1 Chronicles 2:38 stands within the genealogies of 1 Chronicles, within the carefully preserved genealogy of Judah's descendants and within the broader genealogical record. There Obed begat Jehu and Jehu begat Azariah, taking their place in the list of Judah's descendants. It is one of over five hundred verses in twelve chapters of 1 Chronicles that are nearly all names of persons, and one of more than fifteen hundred verses in the Bible that are simply names of persons, places, nations, cities and kings.
These genealogical records supplied the hereditary proof required after the exile for assigning land and for maintaining temple service. As part of the genealogy of Judah, the verse belongs to the line of the tribe through which Christ came.
As part of that genealogical record, the verse shows that God preserves a detailed record of individuals. It remembers by name people whose lives are otherwise unknown and long forgotten, giving comfort that no person is forgotten by him. Such verses of genealogy and lists are not expressed, distinct, precious promises to God's people, any more than verses of threatenings of God's wrath against sin and denunciations of evil are. With 23,556 verses in the Old Testament and 7,957 in the New Testament for a total of 31,513, removing those name verses and threatenings leaves about 30,000 verses, six thousand less than 36,000, so every verse cannot be an expressed promise.
1 Chronicles 2:38 stands within the genealogies of 1 Chronicles, within the carefully preserved genealogy of Judah's descendants and within the broader genealogical record. There Obed begat Jehu and Jehu begat Azariah, taking their place in the list of Judah's descendants. It is one of over five hundred verses in twelve chapters of 1 Chronicles that are nearly all names of persons, and one of more than fifteen hundred verses in the Bible that are simply names of persons, places, nations, cities and kings.
These genealogical records supplied the hereditary proof required after the exile for assigning land and for maintaining temple service. As part of the genealogy of Judah, the verse belongs to the line of the tribe through which Christ came.
As part of that genealogical record, the verse shows that God preserves a detailed record of individuals. It remembers by name people whose lives are otherwise unknown and long forgotten, giving comfort that no person is forgotten by him. Such verses of genealogy and lists are not expressed, distinct, precious promises to God's people, any more than verses of threatenings of God's wrath against sin and denunciations of evil are. With 23,556 verses in the Old Testament and 7,957 in the New Testament for a total of 31,513, removing those name verses and threatenings leaves about 30,000 verses, six thousand less than 36,000, so every verse cannot be an expressed promise.