Genealogy – Chapter 7
In chapter 7 we get to see the lineage of primarily the northern
tribes. However, as you read through
these you will notice that there is a seemingly lack of attention to
detail. As detailed as chapter 6 was,
chapter 7 seems to be the exact opposite.
Remember that the northern tribes were taken into exile under
Assyria about 150 years prior to the fall of the southern kingdom and
Jerusalem. Thus, it is likely that much
of the genealogical data from the northern kingdom may well have been
lost. The chronicler may not be
intentionally light on details; it may have been the best he could accomplish.
In addition to this, many of the Hebrew people from the northern
kingdom would have been under captivity and dispersed by the Assyrians. Thus, when the Babylonians moved onto the
scene and knocked off the Assyrians, those in captivity under the Assyrians
would have been even more likely to be scattered more deeply and lost among the
people. Thus, when it came time for the
Hebrew people to return from exile when the Persians defeat the Babylonians,
there may not have been many of the northern kingdom still holding onto their
Hebrew heritage. Without many Hebrews
from the northern kingdom returning, there may just not have been data to
transmit.
So what can we learn from this?
I think there are two lessons that we can pull from the chronology
before us today. First, if we do not
draw close to the Lord, we are likely to get lost in the world. It may sound like a simple lesson, but it is
a very good one. We can stake our claim
to many pursuits in this life. But if we
don’t lay our claim in the Lord, we are likely to be swept away into the world
and find ourselves adrift among the masses.
The second lesson is just as important. The northern kingdom had been in exile for a
while before Judah goes into captivity.
Many of them were lost to posterity.
Of the exiles returning, most were of the clan of Judah or Levites who
were living in the southern kingdom. The
exiles could have looked down upon the few exiles returning from the northern
kingdom. But yet we find their genealogy
here in Chronicles. They are
included. They could have been the
proverbial ugly step-sister. But the
chronicler lifts them up in status to be included.
All have sinned.
There is forgiveness for all who repent, regardless of past
circumstances. That’s a powerful lesson
to remember.
<><
No comments:
Post a Comment