1 Chronicles 1 · a question people ask
Why does 1 Chronicles begin with Adam?
The book doesn't say. It gives no introduction; it begins with names (1:1). What the chapter shows is this: it starts with the first man, and its names follow Genesis. Adam to Noah's sons follow Genesis 5 (Genesis 5:1-32). The sons of Japheth, Ham and Shem follow Genesis 10 (Genesis 10:2-29). Shem to Abram follow Genesis 11 (Genesis 11:10-26). Abraham's sons by Keturah and Ishmael's sons are in Genesis 25, though there Keturah's come first (Genesis 25:1-4) and Ishmael's after (Genesis 25:12-16), and Esau's line, the sons of Seir, and Edom's kings and chiefs are in Genesis 36. Every name in 1:5-23 is listed under Japheth, Ham or Shem, the three names that close 1:4. Later the book says, "So all Israel were listed by genealogies" (9:1). These notes don't claim more than that.
The verses
“Adam, Seth, Enosh, Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.”
“Abraham took another wife, and her name was Keturah. She bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah. Jokshan became the father of Sheba, and Dedan. The sons of Dedan were Asshurim, Letushim, and Leummim. The sons of Midian were Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the children of Keturah.”
“Now this is the history of the generations of Ishmael, Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s servant, bore to Abraham. These are the names of the sons of Ishmael, by their names, according to the order of their birth: the firstborn of Ishmael, Nebaioth, then Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These are the sons of Ishmael, and these are their names, by their villages, and by their encampments: twelve princes, according to their nations.”
“So all Israel were listed by genealogies; and behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. Judah was carried away captive to Babylon for their disobedience.”