What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 3:20? “and Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed—five.” • This single verse sits in a paragraph that tracks Zerubbabel’s family line (1 Chron 3:17-24). • Zerubbabel, the post-exilic leader who laid the temple foundation (Ezra 3:8; Haggai 2:23), was himself the grandson of King Jehoiachin, keeping David’s dynasty alive after exile (2 Samuel 7:12-16; Matthew 1:12-13). • By listing five additional sons, the Chronicler shows how the royal line did not stop with one or two heirs; God multiplied it, safeguarding the promise that a descendant of David would reign forever (Jeremiah 33:17; Luke 1:32-33). • Though these brothers never headline a dramatic narrative, their recorded names prove the Lord’s meticulous faithfulness—every link in the chain matters (Isaiah 55:11). Hashubah • His name appears only here, yet he shares in Zerubbabel’s heritage of rebuilding and hope (Zechariah 4:6-10). • By standing first in the list, he reminds us that God values the “quiet” descendants as much as the well-known ones (1 Corinthians 12:22-24). • His inclusion underlines that spiritual legacy is often preserved through ordinary lives lived in covenant faithfulness (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Ohel • Listed second, Ohel lived in the same post-exilic generation that witnessed temple restoration (Ezra 6:14-15). • His presence in the genealogy affirms that worship and community are rebuilt not only by leaders but by families willing to put down roots in God’s promises (Psalm 102:16-18). • We remember that our own place in God’s family story is equally intentional (Ephesians 2:19-22). Berechiah • Sharing a name with other faithful men (e.g., Zechariah’s father in Zechariah 1:1), this Berechiah adds weight to the pattern of generational blessing (Psalm 103:17-18). • His placement among Zerubbabel’s sons highlights how God weaves continuity even after national trauma, moving from exile to restoration (Isaiah 43:18-19). • He points forward to later New-Testament genealogies that bridge Old-Covenant promise to Christ’s arrival (Luke 3:27). Hasadiah • Appearing fourth, Hasadiah underscores that every survivor of exile carried a piece of the covenant future (Jeremiah 29:11-14). • The simple fact that his name endured on parchment testifies to God’s care over individual destinies (Psalm 139:16). • His silent witness encourages believers today to trust that unseen faithfulness still serves God’s unfolding plan (Hebrews 6:10). Jushab-hesed • The fifth son completes the “five” noted in the verse, a rounded number signaling sufficiency and strength (cf. 1 Samuel 17:40). • Like his brothers, he enjoyed the privilege of temple-era renewal, showing how God restores joy to families after judgment (Zephaniah 3:17-20). • His recorded lineage assures us that God’s redemptive narrative never loses track of even the most obscure participant (John 10:3). summary 1 Chronicles 3:20 is more than a roll call; it proclaims that God faithfully preserves every branch of David’s line, ensuring the promised King would one day come. Hashubah, Ohel, Berechiah, Hasadiah, and Jushab-hesed stand as quiet yet vital witnesses: exile could not erase God’s covenant, obscure names do not escape His remembrance, and the restoration He began in Zerubbabel ultimately finds fulfillment in Jesus Christ, the true Son of David and eternal temple. |
    |