The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah; which three were born to him of Shua’s daughter the Canaanitess. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in Yahweh’s sight; and he killed him. Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara; five of them in all. The son of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass in the devoted thing. The son of Ethan: Azariah. The sons also of Hezron, who were born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai. Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah; and Nahshon became the father of Salma, and Salma became the father of Boaz, and Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse; and Jesse became the father of his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimea the third, Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh;
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1 Chronicles 2:3-15 sits inside this longer paragraph.
These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher. The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah; which three were born to him of Shua’s daughter the Canaanitess. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in Yahweh’s sight; and he killed him. Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara; five of them in all. The son of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass in the devoted thing. The son of Ethan: Azariah. The sons also of Hezron, who were born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai. Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah; and Nahshon became the father of Salma, and Salma became the father of Boaz, and Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse; and Jesse became the father of his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimea the third, Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh; and their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three. Abigail bore Amasa; and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.
Parallel Translations
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The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah; which three were born to him of Shua’s daughter the Canaanitess. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in Yahweh’s sight; and he killed him.
Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.
The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara; five of them in all.
The son of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass in the devoted thing.
The son of Ethan: Azariah.
The sons also of Hezron, who were born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai.
Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;
and Nahshon became the father of Salma, and Salma became the father of Boaz,
and Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse;
and Jesse became the father of his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimea the third,
Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,
Ozem the sixth, David the seventh;
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The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him.
And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul.
And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all.
And the sons of Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing accursed.
And the sons of Ethan; Azariah.
The sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him; Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai.
And Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;
And Nahshon begat Salma, and Salma begat Boaz,
And Boaz begat Obed, and Obed begat Jesse,
And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third,
Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,
Ozem the sixth, David the seventh:
Show all 3 translations
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The sons of Judah: Er, and Onan, and Shelah; which three were born unto him of Bath-shua the Canaanitess. And Er, Judah's first-born, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and He slew him.
And Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
The sons of Perez: Hezron, and Hamul.
And the sons of Zerah: Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all.
And the sons of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass concerning the devoted thing.
And the sons of Ethan: Azariah.
The sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him: Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai.
And Ram begot Amminadab; and Amminadab begot Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;
and Nahshon begot Salma, and Salma begot Boaz;
and Boaz begot Obed, and Obed begot Jesse;
and Jesse begot his first-born Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimea the third;
Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth;
Ozem the sixth, David the seventh.
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Contradictions (2)
Questions where the Bible appears to say two different things, with the passages on each side set together.
Cross-references (65)
- Matthew 1:3 (vv4, 5, 9) Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram.
- Genesis 38:2-10 (v3) There, Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite man named Shua. He took her, and went in to her. She conceived, and bore a son; and he…
- Matthew 1:4 (v10) Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon.
- Genesis 46:12 (vv3, 5) The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.
- Genesis 38:13-30 (v4) Tamar was told, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” She took off the garments of her widowhood, and…
Show all 59 cross-references
- Numbers 1:7 (v10) Of Judah: Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
- Numbers 26:19 (v3) The sons of Judah: Er and Onan. Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
- Ruth 4:21 (v11) and Salmon became the father of Boaz, and Boaz became the father of Obed,
- 1 Samuel 17:13 (v13) The three oldest sons of Jesse had gone after Saul to the battle: and the names of his three sons who went to the battle were Eliab the…
- Ruth 4:18 (vv4–5) Now this is the history of the generations of Perez: Perez became the father of Hezron,
- Numbers 2:3 (v10) Those who encamp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah, according to their divisions. The…
- Numbers 26:21 (v5) The sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.
- Joshua 6:18 (v7) But as for you, only keep yourselves from what is devoted to destruction, lest when you have devoted it, you take of the devoted thing; so…
- Ruth 4:19 (v9) and Hezron became the father of Ram, and Ram became the father of Amminadab,
- Ruth 4:19-20 (v10) and Hezron became the father of Ram, and Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon became…
- Ruth 4:22 (v12) and Obed became the father of Jesse, and Jesse became the father of David.
