From Adam to Noah
Study note
The book opens with the most basic family tree in the Bible, tracing ten generations from the first man, Adam, to Noah. These names match the genealogy found in Genesis 5. By starting here, the author shows that Israel's story begins at the very beginning of creation.
1 Adam had a son named Seth, and Seth had a son named Enosh. Adam, Sheth, Enosh,
2 Enosh had a son named Kenan. Kenan had a son named Mahalalel. Mahalalel had a son named Jared. Kenan, Mahalaleel, Jered,
3 Jared had a son named Enoch. Enoch had a son named Methuselah. Methuselah had a son named Lamech. Henoch, Methuselah, Lamech,
4 Lamech had a son named Noah. Noah's three sons were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
The Sons of Japheth, Ham, and Shem
Study note
After the great flood, Noah's three sons became the ancestors of all the nations on earth. Japheth's descendants settled in areas north and west of Israel. Ham's descendants included the Egyptians, Canaanites, and the mighty warrior Nimrod. These lists show how the many nations of the ancient world all trace back to one family.
5 Japheth's sons were Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. The sons of Japheth; Gomer, and Magog, and Madai, and Javan, and Tubal, and Meshech, and Tiras.
6 Gomer's sons were Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. And the sons of Gomer; Ashchenaz, and Riphath, and Togarmah.
7 Javan's sons were Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. And the sons of Javan; Elishah, and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim.
8 Ham's sons were Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. The sons of Ham; Cush, and Mizraim, Put, and Canaan.
9 Cush's sons were Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah, and Sabteca. Raamah's sons were Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Cush; Seba, and Havilah, and Sabta, and Raamah, and Sabtecha. And the sons of Raamah; Sheba, and Dedan.
10 Cush also had a son named Nimrod, who grew up to become the first great warrior on earth. And Cush begat Nimrod: he began to be mighty upon the earth.
11 Mizraim's descendants included the Ludites, the Anamites, the Lehabites, and the Naphtuhites. And Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,
12 His descendants also included the Pathrusites, the Casluhites (the Philistines came from this group), and the Caphtorites. And Pathrusim, and Casluhim, (of whom came the Philistines,) and Caphthorim.
13 Canaan's oldest son was Sidon, and he also had a son named Heth. And Canaan begat Zidon his firstborn, and Heth,
14 Canaan was also the ancestor of the Jebusites, Amorites, and Girgashites. The Jebusite also, and the Amorite, and the Girgashite,
15 He was the ancestor of the Hivites, Arkites, and Sinites too. And the Hivite, and the Arkite, and the Sinite,
16 He was also the ancestor of the Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites. And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.
The Line of Shem to Abraham
Study note
Shem's family line is the most important because it leads to Abraham, the father of the Israelite nation. God chose Abraham and made a special covenant with him, promising that his descendants would become a great nation. The name Abram was later changed to Abraham, meaning 'father of many nations.'
17 Shem's sons were Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. The sons of Shem; Elam, and Asshur, and Arphaxad, and Lud, and Aram, and Uz, and Hul, and Gether, and Meshech.
18 Arphaxad had a son named Shelah, and Shelah had a son named Eber. And Arphaxad begat Shelah, and Shelah begat Eber.
19 Eber had two sons. One son was called Peleg, which means 'division,' because the earth was divided during his lifetime. His brother's name was Joktan. And unto Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg; because in his days the earth was divided: and his brother's name was Joktan.
20 Joktan had sons named Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, and Jerah. And Joktan begat Almodad, and Sheleph, and Hazarmaveth, and Jerah,
21 He also had sons named Hadoram, Uzal, and Diklah. Hadoram also, and Uzal, and Diklah,
22 He also had sons named Ebal, Abimael, and Sheba. And Ebal, and Abimael, and Sheba,
23 He also had sons named Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All of these were Joktan's sons. And Ophir, and Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan.
24 Here is the family line from Shem: Shem, then Arphaxad, then Shelah, Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah,
25 then Eber, then Peleg, then Reu, Eber, Peleg, Reu,
26 then Serug, then Nahor, then Terah, Serug, Nahor, Terah,
27 and then Abram, who later received the name Abraham. Abram; the same is Abraham.
Abraham's Descendants Through Ishmael and Keturah
Study note
Abraham had children through three different women. Ishmael was his son through Hagar, and his sons became twelve tribal leaders. Keturah was Abraham's wife after Sarah died, and her descendants included the Midianites. But the promised line continued through Isaac, Abraham's son with Sarah.
