1 Chronicles 1:2 belongs to the opening genealogical record of Chronicles that traces family ancestry, listing Kenan, Mahalaleel, and Jered without adding further explanation of the names. The name Kenan means lamenting, and in the form Cainan means miserable, describing humanity's spiritual death after sin. The name Mahalaleel means the blessed God, or God who is worthy of all praise, bringing the Saviour into view. The name Jered, also given as Jared, means shall come down or he shall descend, expressing the Saviour's humiliation. Together the names contribute to the rendering and redemption message that the blessed God himself shall come down.
The verse belongs to the carefully kept genealogical record tracing the family line through which the Promised Seed was to come, and correct genealogies of this kind were necessary to the development and certainty of the gospel. After the exile such genealogical records were needed to establish hereditary rights to land and duties in temple service. The long list of names to which it belongs records the origin and distribution of races, providing material for the study of ethnology.
The genealogy was written and preserved by the direction of the Spirit of God, and the verse is inspired and profitable and no less inspired than other Scripture even when its purpose or usefulness is not apparent, to be received as God's word rather than discarded as unimportant. The listing of names illustrates that God is particular and that a faithful record of every soul is kept in heaven.
1 Chronicles 1:2 belongs to the opening genealogical record of Chronicles that traces family ancestry, listing Kenan, Mahalaleel, and Jered without adding further explanation of the names. The name Kenan means lamenting, and in the form Cainan means miserable, describing humanity's spiritual death after sin. The name Mahalaleel means the blessed God, or God who is worthy of all praise, bringing the Saviour into view. The name Jered, also given as Jared, means shall come down or he shall descend, expressing the Saviour's humiliation. Together the names contribute to the rendering and redemption message that the blessed God himself shall come down.
The verse belongs to the carefully kept genealogical record tracing the family line through which the Promised Seed was to come, and correct genealogies of this kind were necessary to the development and certainty of the gospel. After the exile such genealogical records were needed to establish hereditary rights to land and duties in temple service. The long list of names to which it belongs records the origin and distribution of races, providing material for the study of ethnology.
The genealogy was written and preserved by the direction of the Spirit of God, and the verse is inspired and profitable and no less inspired than other Scripture even when its purpose or usefulness is not apparent, to be received as God's word rather than discarded as unimportant. The listing of names illustrates that God is particular and that a faithful record of every soul is kept in heaven.