1 Chronicles 1 in Hebrew & English

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Tenakh Study · Read 1 Chronicles in Hebrew and English, one chapter per page. Our Tenakh study meets every Wednesday at 7 pm (Central Time) on Zoom. Text us for the Zoom link. Our Messianic Jewish notes appear below each passage; tap Commentary above to hide them. The full commentary on this chapter is on our 1 Chronicles commentary page.

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Tenakh Study · 1 Chronicles 1:1–54

1 Chronicles, Chapter 1

דברי הימים א א

The family line from Adam to Noach and his sons, the nations that came from Yefet, Cham and Shem, the line from Shem to Avraham, the sons of Yishma’el, Keturah and Esav, the sons of Se’ir, and the kings and chiefs of Edom.

1:1Adam, Shet (Sheth), Enosh,

אאָדָ֥ם שֵׁ֖ת אֱנֽוֹשׁ׃

1:2Kenan, Mahalal’el (Mahalaleel), Yered (Jered),

בקֵינָ֥ן מַהֲלַלְאֵ֖ל יָֽרֶד׃

1:3Chanoch (Henoch), Metushelach (Methuselah), Lemech (Lamech),

גחֲנ֥וֹךְ מְתוּשֶׁ֖לַח לָֽמֶךְ׃

1:4Noach (Noah), Shem, Cham (Ham), and Yefet (Japheth).

דנֹ֥חַ שֵׁ֖ם חָ֥ם וָיָֽפֶת׃

Commentary · 1:1–4

Ten names from Adam to Noach

The last book of the Tenakh opens with one word: Adam. Genesis 5 gives each of these men a paragraph; Chronicles gives each one a word. The Talmud says that Ezra wrote the book (Bava Batra 15a), for a small community back in the land after the exile. The Chronicler assumes his readers know the Torah, and he draws one straight line through it, from the first man to the people now reading.

Why begin with Adam? No other book besides Genesis starts there. The Chronicler sets his small, bruised community inside the whole human family. The Mishnah says Adam was created alone so that no one could say, “My father is greater than your father” (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5), and Paul said the same in Athens: God “hath made of one blood all nations of men” (Acts 17:26). Israel’s story is the story of what Hashem did inside the one family of Adam.

Pirkei Avot counts these names: “There were ten generations from Adam to Noach, to make known how patient He is… ten generations from Noach to Avraham” (Avot 5:2). Chronicles gives exactly those two tens, here and in 1:24–27. One name carries a story even stripped bare: Chanoch, the seventh from Adam, who “walked with God: and he was not; for God took him” (Genesis 5:24). Our Statement of Faith points to him when it speaks of Yeshua taken up to heaven.

Read more in the full commentary →

The nations from Noach’s sons

1:5The sons of Yefet; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Yavan (Javan), and Tuval (Tubal), and Meshech, and Tiras.

הבְּנֵ֣י יֶ֔פֶת גֹּ֣מֶר וּמָג֔וֹג וּמָדַ֖י וְיָוָ֣ן וְתֻבָ֑ל וּמֶ֖שֶׁךְ וְתִירָֽס׃

1:6And the sons of Gomer; Ashkenaz (Ashchenaz), and Difat (Riphath), and Togarmah.

ווּבְנֵ֖י גֹּ֑מֶר אַשְׁכֲּנַ֥ז וְדִיפַ֖ת וְתוֹגַרְמָֽה׃

1:7And the sons of Yavan; Elishah, and Tarshishah (Tarshish), Kittim, and Rodanim (Dodanim).

זוּבְנֵ֥י יָוָ֖ן אֱלִישָׁ֣ה וְתַרְשִׁ֑ישָׁה כִּתִּ֖ים וְרוֹדָנִֽים׃

1:8The sons of Cham; Kush (Cush), and Mitzrayim (Mizraim), Put, and Kena’an (Canaan).

