An initial glance over 1 Chronicles brings a yawn. Unless you’re into genealogies of ancient middle-eastern peoples, you skip to the good parts. Personally I skim these passages, appreciating the more interesting names, like Lud (sounds like a big, slow guy); Peleg (I picture a pirate); and Joktan (a guy who gets things done). Forgive my active imagination.

Thousands of names litter the pages of our Bibles, most of which we know nothing about. People fill the stories found in the scriptures. All the commands of God, the thou shalts and thou shalt nots were given in the context of the Lord’s relationship to his people. God is personal, and relates to humankind as such.

God created the world and dwells in unapproachable light, and yet God remains close and connected to each one of us.

Take a pause and slowly read this verse (one I tend to skim) a couple times—The sons of Jahdai: Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ehpah and Shaaph. Listen closely. What do these men whisper about following the Lord? I don’t know if they lived devout lives, or tortured those around them. But at this moment each holds a view of eternity far in advance of ours. They wait where we are headed.

Follow the footsteps of the wise. Learn from those who’ve gone before and emulate their best practices. Enjoy these lists of seemingly random names, knowing the Lord knew each one intimately, just as he knows you and me.

1 Chronicles 2 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Jon Tyson