And of the sons of Zerah; Jeuel, and their brethren, six hundred and ninety.
The verse names Jeuel with his brethren or relatives, six hundred and ninety in number, among the sons or descendants of Zerah. It stands among the lists and genealogies of the various tribes contained in the first nine chapters of Chronicles. Those genealogies form one division of Chronicles alongside the histories of David, of Solomon, and of the remaining kings of Judah, with special attention given to the house of Judah and to the priesthood. They supply what was left out of Samuel and Kings while taking knowledge of the preceding books for granted.
Its immediate setting in 1 Chronicles 9:1-32 describes an order of temple service in force after the return from Babylon that had originally been ordained by David and Samuel. That order mentions the Sabbath with reference to the events of David's life. Such genealogies of hereditary family descent were carefully preserved and recorded in great number because they were needed after the exile. Then the land came to be assigned to its hereditary owners and the temple service to be taken up by those whose hereditary duty it was.
The careful preservation here of Judah's genealogy and of the record of the tribes is significant because Christ came through Judah's line. The careful recording of names and family lines in such a genealogy illustrates that God keeps a faithful record of every soul.
The verse names Jeuel with his brethren or relatives, six hundred and ninety in number, among the sons or descendants of Zerah. It stands among the lists and genealogies of the various tribes contained in the first nine chapters of Chronicles. Those genealogies form one division of Chronicles alongside the histories of David, of Solomon, and of the remaining kings of Judah, with special attention given to the house of Judah and to the priesthood. They supply what was left out of Samuel and Kings while taking knowledge of the preceding books for granted.
Its immediate setting in 1 Chronicles 9:1-32 describes an order of temple service in force after the return from Babylon that had originally been ordained by David and Samuel. That order mentions the Sabbath with reference to the events of David's life. Such genealogies of hereditary family descent were carefully preserved and recorded in great number because they were needed after the exile. Then the land came to be assigned to its hereditary owners and the temple service to be taken up by those whose hereditary duty it was.
The careful preservation here of Judah's genealogy and of the record of the tribes is significant because Christ came through Judah's line. The careful recording of names and family lines in such a genealogy illustrates that God keeps a faithful record of every soul.