What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 5:17? All of them • The phrase points back to the Reubenites, Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh just listed (1 Chronicles 5:1–16). • God’s Word singles out every family and clan; no one is anonymous to Him (Isaiah 40:26). • By including entire groups, the Chronicler underlines corporate identity as well as individual responsibility (Joshua 24:15). were recorded • “Recorded” stresses deliberate documentation, not folklore. The names were officially inscribed, echoing earlier practices in Genesis 5:1 and 10:1. • Writing preserves covenant history so later generations can trace God’s faithfulness (Psalm 102:18). • The existence of records affirms the historical reliability of Israel’s story (Luke 1:1-4). in the genealogies • Genealogies serve practical needs—land rights, priestly duties—while also pointing to the promised Seed (Ruth 4:18-22; Matthew 1:1-17). • They remind readers that God works through real families, times, and places (Hebrews 11:12). • “The genealogies” suggests a central archive, likely kept at the temple (1 Chronicles 9:1). during the reigns of Jotham king of Judah • Jotham (c. 750-735 BC) “did what was right in the sight of the LORD” (2 Chronicles 27:2). His godly leadership gave space for orderly record-keeping. • The Chronicler links Judah’s king to the northern tribes’ registers, showing that spiritual integrity in one realm can bless others (Proverbs 14:34). • Dating the records to Jotham’s reign anchors them in verifiable history (2 Kings 15:32-38). and Jeroboam king of Israel • This is Jeroboam II (c. 793-753 BC), under whose long reign Israel enjoyed economic prosperity (2 Kings 14:23-27). • God’s mercy kept the northern kingdom intact long enough for these names to be preserved, even while prophets like Amos warned of coming judgment (Amos 6:1). • Mentioning both kings—one from Judah, one from Israel—shows that, despite political division, all twelve tribes remain part of God’s unfolding plan (Ezekiel 37:15-22). summary 1 Chronicles 5:17 assures us that God notices and remembers His people. Every name mattered, every tribe was counted, and the records were kept in real time under real kings. The verse affirms the historical accuracy of Scripture, highlights God’s covenant commitment to all Israel, and encourages us that the Lord still knows each of His children by name. |
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