The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him.
1 CHRONICLES 2:3KJVWhat does 1 Chronicles 2:3 mean?
1 Chronicles 2:3 lists the three sons of Judah—Er, Onan, and Shelah—born to him by the daughter of Shua, a Canaanite woman, and states that Er, Judah’s firstborn, was considered evil by the LORD and was killed by God. This verse begins the genealogy of Judah’s descendants and notes the judgment that came upon Er.
The book of 1 Chronicles was written to record the genealogies and history of Israel, likely for the returned exiles. Here, the chronicler is listing the family line of Judah, one of Jacob’s twelve sons, whose descendants became the tribe of Judah. The verse briefly recalls the story from Genesis where Er’s wrongdoing led to his early death, showing that not all of Judah’s line continued.
The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 2:3
- "Evil" (רַע, ra‘): This word means "bad" or "wicked." The verse says Er was "evil in the sight of the LORD," making clear that his actions were seriously wrong by God’s standards, not just by human opinion.
- "Slew" (מוּת, mût): This verb means "to kill" or "to cause to die." The text directly attributes Er’s death to God’s action, emphasizing divine judgment rather than a natural or accidental cause.
Why 1 Chronicles 2:3 matters
- This verse reminds readers that the chronicler is not just listing names but also highlighting moments of moral significance in Israel’s history, such as God’s judgment on Er.
- By mentioning that Judah’s sons were born to a Canaanite woman, the verse quietly notes the mixed heritage in Judah’s line, which is significant in later biblical discussions about Israel’s identity.
- The verse connects the genealogy in Chronicles with earlier stories in Genesis, helping readers see the continuity and consequences within Judah’s family history.