What does 1 Chronicles 2:26 mean?
What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 2:26?

Jerahmeel

1 Chronicles 2 places Jerahmeel among “the sons of Hezron,” identifying him as a direct descendant of Judah (1 Chron 2:4–9, 25).

• His presence in the genealogies underscores how carefully God preserved Judah’s family line, the tribe from which the Messiah would come (Genesis 49:10; Matthew 1:2–3).

• Though Jerahmeel’s branch is not the one that leads to David, its inclusion verifies every family in Judah, highlighting the historical accuracy of Scripture.


Had another wife

• The verse states, “Jerahmeel had another wife…” (1 Chron 2:26), indicating he had more than one wife.

• Scripture sometimes records polygamy without approving it; it simply reports what occurred (Genesis 4:19; 2 Samuel 5:13).

• God’s original design was one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24). Yet the Law later addressed complications of multiple wives (Deuteronomy 21:15–17), showing God’s mercy in regulating, not endorsing, the custom.


Named Atarah

• The Chronicler pauses to name this woman—“another wife named Atarah.” In Old Testament genealogies, women are rarely mentioned, so when a woman is singled out, she matters to the story (cf. Ruth 4:13–22; Matthew 1:3, 5).

• By recording Atarah, the text affirms the value of women in God’s unfolding plan, reminding readers that every individual, male or female, is known to God.


Who was the mother of Onam

• The phrase concludes: “…who was the mother of Onam.” Onam becomes important because his sons, Shammai and Jada, are listed next (1 Chron 2:28).

• Naming Onam’s mother ties future generations to their maternal line, a literary hint that God monitors each branch with precision (Psalm 139:15–16).

• The detail also sets Atarah’s children apart from those of Jerahmeel’s first wife, clarifying inheritance and tribal responsibilities (Numbers 36:1–9).


summary

1 Chronicles 2:26 records a simple fact—“Jerahmeel had another wife named Atarah, who was the mother of Onam”—yet it reinforces major biblical themes: God faithfully chronicles every family in Judah; He acknowledges women’s roles; He records, without endorsing, the realities of human marriage customs; and He tracks lineage with meticulous care so that His promises move steadily toward fulfillment in Christ.

Why is the genealogy in 1 Chronicles 2:25 important for understanding Israel's tribal history?
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