The verse names Aholibamah, Elah, and Pinon among the dukes or chiefs of Edom in the genealogy of Esau, belonging to the long lists of names in the first chapters, the first eight chapters, of Chronicles. As part of those genealogical records, it belongs to records that established hereditary descent and helped restore proper land allotments and temple service after the exile. Such genealogical lists record the origin and distribution of races.
The verse is inspired Scripture preserved by the direction of the Spirit of God, just as inspired as Psalm 23 and part of God's word even when its purpose or value for instruction is not apparent. Preserving correct genealogies such as this was necessary to the development and certainty of the gospel. Genealogical lists such as this are not necessarily as interesting or instructive as the Gospels or other passages and need not be read with equal frequency. Such lists contain material that can interest scholars studying ethnology, and their presence does not make the Bible less valuable, since Scripture offers different kinds of riches to readers with different interests and abilities. The careful recording of even lists of names shows God's care in preserving such records, pointing to a faithful record of every person in heaven's books.
The verse names Aholibamah, Elah, and Pinon among the dukes or chiefs of Edom in the genealogy of Esau, belonging to the long lists of names in the first chapters, the first eight chapters, of Chronicles. As part of those genealogical records, it belongs to records that established hereditary descent and helped restore proper land allotments and temple service after the exile. Such genealogical lists record the origin and distribution of races.
The verse is inspired Scripture preserved by the direction of the Spirit of God, just as inspired as Psalm 23 and part of God's word even when its purpose or value for instruction is not apparent. Preserving correct genealogies such as this was necessary to the development and certainty of the gospel. Genealogical lists such as this are not necessarily as interesting or instructive as the Gospels or other passages and need not be read with equal frequency. Such lists contain material that can interest scholars studying ethnology, and their presence does not make the Bible less valuable, since Scripture offers different kinds of riches to readers with different interests and abilities. The careful recording of even lists of names shows God's care in preserving such records, pointing to a faithful record of every person in heaven's books.