- 1 Samuel 16:1 (v12) Yahweh said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil,…
- 1 Samuel 16:10-11 (v15) Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. Samuel said to Jesse, “Yahweh has not chosen these.” Samuel said to Jesse, “Are all…
- 1 Samuel 17:12-14 (v15) Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Bethlehem Judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons. The man was an elderly old man in…
- 1 Kings 4:31 (v6) For he was wiser than all men; than Ethan the Ezrahite, Heman, Calcol, and Darda, the sons of Mahol: and his fame was in all the nations…
- 1 Chronicles 2:42 (v9) The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph; and the sons of Mareshah the father of…
- 1 Chronicles 10:14 (v12) and didn’t inquire of Yahweh. Therefore he killed him, and turned the kingdom over to David the son of Jesse.
- Isaiah 11:1 (v12) A shoot will come out of the stock of Jesse, and a branch out of his roots will bear fruit.
- Isaiah 11:10 (v12) It will happen in that day that the nations will seek the root of Jesse, who stands as a banner of the peoples; and his resting place will…
- Matthew 1:4-5 (v11) Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon. Salmon became the father…
- Luke 3:32-33 (v10) the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon, the son of Amminadab, the son of Aram, the son…
- Romans 15:12 (v12) Again, Isaiah says, “There will be the root of Jesse, he who arises to rule over the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles will hope.”
- Luke 3:32 (vv11–12) the son of Jesse, the son of Obed, the son of Boaz, the son of Salmon, the son of Nahshon,
- Luke 3:33 (vv4–5) the son of Amminadab, the son of Aram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,
- Genesis 38:11 (v4) Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, until Shelah, my son, is grown up;” for he said,…
- Numbers 7:12 (v10) He who offered his offering the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah,
- Numbers 7:17 (v10) and for the sacrifice of peace offerings, two head of cattle, five rams, five male goats, and five male lambs a year old. This was the…
- Numbers 10:14 (v10) First, the standard of the camp of the children of Judah went forward according to their armies. Nahshon the son of Amminadab was over his…
- Numbers 26:13 (v4) of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites; of Shaul, the family of the Shaulites.
- Numbers 26:20-21 (v4) The sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the…
- Deuteronomy 7:26 (v7) You shall not bring an abomination into your house and become a devoted thing like it. You shall utterly detest it. You shall utterly abhor…
- Deuteronomy 13:17 (v7) Nothing of the devoted thing shall cling to your hand, that Yahweh may turn from the fierceness of his anger and show you mercy, and have…
- Joshua 7:1 (v6) But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted things; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of…
- Joshua 7:1-5 (v7) But the children of Israel committed a trespass in the devoted things; for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of…
- Joshua 7:11-15 (v7) Israel has sinned. Yes, they have even transgressed my covenant which I commanded them. Yes, they have even taken some of the devoted…
- Joshua 7:17-18 (v6) He brought near the family of Judah, and he selected the family of the Zerahites. He brought near the family of the Zerahites man by man,…
- Joshua 7:25 (v7) Joshua said, “Why have you troubled us? Yahweh will trouble you today.” All Israel stoned him with stones, and they burned them with fire…
- Joshua 22:20 (v7) Didn’t Achan the son of Zerah commit a trespass in the devoted thing, and wrath fell on all the congregation of Israel? That man didn’t…
- Ruth 4:12 (v4) Let your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the offspring which Yahweh will give you by this young woman.”
- 1 Samuel 16:6-13 (v13) When they had come, he looked at Eliab, and said, “Surely Yahweh’s anointed is before him.” But Yahweh said to Samuel, “Don’t look on his…
- 1 Samuel 17:28 (v13) Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab’s anger burned against David, and he said, “Why have you come down? With…
- 1 Chronicles 2:18-19 (v9) Caleb the son of Hezron became the father of children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth; and these were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and…
- 1 Chronicles 2:24 (v9) After Hezron died in Caleb Ephrathah, Abijah Hezron’s wife bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.