חבְּנֵ֖י חָ֑ם כּ֥וּשׁ וּמִצְרַ֖יִם פּ֥וּט וּכְנָֽעַן׃

1:9And the sons of Kush; Seva (Seba), and Chavilah (Havilah), and Savta (Sabta), and Ra’ma (Raamah), and Savtecha (Sabtecha). And the sons of Ra’ma; Sheva (Sheba), and Dedan.

טוּבְנֵ֣י כ֔וּשׁ סְבָא֙ וַחֲוִילָ֔ה וְסַבְתָּ֥א וְרַעְמָ֖א וְסַבְתְּכָ֑א וּבְנֵ֥י רַעְמָ֖א שְׁבָ֥א וּדְדָֽן׃

1:10And Kush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth.

יוְכ֖וּשׁ יָלַ֣ד אֶת־נִמְר֑וֹד ה֣וּא הֵחֵ֔ל לִהְי֥וֹת גִּבּ֖וֹר בָּאָֽרֶץ׃

1:11And Mitzrayim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehavim (Lehabim), and Naftuchim (Naphtuhim),

יאוּמִצְרַ֡יִם יָלַ֞ד אֶת־לוּדִ֧ים (כתיב לודיים) וְאֶת־עֲנָמִ֛ים וְאֶת־לְהָבִ֖ים וְאֶת־נַפְתֻּחִֽים׃

1:12And Patrusim (Pathrusim), and Kasluchim (Casluhim), of whom came the Pelishtim (Philistines), and Kaftorim (Caphthorim).

יבוְֽאֶת־פַּתְרֻסִ֞ים וְאֶת־כַּסְלֻחִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר יָצְא֥וּ מִשָּׁ֛ם פְּלִשְׁתִּ֖ים וְאֶת־כַּפְתֹּרִֽים׃

1:13And Kena’an begat Tzidon (Zidon) his firstborn, and Chet (Heth),

יגוּכְנַ֗עַן יָלַ֛ד אֶת־צִיד֥וֹן בְּכֹר֖וֹ וְאֶת־חֵֽת׃

1:14The Yevusi (Jebusite) also, and the Emori (Amorite), and the Girgashi (Girgashite),

ידוְאֶת־הַיְבוּסִי֙ וְאֶת־הָ֣אֱמֹרִ֔י וְאֵ֖ת הַגִּרְגָּשִֽׁי׃

1:15And the Chivi (Hivite), and the Arki (Arkite), and the Sini (Sinite),

טווְאֶת־הַחִוִּ֥י וְאֶת־הַֽעַרְקִ֖י וְאֶת־הַסִּינִֽי׃

1:16And the Arvadi (Arvadite), and the Tzemari (Zemarite), and the Chamati (Hamathite).

טזוְאֶת־הָאַרְוָדִ֥י וְאֶת־הַצְּמָרִ֖י וְאֶת־הַֽחֲמָתִֽי׃

1:17The sons of Shem; Elam, and Ashur (Asshur), and Arpachshad (Arphaxad), and Lud, and Aram, and Utz (Uz), and Chul (Hul), and Geter (Gether), and Meshech.

יזבְּנֵ֣י שֵׁ֔ם עֵילָ֣ם וְאַשּׁ֔וּר וְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֖ד וְל֣וּד וַאֲרָ֑ם וְע֥וּץ וְח֖וּל וְגֶ֥תֶר וָמֶֽשֶׁךְ׃

1:18And Arpachshad begat Shelach (Shelah), and Shelach begat Ever (Eber).

יחוְאַרְפַּכְשַׁ֖ד יָלַ֣ד אֶת־שָׁ֑לַח וְשֶׁ֖לַח יָלַ֥ד אֶת־עֵֽבֶר׃

1:19And unto Ever were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; because in his days the earth was divided: and his brother’s name was Yoktan (Joktan).

