Nahor
Nahor is the son of Serug and the grandfather of Abraham. His name is also found in Genesis 11:22-25. Nahor's life and family are significant in the biblical narrative as they represent the immediate ancestry of Abraham, the father of the Israelite nation. The name Nahor is associated with a city in Mesopotamia, which is mentioned in Genesis 24:10 as the city of Nahor, indicating the family's roots in that region. This connection underscores the movement of Abraham's family from Mesopotamia to Canaan, a journey that is central to the unfolding of God's covenant promises. Nahor's descendants, including his son Terah, play a crucial role in the transition from the pre-Abrahamic world to the establishment of the covenant people.

Terah
Terah is the father of Abraham, Nahor, and Haran, and his name appears in Genesis 11:24-32. Terah's life marks a pivotal moment in biblical history, as he is the patriarch who begins the family's migration from Ur of the Chaldeans to Haran, and eventually towards Canaan. This move sets the stage for God's call to Abraham and the establishment of the covenant. Terah's journey reflects the broader theme of divine guidance and providence, as God orchestrates the movement of people and nations to fulfill His purposes. Terah's role as the father of Abraham is crucial, as it links the genealogical record to the promises made to Abraham, which include the blessing of all nations through his seed, ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

1 Chronicles 1:26 simply names “Serug, Nahor, Terah,” but every name in God’s Word carries weight. By recording Serug, Scripture affirms the unbroken, literal lineage from Shem to Abraham.

• Genesis 11:20-23 notes that “Serug lived thirty years and became the father of Nahor.” The repetition in both Genesis and Chronicles underscores historical accuracy.

• Luke 3:34-35 lists Serug in Jesus’ genealogy, confirming that God was preserving a real family line leading to the Messiah.

• Though Scripture shares little else about Serug, his place in the list assures us that God was faithfully passing the covenant promise (Genesis 3:15; Genesis 12:1-3 in seed form) through every generation, even in eras marked by increasing idolatry (Joshua 24:2).

Nahor, son of Serug and father of Terah, sits midway between Noah’s sons and Abraham.

• Genesis 11:22-25 repeats Nahor’s name, grounding Chronicles’ record in earlier revelation.

• Joshua 24:2 remarks that Nahor’s household “served other gods,” highlighting that God’s promise endured despite widespread compromise.

• In Luke 3:34, Nahor again appears in Christ’s genealogy, testifying that even flawed ancestors are woven into God’s redemptive plan.

• By listing Nahor, 1 Chronicles 1:26 reminds readers that salvation history moves forward not because people are perfect but because God’s purposes never fail (Isaiah 46:9-10).

Terah is the pivotal link directly before Abram (later Abraham).

• Genesis 11:24-32 chronicles Terah’s move toward Canaan, though he stops in Haran; this partial obedience sets the stage for God’s call to Abram (Genesis 12:1-3).

• Acts 7:2-4 references Terah when Stephen recounts Israel’s story, underscoring that the narrative is factual, not myth.

• By including Terah, Chronicles affirms the literal descent of Israel’s patriarchs, validating every covenant promise that follows—land, nation, and blessing (Deuteronomy 1:8; Galatians 3:16).

1 Chronicles 1:26, though brief—“Serug, Nahor, Terah”—confirms God’s meticulous preservation of a real family line from Shem to Abraham and, ultimately, to Christ. Each name is a witness that Scripture’s genealogies are accurate history, displaying the steadfastness of God’s covenant purposes through ordinary, sometimes flawed people, moving inexorably toward the fulfillment of His redemptive plan.

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