This verse reveals part of Judah’s genealogical record by detailing Caleb’s immediate family and emphasizes the importance of maintaining a faithful lineage in Israel’s story.
In 1 Chronicles 2, the chronicler is establishing the lineage of Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and focuses on the family line leading toward King David. Within this lineage, the text states, “Now Caleb the son of Hezron had sons by Azubah his wife, and by Jerioth; and these were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon” (v.18). By introducing Caleb (not to be confused with the companion of Joshua from the Book of Numbers, although some believe he may be the same person), the chronicler shows the ongoing covenant promise God made to Judah’s descendants. Hezron was one of the grandsons of Judah, tying this genealogy to Israel’s broader history and underscoring the tribe’s significance in the Davidic line and, ultimately, the lineage of the Messiah (Matthew 1:3-6).
The verse mentions two wives—Azubah and Jerioth—implying Caleb’s household expanded through multiple maternal lines. The three sons listed (Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon) likely each carried forward portions of the inheritance and the responsibilities within the family clan. In Israelite culture, genealogies served as important records for land rights, tribal identity, and preserving ties to God’s promises. This focus on a specific household is representative of the chronicler’s wider purpose in showing how each clan contributed to Israel’s destiny and were part of the promise first spoken to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3).
Furthermore, the Chronicler’s date of writing, around 450-400 B.C. after the Lord brought a remnant of Judah back from exile in Babylon, signals that these genealogies were intended to remind the returned exiles of God’s faithfulness. By listing each family line, the chronicler reaffirms the continuity of God’s covenant plan throughout generations. Deeply embedded in the text is the assurance that every name—even those rarely mentioned elsewhere—carries a unique part of the grand narrative of redemption.
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1 Chronicles 2:18 meaning
In 1 Chronicles 2, the chronicler is establishing the lineage of Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and focuses on the family line leading toward King David. Within this lineage, the text states, “Now Caleb the son of Hezron had sons by Azubah his wife, and by Jerioth; and these were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon” (v.18). By introducing Caleb (not to be confused with the companion of Joshua from the Book of Numbers, although some believe he may be the same person), the chronicler shows the ongoing covenant promise God made to Judah’s descendants. Hezron was one of the grandsons of Judah, tying this genealogy to Israel’s broader history and underscoring the tribe’s significance in the Davidic line and, ultimately, the lineage of the Messiah (Matthew 1:3-6).
The verse mentions two wives—Azubah and Jerioth—implying Caleb’s household expanded through multiple maternal lines. The three sons listed (Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon) likely each carried forward portions of the inheritance and the responsibilities within the family clan. In Israelite culture, genealogies served as important records for land rights, tribal identity, and preserving ties to God’s promises. This focus on a specific household is representative of the chronicler’s wider purpose in showing how each clan contributed to Israel’s destiny and were part of the promise first spoken to Abraham (Genesis 12:1-3).
Furthermore, the Chronicler’s date of writing, around 450-400 B.C. after the Lord brought a remnant of Judah back from exile in Babylon, signals that these genealogies were intended to remind the returned exiles of God’s faithfulness. By listing each family line, the chronicler reaffirms the continuity of God’s covenant plan throughout generations. Deeply embedded in the text is the assurance that every name—even those rarely mentioned elsewhere—carries a unique part of the grand narrative of redemption.