These were the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
The twelve sons of Jacob descended through all Scripture, yet several of them were much blemished in character. But the covenant was entailed on their seed by free grace alone, not works, else any man might boast. The tribe of Judah, most praised and increased, produced both the vile and the virtuous in one line; Christ Himself, the top branch of that tree, grew from roots that held Achan the troubler and Tamar the woman wronged.
AI summary
Commenting on 1 Chronicles 2:1-17
These are the sons of Israel,.... Or Jacob, the other son of Isaac, who had the name of Israel given him, because of his power with God, Gen 32:28, whose twelve sons are here mentioned by name; the first four according to their birth of Leah, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; then the two sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, Issachar and Zebulun; and between Dan...
The twelve sons of Israel form the foundation for all the genealogies that follow. Judah alone occupies three chapters because the tribe descended from only three of Judah's five sons, Shelah, Pharez, and Zerah, yet subdivided into five great families. The Chronicler gives us the line of Ram down to David, the branches of Caleb who settled many Judahite cities, and Jerahmeel's descendants, but notably omits Hamul's line entirely.
AI summary
Commenting on 1 Chronicles 2:1-2