This verse emphasizes Jerahmeel’s extended family line, highlighting how God’s chosen plan for Israel’s heritage includes each member of the tribe.
In this passage, we discover that “Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam” (v.26). Jerahmeel appears in the genealogies of the tribe of Judah, which stand as vital records connecting the family lines that would lead to King David. Dating back to around the 10th century BC, these genealogical lists served the chronicler’s purpose of linking God’s ongoing covenant with Judah, and ultimately pointing forward to the Messiah through David’s lineage (Luke 3:31-34). Jerahmeel’s additional wife, Atarah, helps solidify the continuity of this family line by bearing a child named Onam, thus expanding Jerahmeel’s branch in the tribal registry.
When the verse tells us that “Jerahmeel had another wife” (v.26), it underscores the multiple marriages that were not uncommon during that historical period. Although this can be puzzling from a modern perspective, such practices were often tied to economic, social, or familial reasons, including the need for more heirs or alliances between clans. Atarah’s role as “the mother of Onam” (v.26) is significant, since this genealogical snippet preserves the memory of her contribution to Jerahmeel’s lineage. Her name, Atarah (meaning “crown”), appears briefly here, yet it testifies to the value the chronicler placed on acknowledging every part of the family structure in preserving Israel’s heritage.
Jerahmeel himself is part of the descendants of Judah, making this verse a small but important piece in the extensive record that establishes tribal connections and the flow of God’s plan in Scripture. Later biblical revelation traces King David’s ancestry through Judah, reminding us that all layers of genealogical detail play a role in God’s overarching story culminating in Jesus Christ’s birth (Matthew 1:1-2). Even though geographical references are not highlighted in this specific verse, the tribe of Judah historically occupied portions of the southern region of Canaan, which eventually encompassed Jerusalem and surrounding territories integral to Israel’s identity.
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1 Chronicles 2:26 meaning
In this passage, we discover that “Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam” (v.26). Jerahmeel appears in the genealogies of the tribe of Judah, which stand as vital records connecting the family lines that would lead to King David. Dating back to around the 10th century BC, these genealogical lists served the chronicler’s purpose of linking God’s ongoing covenant with Judah, and ultimately pointing forward to the Messiah through David’s lineage (Luke 3:31-34). Jerahmeel’s additional wife, Atarah, helps solidify the continuity of this family line by bearing a child named Onam, thus expanding Jerahmeel’s branch in the tribal registry.
When the verse tells us that “Jerahmeel had another wife” (v.26), it underscores the multiple marriages that were not uncommon during that historical period. Although this can be puzzling from a modern perspective, such practices were often tied to economic, social, or familial reasons, including the need for more heirs or alliances between clans. Atarah’s role as “the mother of Onam” (v.26) is significant, since this genealogical snippet preserves the memory of her contribution to Jerahmeel’s lineage. Her name, Atarah (meaning “crown”), appears briefly here, yet it testifies to the value the chronicler placed on acknowledging every part of the family structure in preserving Israel’s heritage.
Jerahmeel himself is part of the descendants of Judah, making this verse a small but important piece in the extensive record that establishes tribal connections and the flow of God’s plan in Scripture. Later biblical revelation traces King David’s ancestry through Judah, reminding us that all layers of genealogical detail play a role in God’s overarching story culminating in Jesus Christ’s birth (Matthew 1:1-2). Even though geographical references are not highlighted in this specific verse, the tribe of Judah historically occupied portions of the southern region of Canaan, which eventually encompassed Jerusalem and surrounding territories integral to Israel’s identity.