BibleProject | One Story That Leads to JesusSample

Today brings us to Chronicles, the final book of the Hebrew Bible (as originally arranged). It begins with a nine-chapter genealogy, chronicling hundreds of names and family histories from the time of creation to the period after Israel’s Babylonian exile.

Remember that the long lists of names are more than simple record keeping. Imagine a family tree with your own parents, grandparents, and extended family. To someone else, it would just be a directory of strangers. To you, each name would represent a life full of stories, lessons, and memories. In this case, the stories follow the family line back to Adam.

For ancient Israelite readers, these family trees were a shorthand way of retelling the history of their people. Each name evokes a story: “Adam” takes us back under the fruit trees of Eden. When we read “Noah,” we remember the torrential downpour of God’s de-creation and the shimmering rainbow of promise on the other side. “Abraham” brings to mind long journeys, Egyptian detours, counting stars, a smoking firepot, a runaway slave, a ram on a mountain, laughter, failure, promises, blessing, and hope.

Seen in the right light, the long list of names can evoke a long picture of beauty.

Watch today’s video to learn how Chronicles uses genealogies—and much more—to reshape the past stories of Israel to generate hope for a better future.

Reflection Questions

• Take a close look at the family trees in 1 Chronicles 3:17-24. Which names do you recognize? What does this section of the genealogies tell you about when the chronicler would have written this scroll?
• As you read through the genealogies, pay attention to the chronicler’s emphasis on kingship and priesthood. What family trees point to the story of the messianic king from David’s line? What names are associated with the priests ministering in the temple?