewed as the author’s own best attempt to make sense of the data in the broad context of scripture, but other conclusions are also possible. Some of the difficult issues of interpretation are often discussed within the notes section of the charts and the reader is directed to the fine print.

Author, Contributing Author, Contributing Editor, and Proofreader

Analysis of the biblical genealogies requires an unusual combination of skills—those of a scribe, recorder, translator, historian, chronologist, draftsperson, enigmatologist (puzzle maker), curator, and archivist. My formal education in the sciences—in the areas of cell biology, taxonomy, and botany—and post-graduate coursework in theology at the Duke University Divinity School were oddly advantageous in undertaking this kind of systematic biblical research. The ability to meticulously analyze vast amounts of data, carefully organize it in a verifiable manner, and utilize visual tools to clearly convey complex concepts was fortuitous in the compilation. For this ability I owe a debt of gratitude to my science mentors, Dr. R. Dale Thomas and Dr. Patricia Walne, who helped me learn the skill of solving complicated problems. This kind of scientific rigor was needed to push forward during this course of theological inquiry. A high regard for the inspired text turned the lengthy process into a spiritual journey of work and worship, quest and query, prayer and praise.

The book has greatly benefited from the outstanding contributions of two longtime scholars in the field of theology. Dr. Eugene H. Merrill, professor emeritus of Old Testament at Dallas Theological Seminary, brought his extensive knowledge of Scripture to bear in writing insightful commentary for the large number of Old Testament charts; ours has been a multi-year, enjoyable intellectual collaboration in which the author has been the beneficiary of his exceptional insights, zeal, and gracious spirit. The New Testament charts were overseen by the astute New Testament scholar Andreas J. Köstenberger, the founder of Biblical Foundations, www.biblicalfoundations.org, and theologian in residence at Fellowship Raleigh. Together, their scholarly expertise and insights have greatly enriched the content, and in this regard, the completed work is a shared triumph.

I would also like to thank my assistant Shelli Castor for cite-checking the numerous scriptural references and proofreading the document with an eye toward clarity, style, and grammar. Her gifts of editorial excellence and friendship have been a steadfast and invaluable asset throughout the undertaking.

My deep appreciation goes to the acquisition editors-publishers, Ryan Pazdur and Madison Trammel (now at B&H Academic), for recognizing the merit of the work and to Zondervan Academic for being a willing publication partner. The author is very grateful to the editorial team, especially Kim Tanner and Amie Vaughan, for their keen oversight and expertise.

What is realized in retrospect is that the joy of what you hope to achieve in the end carries you through the process of doing the daily work, but it is the contribution of many others who make the final product possible. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). I thank each person who has graciously come alongside in the tedious steps of transforming an idea into a published book.

Structure and Function of Biblical Genealogies

Most genealogies in this work were constructed from various places in Scripture. For example, to trace the entire lineage of a given individual, a completed genealogical chart (family tree) may show the ancestors from Genesis, the nuclear family as described in 1 or 2 Samuel, and then conclude with descendants named in 1 or 2 Chronicles. Mastery of the genealogical content is a rather methodical process—not one that can be easily or accurately gleaned from ancestry-like software programs that merely ask for the input of a name and then generate a father-and-son relationship, and so on.

General Characteristics

The genealogies presented in this book trace at least two or more generations, with the latter type predominating in the biblical text. The Bible often presents genealogies for individuals, families, clans, and tribes to provide a context for the biblical narratives (e.g., individuals such as the patriarchs, Moses, Zerubbabel, and Nehemiah; families such as the Rechabites, Kenizzites, and Kenites; clans such as Abiezrites and Hezronites; and tribes such as Levi, Benjamin, and Judah). The family, which is the central social unit, is usually elaborated upon to describe the network of interrelationships for the larger kinship group.

Biblical genealogies are almost exclusively patrilineal, whereby an individual is identified by his/her father, male ancestors, and/or male descendants. Matrilineal genealogies that do occur are rare and contain no more than simple, two-generation descriptions (i.e., 2 Chronicles 24:26). Individuals are identified within a genealogical context in a socio-cultural-geographic-historical milieu. The familial associations for the larger group are normally clearly given, although exceptions do occur (e.g., genealogy of Ehud the judge in Judges 3; Shimei in 2 Samuel 16; Nathan, the prophet to King David in 2 Samuel 7, 12; 1 Kings 1; and Daniel and his comrades in Daniel 1). Primogeniture status (establishing the rights of the firstborn son) is often noted. Occasionally, additional remarks within the biblical genealogies interject subtle comments about the marks of distinction or shame of a particular person (cf. Judges 6:15; 1 Samuel 9:21; 1 Chronicles 4:9–10) or why the inheritance of a person is diminished or forfeited (i.e., Genesis 35:22–23; 1 Chronicles 5:1–2). Typically, elaborate genealogies are given for the patriarchs, their sons/heirs, and their wives; eponymous ancestors; founders of cities; judges; kings; notable scribes; and officiants within the religious sphere (high priests, attending priests, Levites, and musicians; 1 Chronicles 6; 9; 24). The line of the Messiah is consistently authenticated—albeit more subtly in the Old Testament narratives, and then more directly in the New Testament accounts (i.e., Matthew 1 and Luke 3).

