Joah his son, Iddo his son, Zerah his son, Jeaterai his son.
The line runs Joah to Iddo to Zerah to Jeaterai in successive father-son descent, belonging to the Levitical genealogy. That genealogy stands inside the extended record of names in 1 Chronicles 4-19, which is occupied largely with chronology. Such long lists of names are usually regarded as dry and uninteresting, yet they are lit here and there by beautiful gems.
These genealogies preserved the proof of hereditary descent that was needed after the exile for assigning land and for maintaining the hereditary duties of the temple. Their preservation shows the preservation of the records of God's children and of the integrity of the tribes. Their careful keeping shows that God is particular and that a faithful record of every soul is kept in heaven. The naming of persons long forgotten by others shows that God remembers each person individually, which comforts those who feel forgotten or who regard their lives as failures.
The line runs Joah to Iddo to Zerah to Jeaterai in successive father-son descent, belonging to the Levitical genealogy. That genealogy stands inside the extended record of names in 1 Chronicles 4-19, which is occupied largely with chronology. Such long lists of names are usually regarded as dry and uninteresting, yet they are lit here and there by beautiful gems.
These genealogies preserved the proof of hereditary descent that was needed after the exile for assigning land and for maintaining the hereditary duties of the temple. Their preservation shows the preservation of the records of God's children and of the integrity of the tribes. Their careful keeping shows that God is particular and that a faithful record of every soul is kept in heaven. The naming of persons long forgotten by others shows that God remembers each person individually, which comforts those who feel forgotten or who regard their lives as failures.