יטוּלְעֵ֥בֶר יֻלַּ֖ד שְׁנֵ֣י בָנִ֑ים שֵׁ֣ם הָאֶחָ֞ד פֶּ֗לֶג כִּ֤י בְיָמָיו֙ נִפְלְגָ֣ה הָאָ֔רֶץ וְשֵׁ֥ם אָחִ֖יו יָקְטָֽן׃

1:20And Yoktan begat Almodad, and Shelef (Sheleph), and Chatzarmavet (Hazarmaveth), and Yarach (Jerah),

כוְיָקְטָ֣ן יָלַ֔ד אֶת־אַלְמוֹדָ֖ד וְאֶת־שָׁ֑לֶף וְאֶת־חֲצַרְמָ֖וֶת וְאֶת־יָֽרַח׃

1:21Hadoram also, and Uzal, and Diklah,

כאוְאֶת־הֲדוֹרָ֥ם וְאֶת־אוּזָ֖ל וְאֶת־דִּקְלָֽה׃

1:22And Eval (Ebal), and Avima’el (Abimael), and Sheva,

כבוְאֶת־עֵיבָ֥ל וְאֶת־אֲבִימָאֵ֖ל וְאֶת־שְׁבָֽא׃

1:23And Ofir (Ophir), and Chavilah, and Yovav (Jobab). All these were the sons of Yoktan.

כגוְאֶת־אוֹפִ֥יר וְאֶת־חֲוִילָ֖ה וְאֶת־יוֹבָ֑ב כָּל־אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י יָקְטָֽן׃

Commentary · 1:5–23

The seventy nations

Now the Chronicler copies the Table of Nations from Genesis 10, trimmed to names: Yefet’s sons first, then Cham’s, then Shem’s. Watch the pattern, because he uses it again and again: he clears away the branches that do not lead to Israel and saves the chosen line for last. Three of Yefet’s sons open Ezekiel’s last war: “Gog, the land of Magog, the chief prince of Meshech and Tuval” (Ezekiel 38:2). FFOZ’s End of Days notes that the sages understood Gog and Magog as a force “representing all seventy nations” (Lesson 16, “Gog and Magog”). The list in front of us is the cast of the end of days.

The first man in Chronicles to do anything is Nimrod: “he began to be mighty upon the earth” (1:10). His kingdom began at Babel (Genesis 10:10), and Rashi reads “a mighty hunter before Hashem” as “against Hashem.” FFOZ writes that “he created the original one-world government” (End of Days, Lesson 21, “Image of the Beast”). From here on the book is about a different kind of king.

Two names here shape the whole Tenakh. Ever gives his name to the Hebrews. Peleg is named for Babel: “in his days the earth was divided” (1:19; Rashi on Genesis 10:25). After Nimrod’s one-world kingdom comes the scattering. After the scattering, Hashem calls one man.

Read more in the full commentary →

From Shem to Avraham

1:24Shem, Arpachshad, Shelach,

כדשֵׁ֥ם ׀ אַרְפַּכְשַׁ֖ד שָֽׁלַח׃

1:25Ever, Peleg, Re’u (Reu),

כהעֵ֥בֶר פֶּ֖לֶג רְעֽוּ׃

1:26Serug, Nachor (Nahor), Terach (Terah),

כושְׂר֥וּג נָח֖וֹר תָּֽרַח׃

1:27Avram (Abram); the same is Avraham (Abraham).

כזאַבְרָ֖ם ה֥וּא אַבְרָהָֽם׃

The sons of Avraham

1:28The sons of Avraham; Yitzchak (Isaac), and Yishma’el (Ishmael).

כחבְּנֵי֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם יִצְחָ֖ק וְיִשְׁמָעֵֽאל׃

1:29These are their generations: The firstborn of Yishma’el, Nevayot (Nebaioth); then Kedar, and Adbe’el (Adbeel), and Mivsam (Mibsam),

כטאֵ֖לֶּה תֹּלְדוֹתָ֑ם בְּכ֤וֹר יִשְׁמָעֵאל֙ נְבָי֔וֹת וְקֵדָ֥ר וְאַדְבְּאֵ֖ל וּמִבְשָֽׂם׃

1:30Mishma and Dumah, Massa, Chadad (Hadad), and Tema,

למִשְׁמָ֣ע וְדוּמָ֔ה מַשָּׂ֖א חֲדַ֥ד וְתֵימָֽא׃

1:31Yetur (Jetur), Nafish (Naphish), and Kedmah (Kedemah). These are the sons of Yishma’el.

