And Shallum begat Hilkiah, and Hilkiah begat Azariah,
1 Chronicles 6:13 stands in the genealogies that open Chronicles, in a chapter made up nearly entirely of personal names and long lists of names tracing successive generations in the priestly line. More particularly it belongs to the record of Levi and the sons of Levi, as part of the full priestly genealogy from Aaron in 1 Chronicles 6:3-15, where Hilkiah appears as son of Shallum and Azariah as son of Hilkiah in Aaron's line. These genealogical catalogues were kept with great care and carefully preserved, and the genealogy of Levi was one of the two tribal genealogies kept unbroken until Christ's first coming.
After the exile the records preserved hereditary descent needed for assigning land and maintaining temple service through those with hereditary duties, and they guarded the prerogatives of the priesthood. They also guarded the fulfillment of prophecies and promises, especially Messianic hopes, and in this connection the genealogy of Judah is especially noted because Christ came through that tribe. Such lists of names belong to the inspired record of the Bible and can reward careful study even when their value is not immediately clear, including as material of interest for studying the origin and distribution of peoples.
The verse illustrates the Hebrew habit of compressing a genealogy, in that Ezra's own descent from Aaron omits several generations found in this Chronicles list, showing that intermediate links may be dropped and a man called the son of a remote ancestor when the aim is only to show relation to that ancestor rather than to spread out the whole family history. The verse is part of a genealogy, not an expressed promise. The genealogies were kept because God is particular, and they show that a faithful record of every person is kept in heaven; the names show that God remembers each person even when people have been forgotten for thousands of years, an assurance that can comfort someone who feels like a failure.
1 Chronicles 6:13 stands in the genealogies that open Chronicles, in a chapter made up nearly entirely of personal names and long lists of names tracing successive generations in the priestly line. More particularly it belongs to the record of Levi and the sons of Levi, as part of the full priestly genealogy from Aaron in 1 Chronicles 6:3-15, where Hilkiah appears as son of Shallum and Azariah as son of Hilkiah in Aaron's line. These genealogical catalogues were kept with great care and carefully preserved, and the genealogy of Levi was one of the two tribal genealogies kept unbroken until Christ's first coming.
After the exile the records preserved hereditary descent needed for assigning land and maintaining temple service through those with hereditary duties, and they guarded the prerogatives of the priesthood. They also guarded the fulfillment of prophecies and promises, especially Messianic hopes, and in this connection the genealogy of Judah is especially noted because Christ came through that tribe. Such lists of names belong to the inspired record of the Bible and can reward careful study even when their value is not immediately clear, including as material of interest for studying the origin and distribution of peoples.
The verse illustrates the Hebrew habit of compressing a genealogy, in that Ezra's own descent from Aaron omits several generations found in this Chronicles list, showing that intermediate links may be dropped and a man called the son of a remote ancestor when the aim is only to show relation to that ancestor rather than to spread out the whole family history. The verse is part of a genealogy, not an expressed promise. The genealogies were kept because God is particular, and they show that a faithful record of every person is kept in heaven; the names show that God remembers each person even when people have been forgotten for thousands of years, an assurance that can comfort someone who feels like a failure.