Bible Commentaries

1 Chronicles 1:1. Adam, Sheth, Enosh— Adam was the father of Sheth, and Sheth the father of Enosh, and so on to the sons of Noah. No mention is made of the posterity of Cain or Abel, nor of the other sons of Adam, because the sacred writer was only engaged to give a detail of the Patriarchs in the direct line from Adam to Noah. The history of the Bible was not designed as a history of the world, but a history of the church, and of the deduction of the sacred promise of the seed of the woman.

1 Chronicles 1:17. And Lud, and Aram, and Uz— Lud and Aram. The sons of Uz, &c. Houbigant. See Genesis 10:23.

REFLECTIONS.—Adam begins and Abraham closes this first genealogical line. The one, our common father after the flesh; the other, the common father of the faithful. By the guilt of Adam's sin, the universal curse descended on man: by Abraham's promised seed, the curse is removed; and all who believe on him are re-instated in the favour of God.

The line of Christ, for whose sake the rest are preserved, reaches in the four first verses as far as Shem; and from him, in the four last, to Abraham: the others are more lightly passed over. Japhet's posterity originally peopled Europe; Ham's, Africa, Canaan, and Philistia; Shem's posterity, Asia; and, probably, from the northern parts of Asia, America received its first inhabitants. Note; As we are originally of one stock, we should, undoubtedly love all mankind as brethren.

1 Chronicles 1:32. Now the sons of Keturah, &c.— These sons of Keturah. Keturah, Abraham's concubine, bare Zimran, &c. Houb.

1 Chronicles 1:36. Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek— Kenaz. And Timna, the concubine of Ehiphaz, bare to him Amalek. Houbigant and Cappellus. See Genesis 36:12.

REFLECTIONS.—Before the sacred historian passes on to the line of the Messiah, he dwells a moment on the descendants of Abraham after the flesh. Ishmael, according to Genesis 17:20., becomes the father of twelve princes. Midian, of the sons of Keturah, is most taken notice of, because with his descendants the people of God had especial contests. Esau's posterity, and their dignity, are particularly remarked. While the children of promise were suffering in Egypt, the children of the rejected Esau were reigning in Edom. The sons of wickedness have often in this world the chief portion; God has prepared a better country for the heirs of salvation.