לאיְט֥וּר נָפִ֖ישׁ וָקֵ֑דְמָה אֵ֥לֶּה הֵ֖ם בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׁמָעֵֽאל׃

1:32Now the sons of Keturah, Avraham’s concubine: she bore Zimran, and Yokshan (Jokshan), and Medan, and Midyan (Midian), and Yishbak (Ishbak), and Shuach (Shuah). And the sons of Yokshan; Sheva, and Dedan.

לבוּבְנֵ֨י קְטוּרָ֜ה פִּילֶ֣גֶשׁ אַבְרָהָ֗ם יָלְדָ֞ה אֶת־זִמְרָ֧ן וְיָקְשָׁ֛ן וּמְדָ֥ן וּמִדְיָ֖ן וְיִשְׁבָּ֣ק וְשׁ֑וּחַ וּבְנֵ֥י יָקְשָׁ֖ן שְׁבָ֥א וּדְדָֽן׃

1:33And the sons of Midyan; Efah (Ephah), and Efer (Epher), and Chanoch, and Avida (Abida), and Elda’ah (Eldaah). All these are the sons of Keturah.

לגוּבְנֵ֣י מִדְיָ֗ן עֵיפָ֤ה וָעֵ֨פֶר֙ וַחֲנ֔וֹךְ וַאֲבִידָ֖ע וְאֶלְדָּעָ֑ה כָּל־אֵ֖לֶּה בְּנֵ֥י קְטוּרָֽה׃

1:34And Avraham begat Yitzchak. The sons of Yitzchak; Esav (Esau) and Israel.

לדוַיּ֥וֹלֶד אַבְרָהָ֖ם אֶת־יִצְחָ֑ק ס בְּנֵ֣י יִצְחָ֔ק עֵשָׂ֖ו וְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Commentary · 1:24–34

Ten more names, and the sons of the promise

Here is the second ten of Pirkei Avot, and it ends with a correction: “Avram; the same is Avraham” (1:27). The Talmud says that one who calls Avraham “Avram” transgresses a command, because Hashem said, “thy name shall be Avraham” (Berakhot 13a, on Genesis 17:5). A new name is a covenant, and the covenant was never taken back.

Then the pattern again. Yitzchak is named first though Yishma’el was born first (1:28); then Yishma’el’s twelve princes and Keturah’s sons are listed before the trunk returns: “And Avraham begat Yitzchak” (1:34). The sages say Keturah was Hagar brought back (Bereshit Rabbah 61:4). The sons who were not chosen are still written down. Being outside the covenant line is not being outside Hashem’s book.

Hebrew lesson: “Esav and Israel.” Genesis would say “Esav and Ya’akov.” The Chronicler writes יִשְׂרָאֵל (Yisrael), the name given at Peniel, the name of the nation. He is telling his readers who they are.

Messianic reading. Paul walked through this passage when he explained why not every descendant of Avraham is “Israel”: “In Yitzchak shall thy seed be called”; “Ya’akov have I loved, but Esav have I hated” (Romans 9:7, 13). The line of promise narrows by Hashem’s choice, not by human merit, until it comes to one man, and through him it opens again to “all families of the earth” (Genesis 12:3). Chapter 1 is the narrowing. The rest of the Bible is the opening.

Read more in the full commentary →

The sons of Esav and Se’ir

1:35The sons of Esav; Elifaz (Eliphaz), Re’u’el (Reuel), and Ye’ush (Jeush), and Ya’lam (Jaalam), and Korach (Korah).

להבְּנֵ֖י עֵשָׂ֑ו אֱלִיפַ֛ז רְעוּאֵ֥ל וִיע֖וּשׁ וְיַעְלָ֥ם וְקֹֽרַח׃

1:36The sons of Elifaz; Teman, and Omar, Tzefi (Zephi), and Ga’tam (Gatam), Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek.

