How does this genealogy connect to God's covenant with Abraham? Setting the Scene in 1 Chronicles 2:44 “Shema fathered Raham, the father of Jorkeam, and Rekem fathered Shammai.” (1 Chronicles 2:44) Why a Single Verse of Names Matters • 1 Chronicles 2 is tracing Judah’s line—the royal tribe God chose for the Messiah (Genesis 49:8-10). • Judah’s ancestry flows directly from Abraham, the man to whom God promised: “In you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3) • Every name in Judah’s record shows God keeping the covenant promises of: 1. A great multitude of physical descendants (Genesis 15:5). 2. Possession of the land of Canaan (Genesis 17:8). 3. A singular “seed” who would bless the nations—fulfilled ultimately in Christ (Galatians 3:16). Linking the Names to the Land Promise • The branch in v. 44 grows from Caleb, famed for believing God could give Israel the land (Numbers 14:24). • Raham’s grandson Jorkeam and Rekem’s son Shammai settle in the Judean hill country around Hebron and Beth-zur (vv. 43-45), cities lying in the very territory God swore to Abraham. • Their presence on the map is living proof that the land oath in Genesis 15:18-21 stands fulfilled in specific families. Forward Momentum toward the Seed Promise • Judah’s line moves from ordinary names in 1 Chronicles 2 to royal names in 1 Chronicles 3 (David) and, by New-Testament times, to Jesus (Matthew 1:1-16). • The chronicler’s intent is clear: every generation—Shema, Raham, Jorkeam, Rekem, Shammai—passes the baton that eventually reaches the Messiah, the Seed of Abraham who secures worldwide blessing (Acts 3:25-26). Genesis to Chronicles: A Straight Covenant Line 1. Abraham ➜ Isaac ➜ Jacob ➜ Judah (Genesis 35:23-26) 2. Judah ➜ Perez ➜ Hezron ➜ Caleb ➜ Shema ➜ Raham/Jorkeam and Rekem/Shammai (1 Chronicles 2) 3. Same lineage ➜ David (1 Chronicles 2:15; 3:1-4) 4. David ➜ Jesus the Christ, “the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matthew 1:1) What This Reveals about God • He records every generation because He keeps every word (Psalm 105:8-11). • He fulfills promises through both headline figures (David, Jesus) and seemingly minor ones (Raham, Jorkeam). • He weaves ordinary lives into His redemptive plan, showing His covenant faithfulness never skips a link. |
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