28 Abraham's sons were Isaac and Ishmael. The sons of Abraham; Isaac, and Ishmael.
29 Here are their family lines: Ishmael's firstborn was Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, and Mibsam. These are their generations: The firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth; then Kedar, and Adbeel, and Mibsam,
30 After them came Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema. Mishma, and Dumah, Massa, Hadad, and Tema,
31 Then came Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were all sons of Ishmael. Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael.
32 Abraham had another wife named Keturah, and her sons were Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan's sons were Sheba and Dedan. Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham's concubine: she bare Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah. And the sons of Jokshan; Sheba, and Dedan.
33 Midian's sons were Ephah, Epher, Henoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All of these people descended from Keturah. And the sons of Midian; Ephah, and Epher, and Henoch, and Abida, and Eldaah. All these are the sons of Keturah.
Esau's Descendants and the Kings of Edom
Study note
Isaac had twin sons: Esau and Jacob (also called Israel). Esau's descendants became the nation of Edom, located south of the Dead Sea. Edom had kings long before Israel did. The 'chiefs' or 'dukes' listed at the end were clan leaders who ruled different regions of Edom. Though related to Israel, the Edomites often became their enemies.
34 Abraham had a son named Isaac. Isaac's two sons were Esau and Israel. And Abraham begat Isaac. The sons of Isaac; Esau and Israel.
35 Esau's sons were Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. The sons of Esau; Eliphaz, Reuel, and Jeush, and Jaalam, and Korah.
36 Eliphaz's sons were Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, Timna, and Amalek. The sons of Eliphaz; Teman, and Omar, Zephi, and Gatam, Kenaz, and Timna, and Amalek.
37 Reuel's sons were Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. The sons of Reuel; Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah.
38 Seir's sons were Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. And the sons of Seir; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, and Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan.
39 Lotan's sons were Hori and Homam. Lotan had a sister named Timna. And the sons of Lotan; Hori, and Homam: and Timna was Lotan's sister.
40 Shobal's sons were Alian, Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. Zibeon's sons were Aiah and Anah. The sons of Shobal; Alian, and Manahath, and Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. And the sons of Zibeon; Aiah, and Anah.
41 Anah had a son named Dishon. Dishon's sons were Amram, Eshban, Ithran, and Cheran. The sons of Anah; Dishon. And the sons of Dishon; Amram, and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran.
42 Ezer's sons were Bilhan, Zaavan, and Jakan. Dishan's sons were Uz and Aran. The sons of Ezer; Bilhan, and Zavan, and Jakan. The sons of Dishan; Uz, and Aran.
43 Here are the kings who ruled in the land of Edom before Israel ever had a king. The first was Bela son of Beor, and his capital city was called Dinhabah. Now these are the kings that reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel; Bela the son of Beor: and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
44 After Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from the city of Bozrah took his place as king. And when Bela was dead, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.
45 After Jobab died, Husham from the region of the Temanites took his place as king. And when Jobab was dead, Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his stead.
46 After Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad became king. He won a battle against Midian in the territory of Moab. His capital city was called Avith. And when Husham was dead, Hadad the son of Bedad, which smote Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Avith.
47 After Hadad died, Samlah from the city of Masrekah took his place as king. And when Hadad was dead, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead.
48 After Samlah died, Shaul from the town of Rehoboth on the River took his place as king. And when Samlah was dead, Shaul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead.
49 After Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Achbor took his place as king. And when Shaul was dead, Baal-hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his stead.
50 After Baal-Hanan died, Hadad became king. His capital city was called Pai. His wife was Mehetabel, and her father was Matred. Her grandfather was Mezahab. And when Baal-hanan was dead, Hadad reigned in his stead: and the name of his city was Pai; and his wife's name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
51 Then Hadad died too. After that, Edom was led by tribal chiefs: Chief Timnah, Chief Aliah, and Chief Jetheth. Hadad died also. And the dukes of Edom were; duke Timnah, duke Aliah, duke Jetheth,
52 Also Chief Aholibamah, Chief Elah, and Chief Pinon. Duke Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon,
53 Also Chief Kenaz, Chief Teman, and Chief Mibzar. Duke Kenaz, duke Teman, duke Mibzar,
54 Also Chief Magdiel and Chief Iram. These were the tribal chiefs of Edom. Duke Magdiel, duke Iram. These are the dukes of Edom.