Whose sisters were Zeruiah, and Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three.
The verse stands in the genealogical lists of Chronicles, in the section of 1 Chronicles 1-4 that is given to genealogies. There it records the names of David's sisters, Zeruiah and Abigail, and the three sons of Zeruiah, Abishai, Joab and Asahel. Those lists give particular attention to the house of Judah and to the priesthood, belonging to the carefully preserved genealogy of Judah. In its immediate setting the passage identifies Jesse as David's father and Zeruiah and Abigail as David's sisters, thereby establishing that Joab and Amasa were close relatives of David and of each other.
Such genealogical records established hereditary descent needed after the exile for assigning land and maintaining temple service. The lines of Judah and Levi were preserved unbroken until Jesus' first advent. The verse belongs to that line of Judah through which Christ came, showing Jesus come from Judah and from David's family as prophecy foretold. The Aaronic priesthood likewise continued until it was superseded by Christ's priesthood.
The verse belongs to the inspired record, though its genealogical content is not as instructive or as suited to repeated study as passages such as the Gospels or the Psalms. Such records show that God keeps a faithful record of every soul in heaven. He remembers people by name even when generations on earth have forgotten them, which gives comfort in discouragement.
The verse stands in the genealogical lists of Chronicles, in the section of 1 Chronicles 1-4 that is given to genealogies. There it records the names of David's sisters, Zeruiah and Abigail, and the three sons of Zeruiah, Abishai, Joab and Asahel. Those lists give particular attention to the house of Judah and to the priesthood, belonging to the carefully preserved genealogy of Judah. In its immediate setting the passage identifies Jesse as David's father and Zeruiah and Abigail as David's sisters, thereby establishing that Joab and Amasa were close relatives of David and of each other.
Such genealogical records established hereditary descent needed after the exile for assigning land and maintaining temple service. The lines of Judah and Levi were preserved unbroken until Jesus' first advent. The verse belongs to that line of Judah through which Christ came, showing Jesus come from Judah and from David's family as prophecy foretold. The Aaronic priesthood likewise continued until it was superseded by Christ's priesthood.
The verse belongs to the inspired record, though its genealogical content is not as instructive or as suited to repeated study as passages such as the Gospels or the Psalms. Such records show that God keeps a faithful record of every soul in heaven. He remembers people by name even when generations on earth have forgotten them, which gives comfort in discouragement.