What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 2:31? The son of Appaim: Ishi “ The son of Appaim: Ishi ” (1 Chronicles 2:31). • Scripture presents this brief note as a literal fact inside Judah’s genealogical stream, underscoring that every name—whether well known or obscure—matters to God (Psalm 139:16; Luke 12:7). • Appaim’s line fits within the clan of Jerahmeel (1 Chronicles 2:25-30), reminding us that the LORD preserves even the smaller branches of the covenant family. • God’s promise that “not one word… will fail” (Joshua 21:45) includes these seemingly minor links; they stand as quiet witnesses that the Lord faithfully keeps track of His people generation after generation. • Similar attention to detail appears in Matthew 1:1-17, where the Holy Spirit lists names great and small to trace the Messiah’s legal line. The son of Ishi: Sheshan “ The son of Ishi: Sheshan ” (1 Chronicles 2:31). • Sheshan becomes pivotal later in the chapter because “Sheshan had no sons, only daughters” (2:34). That fact spotlights the flexibility of God’s covenantal grace: it does not hinge on cultural expectations of male succession. • To continue the line, Sheshan gives his daughter to his Egyptian servant Jarha (2:35). In doing so the family welcomes a foreigner, echoing earlier precedents—Rahab in Joshua 6; Ruth the Moabitess in Ruth 4—showing that faith, not ethnicity, grants access to God’s people (Isaiah 56:3; Ephesians 2:12-13). • The situation also recalls Numbers 27:1-8, where the daughters of Zelophehad secured an inheritance in Israel. God’s law already provided for such contingencies, reaffirming that His purposes never stall when human norms seem to block the way. The son of Sheshan: Ahlai “ The son of Sheshan: Ahlai ” (1 Chronicles 2:31). • Verse 34 immediately clarifies that Sheshan had only daughters, so Ahlai must be his daughter. Genealogical listings sometimes use “son” generically for “descendant” or “child,” an accepted ancient practice that in no way diminishes the text’s accuracy. • By placing Ahlai in the direct line, the Spirit highlights the value of women in God’s redemptive story—long before Galatians 3:28 would make the principle explicit. • Ahlai’s influence surfaces again when her descendant “Zabad son of Ahlai” stands among David’s mighty men (1 Chronicles 11:41). God not only preserved the family name; He raised up warriors of faith through it. • Women such as Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba appear in the legal genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1). Ahlai occupies a similar, though quieter, role—another reminder that God delights to advance His plan through unexpected people. summary 1 Chronicles 2:31 sketches three successive links—Appaim to Ishi, Ishi to Sheshan, Sheshan to Ahlai. Each link is historically true, divinely preserved, and theologically rich. The verse shows God’s meticulous record-keeping, His readiness to work through daughters when sons are absent, and His welcome to outsiders who embrace His covenant. Even brief genealogical notes proclaim that the Lord never loses track of His promises or His people. |
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