Chapter 2:3-17 – Israel had twelve sons, but the genealogical records start with the tribe of Judah, and not Reuben the firstborn. Instead, it focused on the line of David, the founder of the Davidic dynasty that ruled over Israel and Judah before being divided into the Northern and Southern Kingdoms. There is always a black sheep in a family. Er, the firstborn of Judah along with others like Er, Onan, Tamar, Achar, and Achan were unfaithful to God.

Chapter 2:18-24 – Caleb the son of Hezron was a side-line of the tribe of Judah, separate from the line that culminated in David. He was distinct from Caleb the Kenizzite son of Jephunneh, who was faithful to the Lord. Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon were obscure names linked with the tribe of Judah. They were listed for an important reason. They were primarily the returnees of the Babylonian exile from the tribes of Judah and Benjamin.

Chapter 2:25-41 – The Sons of Jerahmeel was also a side-line in the tribe of Judah, separate from the line that culminated in David in this section.

Chapter 2:32-55 - The descendants of Caleb were another side-line in the tribe of Judah, separate from the line that culminated in David. Caleb’s daughter Achsah was a distant descendant of Caleb the son of Hezron. Although she was an immediate daughter of Caleb the son of Jephunneh, the faithful spy, she is remembered as the bride of Othniel. She was promised to him for his conquest of Debir. The Kenites were originally a foreign people, some of whom, by marriage or adoption, became incorporated into the tribe of Judah.

Chapter 3:1-9 – The Descendants of David: David’s reign can be divided into two parts. One, before he made Jerusalem his capital city. Two, after that. David had several wives and seven were listed in this chapter. They were Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, Abigail the Carmelitess, Maacah, Haggith, Abital, Eglah, and Bathshua. Eglah was another name for Michal, the daughter of Saul. Bathshua was another name for Bathsheba but probably an alternative pronunciation. Solomon was her fourth son. David had other concubines besides these wives.

Chapter 3:10-16 - Solomon’s son was Rehoboam and this section traces the descent of the line of David from Solomon to the time after the exile. All the Davidic kings were mentioned here, and only Athaliah, Ahab’s daughter is missing. Josiah’s firstborn, Johanan was not mentioned elsewhere. He may have died at a young age. Shallum, Jehoiakim, and Zedekiah were the other sons.

Chapter 3:17-24 - The sons of Jeconiah were descendants of the line of David born after the fall of Judah. Their names were largely unknown. God was faithful in preserving the line of Judah despite her unfaithfulness.

The themes of faithful and unfaithful run in this chapter and the book. Judah had faithful kings and many unfaithful kings, yet God was faithful to preserve the line of David to bring forth the Messiah who delivered us from our sins. We are to be faithful just as God is faithful as we walk with the Lord each day. May we not become the black sheep in the family of God as some of these children of Judah.

Prayer: Help me O Lord to walk faithfully with Thee. Protect me from all forms of temptations as I walk daily with Thee, I pray O Lord!