לובְּנֵ֖י אֱלִיפָ֑ז תֵּימָ֤ן וְאוֹמָר֙ צְפִ֣י וְגַעְתָּ֔ם קְנַ֖ז וְתִמְנָ֥ע וַעֲמָלֵֽק׃

1:37The sons of Re’u’el; Nachat (Nahath), Zerach (Zerah), Shammah, and Mizzah.

לזבְּנֵ֖י רְעוּאֵ֑ל נַ֥חַת זֶ֖רַח שַׁמָּ֥ה וּמִזָּֽה׃

1:38And the sons of Se’ir (Seir); Lotan, and Shoval (Shobal), and Tziv’on (Zibeon), and Anah, and Dishon, and Etzer (Ezar), and Dishan.

לחוּבְנֵ֣י שֵׂעִ֔יר לוֹטָ֥ן וְשׁוֹבָ֖ל וְצִבְע֣וֹן וַֽעֲנָ֑ה וְדִישֹׁ֥ן וְאֵ֖צֶר וְדִישָֽׁן׃

1:39And the sons of Lotan; Chori (Hori), and Homam: and Timna was Lotan’s sister.

לטוּבְנֵ֥י לוֹטָ֖ן חֹרִ֣י וְהוֹמָ֑ם וַאֲח֥וֹת לוֹטָ֖ן תִּמְנָֽע׃

1:40The sons of Shoval; Alyan (Alian), and Manachat (Manahath), and Eval, Shefi (Shephi), and Onam. And the sons of Tziv’on; Ayah (Aiah), and Anah.

מבְּנֵ֣י שׁוֹבָ֔ל עַלְיָ֧ן וּמָנַ֛חַת וְעֵיבָ֖ל שְׁפִ֣י וְאוֹנָ֑ם ס וּבְנֵ֥י צִבְע֖וֹן אַיָּ֥ה וַעֲנָֽה׃

1:41The sons of Anah; Dishon. And the sons of Dishon; Chamran (Amram), and Eshban, and Yitran (Ithran), and Keran (Cheran).

מאבְּנֵ֥י עֲנָ֖ה דִּישׁ֑וֹן ס וּבְנֵ֣י דִישׁ֔וֹן חַמְרָ֥ן וְאֶשְׁבָּ֖ן וְיִתְרָ֥ן וּכְרָֽן׃

1:42The sons of Etzer; Bilhan, and Za’avan (Zavan), and Ya’akan (Jakan). The sons of Dishon (Dishan); Utz, and Aran.

מבבְּֽנֵי־אֵ֔צֶר בִּלְהָ֥ן וְזַעֲוָ֖ן יַעֲקָ֑ן בְּנֵ֥י דִישׁ֖וֹן ע֥וּץ וַאֲרָֽן׃

Commentary · 1:35–42

Esav, Se’ir, and the woman named Timna

Esav’s sons and grandsons are listed, then the sons of Se’ir, the people Esav’s family married into (Genesis 36:20–30). Chronicles counts them because Edom is the brother who stayed outside, and the prophets saw the end of days as the reckoning between the two brothers (Obadiah; Isaiah 63:1–6).

Among the sons of Elifaz the text lists “Timna, and Amalek” (1:36), and three verses later adds, “and Timna was Lotan’s sister” (1:39). Genesis explains that Timna was Elifaz’s concubine and the mother of Amalek (Genesis 36:12). Why does Scripture bother? The Talmud answers that Timna was a royal princess who wished to convert. Avraham, Yitzchak and Ya’akov did not accept her, so she became a concubine to Elifaz, saying, “better to be a maidservant to this nation than a noblewoman of another.” From her came Amalek, who afflicted Israel, “because they should not have pushed her away” (Sanhedrin 99b).

Rabbi Palvanov, in his class “Understanding Edom #1 – Esau & Amalek,” brings this passage and draws the lesson: “it’s important not to be too closed off as a people.” Amalek, Israel’s oldest enemy, began as a rejected would-be convert. Chronicles names her twice so that we do not forget.