- 1 Chronicles 9:4 (v4) Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Perez the son of Judah.
- 1 Chronicles 9:5 (v3) Of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn, and his sons.
- 1 Chronicles 9:6 (v4) Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their brothers, six hundred ninety.
- 1 Chronicles 20:7 (v13) When he defied Israel, Jonathan the son of Shimea David’s brother killed him.
- 1 Chronicles 27:18 (v13) of Judah, Elihu, one of the brothers of David; of Issachar, Omri the son of Michael;
- Nehemiah 11:4 (v4) Some of the children of Judah and of the children of Benjamin lived in Jerusalem. Of the children of Judah: Athaiah the son of Uzziah, the…
- Nehemiah 11:24 (v4) Pethahiah the son of Meshezabel, of the children of Zerah the son of Judah, was at the king’s hand in all matters concerning the people.
- Luke 3:3 (v9) He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins.
- 1 Chronicles 4:1 (v7) The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.
- Matthew 1:5 (v12) Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse.
- Acts 13:22 (v12) When he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, to whom he also testified, ‘I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after…
59 distinct cross-references across this passage (65 total citations).
Cross-references from openbible.info (CC BY 4.0)
Explain this passage (17 sources)
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Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv3, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 13 Though Judah was not Jacob’s eldest son, yet he…
Though Judah was not Jacob’s eldest son, yet he first beginneth at him, because he would come to the genealogy of David, of whom came Christ.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 15 1Ch 2:3 The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan,…
1Ch 2:3 The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: [which] three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him.
Ver. 3. The sons of Judah.] These are first set down, (1.) For the royal dignity; (2.) For the descent of the Messiah.
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Was evil in the sight of the Lord.] Quem nihil latet , Who seeth and punisheth secret sins.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv3, 6, 7, 13, 15 He puts
He puts
Judah first, because the best part of the right of the first-born, to wit, the dominion, was conferred upon him, Gen 49:8, and because the Messiah was to come out of his loins.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13 And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez…
And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah,.... Through incest; they were twins, Gen 38:27 all the sons of Judah were five; who are before mentioned by name.
all the sons of Judah were five; who are before mentioned by name.
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1 Chronicles 2:5
ch1 2:5
ch1 2:5
ch1 2:5The sons of Pharez,.... One of the above twins, born to Judah:
Hezron and Hamul; see Gen 46:12.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On vv3, 6, 7, 13, 15 Judah - Whom he puts first, because the best…
Judah - Whom he puts first, because the best part of the right of the firstborn, namely, the dominion, was conferred upon him, Gen. xlix, 8, and because the Messiah was to come out of his loins.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On v6 Verse 6. Five of them in all.] "These were…
Verse 6. Five of them in all.] "These were all chief men; and on them the spirit of prophecy rested." - T.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv3, 6, 7, 9, 13 1Ch 2:3. The sons of Judah — He puts…
1Ch 2:3. The sons of Judah — He puts Judah first, because the best part of the right of the firstborn, namely, the dominion, was conferred on him, Gen 49:8; in consequence of which, his tribe obtained a pre- eminence among, and a kind of superiority over the rest, even before the time of David. And from David’s time, it is without doubt, that till the Babylonish captivity a kingly power continued in this tribe; Zerubbabel, also, who was their leader, when they returned to their own land, was of the same tribe. The chief reason, however, why the genealogy of Judah is set down first, is because the Messiah was to descend from him.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Albert Barnes 1834 · Public Domain On vv6, 7, 15 The sons of Zerah - Here, for the first…
The sons of Zerah - Here, for the first time, the writer of Chronicles draws from sources not otherwise known to us, recording facts not mentioned in the earlier Scriptures. Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara, sons of Zerah, are only known to us from this passage, since there are no sufficient grounds for identifying them with the “sons of Mahol” (marginal reference).
Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv3, 6, 7, 10, 11, 15 Her. The crime for which he was punished is…
Her. The crime for which he was punished is not specified in Scripture. (Calmet) --- The Rabbins say that he was so enamoured of the beauty of his wife, that he treated her in the same manner as Onan did afterwards. (Cassian viii. 11.) --- It is supposed that he was slain by a devil, (Calmet) like the (Tirinus) impure husbands of Sarai, Tobias vi. 14. (Haydock)
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv6, 7, 15 Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara--These…
Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara--These five are here stated to be the sons of Zerah, that is, of Ezra, whence they were called Ezrahites (Kg1 4:31). In that passage they are called "the sons of Mahol," which, however, is to be taken not as a proper name, but appellatively for "sons of music, dancing," &c. The traditional fame of their great sagacity and acquirements had descended to the time of Solomon and formed a standard of comparison for showing the superior wisdom of that monarch. Jewish writers say that they were looked up to as prophets by their countrymen during the abode in Egypt.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 13, 14, 15 3–17. The Descent of the Sons of Jesse from…
3–17. The Descent of the Sons of Jesse from Judah
4. Pharez] R.V. Perez.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv3–10 THE FIVE SONS OF JUDAH, FROM Genesis 38.
THE FIVE SONS OF JUDAH, FROM Genesis 38.
(3) The daughter of Shua the Canaanitess.—Shua was the father of Judah’s wife.
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Er, the firstborn of Judah, was (became, proved) evil.—Word for word from Gen_38:7. Suppressing other details relating to the sons of Judah, the chronicler copies this statement intact from Genesis, because it thoroughly harmonises with the moral he wishes to be drawn from the entire history of his people.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 Vers. 3-9. 2. THE LINE OF JUDAH, TO HIS…
Vers. 3-9. 2. THE LINE OF JUDAH, TO HIS THREE GREATGRANDSONS. The line of Judah is, with a well-known object, the first to be taken up, although Judah stands fourth of Israel"s sons. Judah has five sons: three, Er, Onan, Shelah, by a Canaanitess, the daughter of Shad; and two, Pharez and Zerah, by Tamar, his own daughter-in-law, under the circumstances described. (Gen_38:6-30) There all these names are found in exact accord in the Authorized Version, in the Hebrew text, and in the Septuagint. The Septuagint Version, however, (Gen_38:2) by an evident inaccuracy of translation, gives Shua as the name, not of the father, but of the daughter, h=| onoma Saua. Parallel passages are also found (Gen_46:12; Num_26:19-22) Er and Onan died without issue, and the descendants of Shelah are not mentioned till we 1Ch_4:21-23. The line is now carried on by the twin sons of Tamar (vers. 5, 6). Pharez, with two sons, Hezron and Hamul (Gen_46:12; Rth_4:18) and Zerah, with five sons, Zimri (or, Jos_7:1) Ethan, Heman, Calcol, Dara (or with many manuscripts, followed by the Targum, Syriac, and Arabic versions, Darda). If these last four names are not identical with those in 1Ki_4:31, they are not to be found in any available connection elsewhere, and the last two not at all. Upon this supposition, it is held by some that this very passage proves that the compiler drew on resources not possessed by us.
The weight of evidence seems, however, largely in favour of the persons being the same. (See Gilbert Barrington"s "Old Testament Genealogies," 1:206-208, well summarized in art. "Darda," Smith"s "Bible Dictionary," for as competent a discussion of the question as the present data will allow.) It needs to be constantly remembered that an enumeration like the above, of five so-called sons, does not necessarily involve their being five brothers, although in this case it looks the more as though they were so, as it is said five of them in all Divine judgment on individual sin.
