What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 1:20? Joktan “And Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah.” (1 Chronicles 1:20) • Joktan is presented in Scripture as a historical son of Eber (1 Chronicles 1:19; Genesis 10:25). • His branch of the family tree expands “toward the east” (Genesis 10:30), showing how Noah’s descendants obeyed God’s command to fill the earth (Genesis 9:1). • By placing Joktan before his children, the verse underscores the biblical pattern of tracing nations back to one man, confirming the continuity of God’s plan from the Flood generation to the later peoples of Arabia. • Genealogies like this remind readers that every individual matters to God and that His Word preserves even the details others might overlook (2 Timothy 3:16). Almodad • As the first of Joktan’s sons named here and in Genesis 10:26, Almodad likely became the forefather of an early Arabian clan. • Though Scripture gives no further narrative about him, his inclusion testifies that God faithfully records real people in real history (Psalm 135:13). • The mention of Almodad beside his brothers also illustrates that divine blessing extended beyond a single line; God was populating whole regions through Joktan’s offspring. Sheleph • Sheleph, the second son listed, mirrors his appearance in Genesis 10:26. • His descendants are linked by many scholars to tribes located in southern Arabia, reinforcing the Bible’s reliable geographic framework (Isaiah 42:11 notes settlements in that area). • Every name in the genealogy acts as a bridge from Noah to Abraham, confirming that God kept the human race intact and tracing a straight path to His covenant work (Galatians 3:8). Hazarmaveth • Hazarmaveth is widely associated with the region later called Hadramaut in modern Yemen; archaeology supports a continuous human presence there, backing the biblical record. • The parallel reference in Genesis 10:26 shows that Chronicles deliberately echoes Moses’ earlier account, underscoring the unity of Scripture (Psalm 119:160). • God’s accuracy in recording people and places encourages believers to trust Him with every area of life, confident that He oversees both global movements and individual stories (Proverbs 3:5-6). Jerah • Jerah, fourth on the list, represents another branch of Joktan’s growing family tree (Genesis 10:26). • Some connect his line to lunar-named settlements in Arabia; whether or not that link is precise, the text affirms that Joktan’s sons spread far and wide, populating the earth just as God intended (Acts 17:26). • Jerah’s brief mention still matters: it teaches that even lesser-known figures are woven into God’s redemptive tapestry, and their lives contributed to the background of Israel’s story and, ultimately, the coming of Christ (Luke 3:34-36). summary 1 Chronicles 1:20 faithfully preserves the earliest post-Flood family records of Joktan and his first four sons. Each name anchors real people to real places, showing God’s meticulous care in populating the earth and documenting history. By listing these men, Scripture reminds believers that every life is significant, every promise of God is sure, and the unfolding of His plan—from ancient Arabia to the birth of the Messiah—rests on a foundation of literal, trustworthy events recorded for our confidence and encouragement. |
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