And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all.
The verse names the five sons of Zerah as Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara. It belongs to the genealogies in the first nine chapters of Chronicles, which record the tribes and give particular attention to Judah. It belongs to the carefully preserved genealogy of Judah, the tribe through which Christ came.
The genealogical records in Chronicles supplied hereditary descent records needed after the exile for assigning land and maintaining temple service. The genealogies preserve the records of God's children and testify to the integrity of the tribes. The long list of names in this chapter can seem hard to understand or of little value, but it is part of the inspired record and provides material that can engage scholars.
The verse is part of the lists of the sons of Judah, naming ordinary people who lived and died thousands of years ago and are now unknown and forgotten by men. It shows that God remembers every one of these people by name, even when men have forgotten them, whether they were prosperous or failures. Because God does not change, He still knows and keeps obscure people by name today. Reading the list brings comfort to those who feel downhearted, overlooked, or like failures, with assurance that the name of a forgotten and failing person is put away safe and sure in God's lists.
The verse names the five sons of Zerah as Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara. It belongs to the genealogies in the first nine chapters of Chronicles, which record the tribes and give particular attention to Judah. It belongs to the carefully preserved genealogy of Judah, the tribe through which Christ came.
The genealogical records in Chronicles supplied hereditary descent records needed after the exile for assigning land and maintaining temple service. The genealogies preserve the records of God's children and testify to the integrity of the tribes. The long list of names in this chapter can seem hard to understand or of little value, but it is part of the inspired record and provides material that can engage scholars.
The verse is part of the lists of the sons of Judah, naming ordinary people who lived and died thousands of years ago and are now unknown and forgotten by men. It shows that God remembers every one of these people by name, even when men have forgotten them, whether they were prosperous or failures. Because God does not change, He still knows and keeps obscure people by name today. Reading the list brings comfort to those who feel downhearted, overlooked, or like failures, with assurance that the name of a forgotten and failing person is put away safe and sure in God's lists.