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Very little is known of Er. The account in Genesis (Gen_38:7) is as brief as that given in the Chronicles. Yet it sets clearly before us a case of early death, probably a sudden and violent death, and it declares to us that, in this particular instance, the death, and the manner of the death, were immediate judgments on personal transgression. There is a strong tendency to assume individual sin as the cause of calamities and so-called accidents, but our Lord taught us that we cannot always, or necessarily, trace such a connection. It may be so, but it may not be so; and we, in Christian charity, had better leave the discovery of the connection in God"s own hands. (see Luk_13:1-5) Still, we should be ready to learn the lessons which God may design to teach us, when he is pleased to give us illustrative cases in his Word. Oftentimes we find the Divine recognition and judgment of social and national sins illustrated. The old divine bids us remember that "God can only punish nations, as such, in this world; he can punish individuals in this world and the next." Israel is, as a nation, the subject of frequent Divine judgments, and Israel is bidden observe how Divine judgments fall on the guilty nations around her. But as this feature of the Divine dealings is set forth so prominently and so constantly, there is some danger of our assuming that Divine judgments, as executed here on earth, do not concern the individual; and that God may be said directly to govern the race, but not the man. Such a delusion would tend to nourish human wilfulness and pride, and still more completely separate men from God; and, therefore, we have men"s personal sins, and the immediate Divine judgment on those sins, impressively narrated.
I ER"S SIN WAS SOME PERSONAL ACT OF WRONG-DOING. Exactly what it was we are not told, but we know the ways in which men nowadays transgress God"s laws and insult the Divine honour. There are acts of wilful disobedience and rebellion, acts of bodily self-indulgence, and acts of violence and cruelty toward others. We have to see that this evil of Er"s was distinctly personal. He did not merely share in the errors, or follies, or sins of his age, in a blind and heedless way; he made wicked ways for himself, and wrought evil in his own wilfulness. Therefore the Divine observation rested upon him as a man who strove to set himself against God.
II ER"S SIN REVEALED A HOPELESSLY CORRUPTED NATURE. It was such a fruitage as could only come out of a corrupt tree. Distinguish between the one sin into which man may be tempted; even the good man may be "drawn aside and enticed," "overtaken in a fault;" and the continuing in sin, which indicates the love for it, and the deteriorating influence it has exerted on mind and heart. A time may come for the man (as Er), or for the nation (as Sodom), when remedial agencies cease to be of avail, and then they can but be "cut down." Illustrate from Pharaoh, with the hardened heart, from King Saul, and from the expression used in Hosea, (Hos_4:17) "Ephraim is joined to idols: let him alone.
III ER"S SIN BROUGHT UPON HIMSELF DIVINE JUDGMENT. This is briefly but forcibly intimated in the words, "and he slew him." His early and sudden and violent death, was no disease and no accident. It was direct Divine judgment. God deals with the individual exactly as with the hopelessly corrupted world and the utterly degraded Sodom. Life on earth is forfeited it" it is so shamefully abused. Discuss the question how far we may recognize calamities reaching individuals as Divine judgment on their personal transgressions. In every age there are open and notorious cases, e.g. Ananias and Sapphira. We may say that it is quite possible for any accident to be a judgment; but it may be a judgment on a bad system, and the sufferer may not be the direct cause. Impress God"s constant inspection of individual conduct and character. R.T.
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On v7 Achar, the troubler of Israel.
1Ch_2:7
Achar, the troubler of Israel.
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The troubler of Israel
I have read many biographies, but never met with any which hit off a mans character in a line as this word of inspiration does. The noble and the great used frequently to suspend the achievement over the tomb of their departed ancestor in memorial of his renown, bearing a motto, which described the leading characteristic of the ancient founder of the family. Here is the tomb of Achar, or Achan, and here is the motto for his achievement. The tomb consists of a large heap of stones, which am injured people by Gods command piled upon his ashes after they had stoned him to death, and burned his dead body with fire. What is the motto? The troubler of Israel. What a finale to a mans life! What a record to paint on his escutcheon!
