1 Chronicles 1:32
Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan. Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan.
The verse names the six sons born to Abraham by Keturah his concubine — Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak and Shuah — and then names the two sons of Jokshan, Sheba and Dedan. It stands within the genealogical lists that open the book of Chronicles, lists that set down names and events with particular attention given to Judah and to the priesthood. It is part of the inspired Bible, preserved by the direction of the Spirit of God, and is no less inspired than the twenty-third Psalm, even where its purpose or its use for edification is not immediately clear.
Like other genealogies, it is inspired, yet not every part of Scripture is equally interesting, instructive or useful to every reader, nor necessarily suited to equally frequent reading. The preservation of correct genealogies of this kind was necessary to the development and certainty of the gospel. Such lists record the origin and distribution of peoples and can hold interest for those studying ethnology. Its inclusion reflects the careful keeping of genealogical records, showing that God is particular and that a faithful record of each soul is kept in heaven.