Intertextuality Pair

1 Chronicles 2:3-17 → Genesis 38:29-30

Allusion

Later text

1 Chronicles 2:3-17BSB

The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by Bath-shua the Canaanite. Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, who put him to death. Tamar, Judah's daughter-in-law, bore to him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara—five in all. The son of Carmi: Achar, who brought trouble upon Israel by violating the ban on devoted things. The son of Ethan: Azariah. The sons who were born to Hezron: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Caleb. Ram was the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, a leader of the descendants of Judah. Nahshon was the father of Salmon, and Salmon was the father of Boaz. Boaz was the father of Obed, and Obed was the father of Jesse. Jesse was the father of Eliab his firstborn; Abinadab was born second, Shimea third, Nethanel fourth, Raddai fifth, Ozem sixth, and David seventh. Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. And the three sons of Zeruiah were Abishai, Joab, and Asahel. Abigail was the mother of Amasa, whose father was Jether the Ishmaelite.

Earlier text

Genesis 38:29-30BSB

But when he pulled his hand back and his brother came out, she said, "You have broken out first!" So he was named Perez. Then his brother came out with the scarlet thread around his wrist, and he was named Zerah.

Significance

The Chronicler traces the Davidic line through Perez (Perets, "breach"), the son born from the irregular union of Judah and Tamar (Gen 38:29-30). Genesis 38 narrates the dramatic birth scene where Perez "broke out" ahead of his twin Zerah. The Chronicler includes Perez in 1 Chronicles 2:4 as the ancestor through whom the line runs to Boaz, Jesse, and David. This genealogical link between Perez's unlikely birth and David's kingship demonstrates that God's sovereign purposes advance through human failure and scandal. Genesis even records the birth attendant's marking of Zerah's hand as the presumed firstborn, underscoring how thoroughly Perez's precedence reversed expectation before he ever reached Chronicles' genealogy.

Found via
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Reference Type
Allusion
Connection Method(s)
Longitudinal Theme

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