The purpose of Genealogies in the Bible may not be (and I argue that they are not) the same as either modern genealogies or many other ancient genealogies. Today, genealogies or brief heritage records serve the function of proving nationality, cultural minority, or family pride. Ancient genealogies also placed emphasis on nationality and family titles. The nationality may entitle an individual to certain rights (Like Paul, as he used his Roman citizenship to resolve conflicts [1]), or may work against them if their nation was subservient to another.[2] The Family rights may give certain levels of authority in society from kings to politicians to household heads.[3] I suggest that the Biblical genealogies occasionally served these functions, but primarily focused on other objectives. There are two major functions that play a role in this study. This article will focus on the first: the religious function.
The OT does not present a history of the world. It focuses on a single relatively tiny nation called Israel. Even within Israel’s history, the text picks and chooses certain points and leaves the rest for other record keepers.[4] With this in mind, we recognize that OT genealogies do not intend to replicate the entire history of every Israelite.[5] What the text does portray, however, is vital and important to the Jewish religion and way of life. To the Jew, there was no separation of secular government from religion.[6] Their genealogies impacted the way they perceived their religious duties as well as their political responsibilities.
The connection between family line and religion for the Jew dates back to Abram and God’s promise to him. God promised that Abram would have a blood son through Sarah, and that his descendents would number like sand on the sea shore and would inhabit ‘the land.’[7] As a marker of this covenant God required that every male born to this family of promise be circumcised.[8] Circumcision becomes the linking action and symbol between nationality and religion.[9] The primary goal for their geneialogies was to show family links from the current generation back to this forefather, so that their identity as people of God could be confirmed. Second to that, Genealogies served as agents to distinguish households and tribes into their duties and responsibilities.
This primary goal (the family links) is easiest to see in Matthew and Luke’s genealogies of Jesus.[10] They both trace from one end to the other in a straight line to show Jesus’ relationship to Abram and David. The subject of skipping generations could easily be discussed here, but will wait for another article. The emphasis of that discussion is to establish generic family ties without having to name every person in the line. This appears to be a common feature found most prominently in the period of Egyptian captivity. The family connection was also important when establishing legitimacy as true Israelites. This would have been very important upon entering the promised land and coming back from Babylonian captivity. The first period (effected by Numbers)[11] needs the least detail since their objective was to completely remove all previous inhabitants.[12] The pollution of the Israelite line was a constant problem throughout their history. By the time of the exile the Jewish line was in danger of being lost completely.[13]This brought about the necessity for the largest genealogy in the Bible, found in 1 Chronicles 1-9.[14] Ezra (potential author for the Chronicles) lists many family heads of those who returned.[15] He also implimented purity requirements for the priests before they could reenter their duties.[16] Those that could not produce sufficient genealogies were turned away.
This brings us the second religious goal: family duties. The most important family to keep track of was Levi. This tribe was set aside by God for the purpose of serving within the Temple.[17] The priesthood was the specific responsibility of Aaron’s family, and no other. The other Levite familes had spelled out duties in Numbers 4. Further responsibilities are mentioned in Chronicles upon establishing and reestablishing the Temple.[18] The other families are less important from a religious standpoint. The line of Judah stands out because of the leadership duties culminating in David.[19] The royal family is important for tracing the Messiah. Before the kings, the nation relied on tribal leadership.
We see represented in 1 Chronicles 1-9 a focus on patriarchal heads and leaders within the tribes. (Remember that the Chronicles were written upon the return from exile for the returning Jews to remind them the errors of their fathers.) These families and chiefs were supposed to guide the people politically and spiritually. As we read in Judges, they failed to uphold this responsibility. After this failure God allowed the introduction of a king. Once the king line failed as well, the leadership was given back to the family heads, which is why 1 Chronicles 1-9 is so important to those returning Jews.
The majority of genealogy information is provided for the spiritual integrity of the people in order to trace the line of the Messiah, and for the designation of leadership duties within the tribes. This information can seem dull and pointless to the modern reader, but looking at it through the eyes of the primary audience may change your interest. Also, being able to see things from a post-messianic perspective can reveal the foreknowledge and providence of God. The technical and tedious accuracy (as well as the seemingly generic and vague approaches) can show historical confidence and reliability.
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[1] Acts 22:25
[2] Esther 8:11
[3] 1 Kings 11:35-38
[4] 1 Kings 11:41; 14:29; 2 Chronicles 9:29; 12:15; Esther 10:2
[5] Matthew 1:1 – The summary is typical of genealogy mindset.
[6] Deuteronomy 6:6-9
[7] Genesis 17:8, 15-19; 22:17
[8] Genesis 17:9-10
[9] Galatians 5:3
[10] Matthew 1:1-17; Luke 3:23-38
[11] Exodus 6:14-25; Numbers 1-4 – These were the generations leaving Egypt, but specially noted in Numbers are the tribal leaders and families.
[12] Deuteronomy 7:2-3
[13] Ezra 9:14
[14] Note especially 1 Chronicles 9
[15] Ezra 2; 8:1-20
[16] Nehimiah 7:6-65 – noting verses 61-65
[17] Exodus 27:21; Numbers 3:5-10
[18] 1 Chronicles 9; 23-26
[19] 1 Chronicles 2-4