What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 2:28? The sons of Onam: Shammai and Jada “The sons of Onam: Shammai and Jada.” (1 Chronicles 2:28a) • Onam appears in the Jerahmeel branch of the tribe of Judah (see 1 Chron 2:25–26). By naming his sons, the text affirms God’s ongoing fulfillment of His promise that Judah’s line would be fruitful (Genesis 49:8-10). • Shammai (“famous”) and Jada (“he knows”) serve as living witnesses that God remembers individuals, not merely tribes. This agrees with passages like Isaiah 49:16, where the Lord says He has engraved His people on the palms of His hands. • Genealogies function as legal proof of covenant identity. Later generations, such as the exiles returning to Judah in Ezra 2:59-62, depended on records like this to verify lineage and inheritance rights. • The verse also underscores family responsibility. Psalm 78:5-7 describes how each generation is to teach the next about God’s works; here, Shammai and Jada become new links in that teaching chain. The sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur “The sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur.” (1 Chronicles 2:28b) • Shammai’s two sons continue the multiplication theme of Genesis 17:6 (“I will make you exceedingly fruitful”). Each name marks another step toward the promised King who ultimately comes through Judah (Matthew 1:1-3). • Nadab (“generous”) and Abishur (“my father is a wall/fortress”) illustrate how parents in Israel often embedded testimony into their children’s names, echoing Joshua 24:15, “As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” • 1 Chron 2:29-32 shows Nadab’s brief line ending, while Abishur’s line extends. This mix of longevity and brevity reminds us that God controls both the length and impact of every lineage (Psalm 31:15). • The pattern of two sons also mirrors earlier pairings—Cain/Abel, Jacob/Esau—prompting reflection on personal faithfulness within a shared heritage (Romans 9:6-13). summary 1 Chronicles 2:28 is more than a roll call; it is a testimony that God tracks every branch of Judah’s family tree, confirming His covenant faithfulness. By recording Onam’s sons and Shammai’s sons in sequence, Scripture highlights the continuity of God’s promises, the personal worth of each family member, and the responsibility of every generation to pass on the faith until the promised Redeemer emerges from Judah’s line. |
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