All these were reckoned by genealogies in the days of Jotham king of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam king of Israel.
1 CHRONICLES 5:17KJVWhat does 1 Chronicles 5:17 mean?
1 Chronicles 5:17 states that the people listed earlier in the chapter were officially registered by their family records during the reigns of Jotham, king of Judah, and Jeroboam, king of Israel. This verse marks the historical period when these genealogies were recorded.
The writer of 1 Chronicles is summarizing a section of tribal records, noting that the genealogies for the tribes east of the Jordan were organized and written down during the time when Jotham ruled in the southern kingdom (Judah) and Jeroboam ruled in the northern kingdom (Israel). This helps anchor the family lists in a real historical setting, showing that these records were kept carefully during a specific era.
The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 5:17
- "genealogies" (הִתְיַחֵשׂ, hityachēs): This word means to be enrolled or registered by family lineage. It highlights the importance placed on tracking family connections and tribal identity in Israelite society.
- "days" (יֹום, yom): Used twice in this verse, this word refers to the specific period or reign of each king. It helps pinpoint the exact historical timeframe for when these records were made.
- "Jotham" (יוֹתָם, Yotam) and "Jeroboam" (יָרָבְעָם, Yarav‘am): Naming both kings shows that the genealogies were kept during the reigns of rulers from both the southern and northern kingdoms, emphasizing the unity of record-keeping across divided Israel.
Why 1 Chronicles 5:17 matters
- 1 Chronicles 5:17 clarifies that the genealogical records were not random or legendary, but were officially kept during known historical reigns, lending credibility and context to the lists.
- By mentioning both Jotham and Jeroboam, the verse connects the family records of the tribes east of the Jordan to the broader story of Israel and Judah, showing that both kingdoms valued these records.
- This verse helps readers understand that the chronicler is working with real historical sources, not just oral tradition, which is important for the trustworthiness of the book’s account.