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.
The Israelites, however, acted unfaithfully regarding the things devoted to destruction. Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took some of what was set apart. So the anger of the LORD burned against the Israelites.
Significance
Joshua 7:1 traces Achan's lineage through the tribe of Judah: "Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah." First Chronicles 2:3-17 provides the comprehensive Judahite genealogy that includes the Zerahite line alongside the dominant Perezite line leading to David. By positioning Achan within the broader Zerah branch (as opposed to the Perez-to-David line), the genealogical data highlights that Judah's tribal history includes both the line of royal promise and the line of covenant violation. The Chronicler's preservation of both branches demonstrates that divine election operates through Perez despite the infidelity within the Zerahite clan.
Found via
Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Reference Type
Echo
Connection Method(s)
Redemptive-Historical Progression — 1 Chr 2:3-7 deliberately preserves both Judahite branches: Zerah's, in which Achan broke faith over the devoted things (Josh 7:1), and Perez's, which runs to David; the register carries the earlier covenant breach forward as part of the record that election advanced through Perez despite failure in the brother-line.
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