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.
Now these are the generations of Perez: Perez was the father of Hezron, Hezron was the father of Ram, Ram was the father of Amminadab, Amminadab was the father of Nahshon, Nahshon was the father of Salmon, Salmon was the father of Boaz, Boaz was the father of Obed, Obed was the father of Jesse, and Jesse was the father of David.
Significance
The Chronicler's genealogy from Perez to David (1 Chr 2:5-16) closely reproduces the toledot ("generations") of Perez in Ruth 4:18-22, which concludes the book of Ruth by tracing the line Perez-Hezron-Ram-Amminadab-Nahshon-Salmon-Boaz-Obed-Jesse-David. Both texts present this ten-generation lineage as the theological spine connecting the patriarchal period to the monarchy. The Chronicler's direct quotation of Ruth's genealogy embeds the Moabite love story within Israel's national history, showing that the Davidic line passed through Ruth the Moabitess, a surprising inclusion that underscores God's gracious incorporation of outsiders. The Chronicler's fuller genealogy also names Tamar (1 Chr 2:4) alongside Ruth, pairing two "irregular" women through whom the Davidic line was providentially preserved.
