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Genealogies

From: Concise Bible Dictionary: G

By: George A. Morrish

• 2 min. read • grade level: 10

These were the records of generations: “the genealogy of their generations” was reckoned (1 Chron. 5:7⁷And his brethren by their families, when the genealogy of their generations was reckoned, were the chief, Jeiel, and Zechariah, (1 Chronicles 5:7); 1 Chron. 7:9⁹And the number of them, after their genealogy by their generations, heads of the house of their fathers, mighty men of valor, was twenty thousand and two hundred. (1 Chronicles 7:9)). Though “generations” are given from the beginning, we do not read of “genealogies” until Israel was in the land. It was important then that the genealogies should be preserved, because it was a part of the law that the children of Israel should enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers. The inheritance must not remove from tribe to tribe (Num. 36:8-9⁸And every daughter, that possesseth an inheritance in any tribe of the children of Israel, shall be wife unto one of the family of the tribe of her father, that the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers. ⁹Neither shall the inheritance remove from one tribe to another tribe; but every one of the tribes of the children of Israel shall keep himself to his own inheritance. (Numbers 36:8‑9)). As the priesthood was restricted to the sons of Aaron, it was essential that they should preserve their genealogy. On the return from the exile some were unable to show their descent from Aaron, and they were put out of the priesthood (Ezra 2:62⁶²These sought their register among those that were reckoned by genealogy, but they were not found: therefore were they, as polluted, put from the priesthood. (Ezra 2:62)).

A knowledge of the priestly genealogies extended to the New Testament. Zacharias was of the “course of Abia,” and Elizabeth was “of the daughters of Aaron.” So also of the tribes and families generally. At the census Joseph and Mary went to Bethlehem, for they were of the lineage of David; Anna was of the tribe of Asher, and Paul of the tribe of Benjamin.

The prophecies, which reveal that in the seed of Abraham should all the nations of the earth be blessed, and that the Messiah was to be of the royal line of David, made it needful that the genealogies of both these lines should be preserved, as we find them given in the New Testament. In the future possession of the land there will be the twelve tribes, and some of each of the twelve will be sealed for blessing (Ezek. 48; Rev. 7:3-8³Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. ⁴And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel. ⁵Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand. ⁶Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand. ⁷Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand. ⁸Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand. (Revelation 7:3‑8)). God, who is guarding them for future events, can also preserve their genealogies.

It is probable that in 1 Timothy 1:4⁴Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do. (1 Timothy 1:4) and Titus 3:9⁹But avoid foolish questions, and genealogies, and contentions, and strivings about the law; for they are unprofitable and vain. (Titus 3:9) reference is not made to Jewish genealogies, which could not be called “endless,” nor were they fabulous; but that reference is made to the eons of the Gnostics which reach back to eternity, three of which were represented to be Christ, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus. Tertullian quoted the above passage in Timothy when confuting the Gnostics.

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Concise Bible Dictionary: G

• Gederathite

• Gederothaim

• Genealogies

• Genealogy of the Lord Jesus

• Genesis, Book of

• Gennesaret, Lake of

• Gennesaret, Land of

• Gentiles, the Fullness of the

• Gentiles, the Times of the

• Gerasenes, Gergesenes

• Gerizim, Mount

• Gershon, Gershonites