I. What made Achan a troubler of Israel? Sin. All trouble may be traced to this. It led Achan to commit the threefold crime of disobedience, defiance of Gods scrutiny, and sacrilege. His one sin brought trouble into all the camp. This is all the mere remarkable when you remember how insignificant his position was among the tribes. We die all alone, but we cannot all sin alone. Even our secret sins are public calamities, and no transgression is without its malign influence upon the common weal.
II. The troubles Achan brought upon his people.
1. Defeat before a less powerful foe.
2. Depression of spirit, which unremedied, would he fatal to the very existence of the nation.
3. Anger from God, which would not be appeased even by the intercession of Joshua.
4. The threat of abandonment by God if they did not root out the evil from among them. (George Venables.)
Achan, the troubler of Israel
Why was the punishment of Achan so severe?
1. His was a terrible sin; it was a wilful disobedience; it was high treason against God; it was sacrilege; it was stealing, lying, coveting, and practically murder.
2. This sin struck at the very life of the nation. If the people could disobey God with impunity, the nation would soon be ruined, and the hope of the world be put out.
3. The course Achan took would have degraded God in the eyes of Israel and of the Gentiles. The people and cities of Canaan were rich; the Israelites were poor. Canaan had the resources of a somewhat high civilisation--gold, silver, vessels of brass and of iron; goodly Babyionish garments. Now, suppose the Lord had given them free license to plunder, to steal and hide, and appropriate all they could lay hands on? This movement for the conquest of Canaan would have become a savage, plundering, marauding expedition.
4. These fascinating spoils--these glittering prizes of gold and silver, and these ornaments of the cultured Canaanites--were linked in on every hand with idolatry. Art and wealth in Canaan, as in every other heathen nation, lent their power to augment the attractions towards idol-worship.
5. But another consideration must have great weight. The Israelites had before them the task of conquering Palestine, a task which required the utmost discipline in the army. God was the Captain, directing, through Joshua, all the campaign. It was absolutely necessary, in the interests of military discipline, to check the first buddings of that cupidity which so often characterised ancient warfare. (Christian Age.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v13 Or, Shammah, 1Sa 16:9.
Shimma
Or, Shammah, 1Sa 16:9.
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv3, 5, 9, 13 General Information:
General Information:
This list includes the names of both men and women names. (See: How to Translate Names)
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Er, Onan, and Shelah ... Shua ... Perez ... Zerah
These are the names of men. (See: How to Translate Names)
who were born to him by Shua's daughter
This can be translated in active form. AT: "his sons whom Shua bore" (See: Active or Passive)
Yahweh
This is the name of God that he revealed to his people in the Old Testament. See the translationWord page about Yahweh concerning how to translate this.
bore him Perez and Zerah
"gave birth to his sons Perez and Zerah"
in the sight of Yahweh
The sight of Yahweh represents his judgment or evaluation. AT: "as Yahweh judged" (See: Metaphor)
Yahweh killed him
The reader should understand that Yahweh probably had a person kill Er. (See: Metonymy)
Tamar
This is the name of a woman. (See: How to Translate Names)
daughter-in-law
This is a reference to the wife of his son.
five sons
"5 sons" (See: Numbers)
translationWords
Canaan
firstborn
evil
Yahweh
Tamar
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 14 2:3–4:23 While the genealogies present the entire people of…
2:3–4:23 While the genealogies present the entire people of Israel (2:1-2), David’s ancestors in the tribe of Judah receive priority.
2:3-8 The genealogy of Judah is as comprehensive as possible, recording peripheral material as the background to the main line of David’s ancestors. Cp. Gen 46:12.
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2:3 Er and Onan, the first two sons of Judah, were destroyed because of their sin (Gen 38:6-10). The descendants of Shelah are listed as an appendix at the end of the genealogies of Judah (1 Chr 4:21-23).
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.