Read more in the full commentary →

The kings of Edom

1:43Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel; Bela the son of Be’or (Beor): and the name of his city was Dinhavah (Dinhabah).

מגוְאֵ֣לֶּה הַמְּלָכִ֗ים אֲשֶׁ֤ר מָלְכוּ֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ אֱד֔וֹם לִפְנֵ֥י מְלָךְ־מֶ֖לֶךְ לִבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל בֶּ֚לַע בֶּן־בְּע֔וֹר וְשֵׁ֥ם עִיר֖וֹ דִּנְהָֽבָה׃

1:44And when Bela was dead, Yovav the son of Zerach of Botzrah (Bozrah) reigned in his stead.

מדוַיָּ֖מָת בָּ֑לַע וַיִּמְלֹ֣ךְ תַּחְתָּ֔יו יוֹבָ֥ב בֶּן־זֶ֖רַח מִבָּצְרָֽה׃

1:45And when Yovav was dead, Chusham (Husham) of the land of the Temani (Temanites) reigned in his stead.

מהוַיָּ֖מָת יוֹבָ֑ב וַיִּמְלֹ֣ךְ תַּחְתָּ֔יו חוּשָׁ֖ם מֵאֶ֥רֶץ הַתֵּימָנִֽי׃

1:46And when Chusham was dead, Hadad the son of Bedad, which struck Midyan in the field of Mo’av (Moab), reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avit (Avith).

מווַיָּ֖מָת חוּשָׁ֑ם וַיִּמְלֹ֨ךְ תַּחְתָּ֜יו הֲדַ֣ד בֶּן־בְּדַ֗ד הַמַּכֶּ֤ה אֶת־מִדְיָן֙ בִּשְׂדֵ֣ה מוֹאָ֔ב וְשֵׁ֥ם עִיר֖וֹ עֲוִֽית (כתיב עיות)׃

1:47And when Hadad was dead, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.

מזוַיָּ֖מָת הֲדָ֑ד וַיִּמְלֹ֣ךְ תַּחְתָּ֔יו שַׂמְלָ֖ה מִמַּשְׂרֵקָֽה׃

1:48And when Samlah was dead, Shaul of Rechovot (Rehoboth) by the river reigned in his stead.

מחוַיָּ֖מָת שַׂמְלָ֑ה וַיִּמְלֹ֣ךְ תַּחְתָּ֔יו שָׁא֖וּל מֵרְחֹב֥וֹת הַנָּהָֽר׃

1:49And when Shaul was dead, Ba’al Chanan (Baal-hanan) the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.

מטוַיָּ֖מָת שָׁא֑וּל וַיִּמְלֹ֣ךְ תַּחְתָּ֔יו בַּ֥עַל חָנָ֖ן בֶּן־עַכְבּֽוֹר׃

1:50And when Ba’al Chanan was dead, Hadad reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pa’i (Pai); and his wife’s name was Mehetav’el (Mehetabel), the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mei Zahav (Mezahab).

נוַיָּ֨מָת֙ בַּ֣עַל חָנָ֔ן וַיִּמְלֹ֤ךְ תַּחְתָּיו֙ הֲדַ֔ד וְשֵׁ֥ם עִיר֖וֹ פָּ֑עִי וְשֵׁ֨ם אִשְׁתּ֤וֹ מְהֵיטַבְאֵל֙ בַּת־מַטְרֵ֔ד בַּ֖ת מֵ֥י זָהָֽב׃

The chiefs of Edom

1:51Hadad died also. And the dukes of Edom were; duke Timna, duke Alvah (Aliah), duke Yetet (Jetheth),

נאוַיָּ֖מָת הֲדָ֑ד ס וַיִּהְיוּ֙ אַלּוּפֵ֣י אֱד֔וֹם אַלּ֥וּף תִּמְנָ֛ע אַלּ֥וּף עַֽלְוָ֖ה (כתיב עליה) אַלּ֥וּף יְתֵֽת׃

1:52Duke Oholivamah (Aholibamah), duke Elah, duke Pinon,

נבאַלּ֧וּף אָהֳלִיבָמָ֛ה אַלּ֥וּף אֵלָ֖ה אַלּ֥וּף פִּינֹֽן׃

1:53Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mivtzar (Mibzar),

נגאַלּ֥וּף קְנַ֛ז אַלּ֥וּף תֵּימָ֖ן אַלּ֣וּף מִבְצָֽר׃

1:54Duke Magdi’el (Magdiel), duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom.