Genealogies are heterogenous, therefore understanding certain key elements reduces the likelihood of making errors in biblical interpretation. To determine who-is-who, it is important to know and understand (1) general chronology, (2) naming conventions, and (3) the lineages themselves. Having a command of these factors can distinguish whether two people with the same name, are in fact, the same person or not. To illustrate: (1) Caleb the Kenizzite is not Caleb the Hezronite, although they also were contemporaries and both were members of the tribe of Judah; (2) Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron is not Phinehas, the son of Eli, the son of Ithamar, the son of Aaron, although they were near contemporaries; likewise (3) Eleazar, the son of Aaron, who lived during the wilderness years is clearly not Eleazar the Ahohite, one of David’s mighty warriors who lived almost four hundred years later. To distinguish similarly or even identically named people, Scripture often adds terms of disambiguation, such as a person’s hometown, ethnicity, an honorary title, an epithet, or a kinship clue (e.g., King David; Shallum the chief gatekeeper; Shammoth the Harorite; Obed-Edom the Gittite; Mary Magdalene; Mary the wife of Clopas; Mary the mother of James and Joseph; and John the Baptist).

The lineages are especially critical in determining whether a person has more than one name (e.g., Tohu, the son of Zuph in 1 Samuel 1:1 is Nahath, the son of Zophai in 1 Chronicles 6:26 and Toah, the son of Zuph in 1 Chronicles 6:34; or the musician Ethan, the son of Kishi in 1 Chronicles 6:44 is the same person as Ethan, the son of Kushaiah in 1 Chronicles 15:17, and also the same person as Jeduthun in 1 Chronicles 16:38, 41–42; 25:1, 3, 6; 2 Chronicles 5:12). Variations of this type (even within the same chapter) suggest that different sources were used by the biblical author/compiler of the genealogy. Also, having an understanding of the functions of certain religious personnel can assist in distinguishing members of the high priesthood, the Kohathite attending priesthood, and their brethren the Levites. Certain office holders, especially the kings and priests of Israel, were eligible to serve only if they could prove their credentials to hold a particular hereditary office.

Other variations in genealogies that must be considered include: (1) papponymy—the ancient tradition of naming the son after the grandfather (e.g., Nahor, the son of Terah, was named after his grandfather Nahor, the son of Serug; Genesis 11:22–26); (2) literary telescoping—the deliberate omission of known generations (e.g., Matthew’s account of Jesus ancestry in Matthew 1:1–17 which conforms the genealogy into a 14-14-14 generational substructure); and (3) occurrence of hypocoristic names, the diminutive form of personal names (e.g., the names Joram/J(eh)oram are essentially the same, the former being a hypocoristic form of the latter).

In general, biblical genealogies consistently reveal (1) the offspring acquired by normal biological succession; (2) legal sons/heirs gained by adoption or levirate marriages; (3) son(s)-in-law or brother(s)-in-law gained by marriage; or (4) foreigners who join the larger entity by marriage or assimilation.

Genealogical Insights

Collectively, the genealogies show the family of God, which is composed of Jews and Gentiles who came to hold the faith of Abraham. . . . the father of us all (Romans 4:16). Examples include the Israelite patriarchs and matriarchs as well as non-Israelites who are brought into the family, such as: Caleb the Kenizzite, the spy of Canaan who married into the tribe of Judah (Joshua 14:6–15; 1 Chronicles 2); Rahab the Canaanite harlot of Jericho and Ruth the Moabite, both of whom married into the tribe of Judah (Joshua 2; Ruth 1–4, respectively); and Jael the Kenite (Judges 4). Many passages reassuringly affirm that the LORD is the God of [our] ancestors (Deuteronomy 1:11, 21; 4:1; 6:3; 12:1; 27:3; Joshua 18:3; 2 Chronicles 13:12; 14:4; 15:12; 20:6; 28:9; 29:5; Ezra 8:28; 10:11; Daniel 2:23; Acts 5:30; 22:14; 24:14) and that we are God’s sons and daughters (2 Corinthians 6:18; cf. Hosea 1:10; Romans 9:26).

Two metaphors are especially relevant for how to envision biblical genealogies as they are presented in Scripture: a house and a living tree of life.

A House Being Built Up. In the old covenant, Yahweh met Israel at the tabernacle or temple, a physical house (bayit). In the new covenant, the physical house is supplanted by a spiritual house (naos) where God comes to dwell in the hearts of believers. Several scriptural passages explain this progressive truth:

• May the LORD make the woman [Ruth] who is coming into your home like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the family of Israel (Ruth 4:11; cf. Joshua 24:15);

• The stone the builders rejected [Jesus] has become the cornerstone (Psalm 118:22; cf. Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:20; 1 Peter 2:7);

• Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst (1 Corinthians 3:16);

• We are the temple of the living God. . . . I will live with them . . . I will be their God, and they will be my people (2 Corinthians 6:16);

• Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house (Hebrews 3:6);

• Like living stones, [believers] are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:5);

• God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them (Revelation 21:3).

A Tree of Life Growing in Height and Breadth. The final inheritors of God’s promises are believers who constitute an organic, living, dynamic family of faith (Romans 11:17–24):

• In your unfailing love [LORD] you will lead the people you have redeemed. . . . You will bring them in and plant them on the mountain of your inheritance—the place, LORD, you made for your dwelling (Exodus 15:13–17); the people will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor (Isaiah 60:21).

• The psalmist proclaims, The righteous . . . grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green (Psalm 92:12–14).

• Jeremiah the prophet proclaims, You [LORD] have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit (Jeremiah 12:2); Blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD. . . . They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. . . . and never fails to bear fruit (17:7–8). A nation can either be uprooted, torn down and destroyed or built up and planted (18:7–10).

• Believing Jews and Gentiles are grafted into the root of Jesse by faith (Romans 11:17–24 cf. Isaiah 11:1, 10; Romans 15:12) and become members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 3:6).

• "He is not the God of the dead, but of