What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 2:48? caleb’s - 1 Chronicles 2 sets Caleb in the tribe of Judah, a line through which God would ultimately send the Messiah (Matthew 1:1–3). - Although another Caleb—the son of Jephunneh—was the spy who followed the Lord wholeheartedly (Numbers 13:6; 14:24), the chronicler’s focus here is on the broader family of Hezron (1 Chronicles 2:18–20, 42–50). - Scripture records every branch of Judah’s tree, showing that God values names we might overlook (Isaiah 49:16). concubine - In Old Testament times a concubine was a legally recognized but secondary wife. Examples include Hagar with Abraham (Genesis 16:3) and the unnamed woman of Judges 19:1. - The practice never reflected God’s Eden ideal of one man and one woman (Genesis 2:24), yet the Bible faithfully reports it, just as it recounts David’s and Solomon’s concubines (2 Samuel 5:13; 1 Kings 11:3). - God works even through human compromise, weaving His purposes through imperfect structures (Romans 8:28). maacah - Maacah is named only here as Caleb’s concubine (1 Chronicles 2:48). Other women share the name—such as Maacah, mother of Absalom (2 Samuel 3:3)—but this Maacah has her own place in God’s record. - By mentioning her, the Spirit affirms that women, whether queens or concubines, matter in His story (Luke 8:1–3). - Her inclusion reminds us that God notices those who might otherwise be hidden (Proverbs 15:3). was the mother - Motherhood is honored throughout Scripture: “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD” (Psalm 127:3). - Genealogies hinge on mothers as well as fathers. Timothy’s sincere faith, for instance, is traced through his mother and grandmother (2 Timothy 1:5). - Every generation stands on the shoulders of mothers who pass on covenant promises (Ruth 4:13–17). of sheber - Sheber appears only in this verse. His obscurity does not lessen his worth; his name is permanently etched in God’s Word (Revelation 20:12–15 shows that God keeps comprehensive records). - Like Sheber, many believers live unheralded lives, yet the Lord sees and remembers (Malachi 3:16). and tirhanah - Tirhanah, likewise unnamed elsewhere, shares equal standing with his brother. God shows no partiality (Acts 10:34). - Together these two sons prove that every branch—no matter how small—carries forward the promise to Judah (Genesis 49:10). summary 1 Chronicles 2:48—“Caleb’s concubine Maacah was the mother of Sheber and Tirhanah”—demonstrates God’s meticulous care in preserving every detail of His covenant family. Caleb’s line, Maacah’s motherhood, and the listing of two otherwise unknown sons reveal a Lord who values the overlooked, works through imperfect human practices, and faithfully advances His redemptive plan through each successive generation. |
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