נדאַלּ֥וּף מַגְדִּיאֵ֖ל אַלּ֣וּף עִירָ֑ם אֵ֖לֶּה אַלּוּפֵ֥י אֱדֽוֹם׃

Commentary · 1:43–54

The kings of Edom, before any king reigned in Israel

Eight kings follow, most from a different city and none the son of the one before, then the chiefs (אַלּוּף, alluf, a clan head). Edom had kings while Israel was still in Egypt and the wilderness. Rashi on Genesis 36:31, following the Midrash, counts: eight kings reigned in Edom before Israel had one, and then eight kings reigned in Israel while Edom had none, from Shaul to Yehoshafat, until Edom revolted under Yoram (2 Kings 8:20). Edom’s sixth king is even named Shaul (1:48). Edom had a Shaul before Israel did, and it did not make them Israel. A crown is not a covenant.

The last king, Hadad, is the only one whose wife is named, and in Genesis the only one whose death is not recorded (Genesis 36:39). Chronicles supplies it: “Hadad died also” (1:51). Ariel Cohen Alloro, in his video “The Lost Word of the Freemasonry – Part 4,” reads these kings, with the Zohar and the Ari, as a world that was built and broke. We take the picture as remez and leave the system. The plain text gives its own lesson: every king of Edom, even the last one, died. “And the kingdom shall be Hashem’s” (Obadiah 1:21).

The returned community had no king at all, and Edom’s descendants were pressing on their southern border. The Chronicler tells them: Edom had kings first, and Edom’s kings are all dead. Your king is coming.

Read more in the full commentary →

Sources & method

Hebrew text: The Masoretic text with vowels (nikkud) and cantillation marks (ta’amim), from the Westminster Leningrad Codex (public domain) as published by the Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (CC BY 4.0). Where the written text (ketiv) differs from the reading (qere), the reading is shown and the written form follows in small type. A paragraph mark (ס or פ) inside a verse is shown in small type.
English translation: The King James Version (public domain), lightly modernized by Benei Avraham: “thee/thou/ye” become “you,” older verb forms are updated (“hath” to “has”), and archaic words are replaced only where the meaning would otherwise be unclear. People and places carry their Hebrew names, with the King James spelling in parentheses the first time on each page (e.g., Yehudah (Judah)). The Divine Name (יהוה, “the LORD” in the KJV) is written “Hashem”; “God” (Elohim) is unchanged, and “law” is “Torah” where the Hebrew is תּוֹרָה.
Verse numbers: Verse numbers follow the Hebrew Bible. In 1 Chronicles they differ from most English Bibles in chapters 5, 6 and 12; a note under the summary on those pages explains how.
Commentary: Written for our Wednesday Tenakh study from a Messianic Jewish perspective, in line with the Benei Avraham Statement of Faith. It reads the passage first in its Torah setting, then with the Sages, and then with the witness of the Brit Hadashah. Its sources include the Talmud and Midrash, Rashi, Radak, Rambam, the First Fruits of Zion End of Days lessons, and teachings of Rabbi Efraim Palvanov and Ariel Cohen Alloro. Numerical readings (gematria) are offered as hints, not proofs. The notes here are short versions of our full 1 Chronicles commentary, which is a draft for our teachers to review. They are shown by default; tap Commentary to hide them.
Quiz: Written by Benei Avraham for young readers (about 11 and up). Every answer is in the chapter on this page. Answers and scores are kept only in this browser (local storage) and can be cleared with Start over.
Hebrew font: SBL Hebrew, by the Society of Biblical Literature.

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