1 Chronicles 1 13

1 Chronicles 1:13 kjv

And Canaan begat Zidon his firstborn, and Heth,

1 Chronicles 1:13 nkjv

Canaan begot Sidon, his firstborn, and Heth;

1 Chronicles 1:13 niv

Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and of the Hittites,

1 Chronicles 1:13 esv

Canaan fathered Sidon his firstborn and Heth,

1 Chronicles 1:13 nlt

Canaan's oldest son was Sidon, the ancestor of the Sidonians. Canaan was also the ancestor of the Hittites,

1 Chronicles 1 verses

1 Chronicles 1 13 Meaning

This verse details a segment of the lineage stemming from Mizraim, who is the biblical patriarch representing Egypt and a son of Ham. It lists four of Mizraim's direct descendants: Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, and Naphtuhim. As part of the extensive genealogies in 1 Chronicles, this verse serves to meticulously record the ancestry of the nations and humanity from creation, affirming God's overarching plan and the historical continuity of people groups, ultimately leading towards the lineage of Israel. It grounds the post-exilic community in a comprehensive historical understanding.

1 Chronicles 1 13 Context

This verse is embedded within the expansive genealogies found in 1 Chronicles chapter 1, which begins with Adam and methodically traces human history through the patriarchs leading to the sons of Noah. Specifically, 1 Chronicles 1:13 belongs to the section detailing the descendants of Ham, one of Noah's three sons (1 Chr 1:8-16). Mizraim, mentioned as one of Ham's sons in 1 Chronicles 1:8, represents Egypt. The list of nations stemming from Mizraim serves as a foundational historical record, connecting the vast array of people groups in the ancient Near East and North Africa back to a common ancestral figure from a biblical perspective. Historically, the Book of Chronicles was compiled after the Babylonian exile, intended for the returning Jewish community. These meticulously recorded genealogies provided a crucial link to their heritage, established legitimate claims for tribal lands, confirmed priestly lines, and emphasized their covenant identity as a chosen people with a deep history rooted in God's universal plan from creation. Including genealogies of non-Israelite nations highlights the Chronicler's understanding of God's sovereignty over all peoples, even as he builds towards the specific lineage of Israel.

1 Chronicles 1 13 Word analysis

• And: (Hebrew: וְ, wə-) A common conjunction, simply connects this list of names to the previous one, maintaining the flow of the genealogical record.

• Mizraim: (Hebrew: מִצְרַיִם, Mitzrayim) The dual form of a name referring to Egypt, highlighting its traditional division into Upper and Lower Egypt. Mizraim is listed as one of the four sons of Ham (1 Chr 1:8). The inclusion of Mizraim here, not just as a geographical region but as a progenitor, reflects the biblical understanding of nations originating from ancestral figures. This establishes a lineage for a powerful nation that would later play a significant role in Israelite history.

• begat: (Hebrew: יָלַד, yalad) This verb denotes biological fatherhood and descent. It signifies a direct and established lineage, fundamental to the genealogies which aim to prove the authentic continuation of generations and claims to heritage. Its repetitive use emphasizes the meticulous and systematic recording of ancestry.

• Ludim: (Hebrew: לוּדִים, Ludim) A people descended from Mizraim. Their precise location is debated, often associated with Lud, who can be identified with Lydians in Asia Minor or a people in North Africa related to Libyans (Lubim). Prophets like Jeremiah and Ezekiel mention the Ludim as mercenary archers allied with Egypt, indicating their military prowess.

• and Anamim: (Hebrew: עֲנָמִים, ‘Ănāmîm) Another of Mizraim’s descendants. The location and identity of the Anamim are uncertain, though scholarly consensus generally places them in North Africa or the Egyptian sphere of influence. Their inclusion underscores the Chronicler's effort to provide a comprehensive, albeit sometimes geographically obscure, list of nations.

• and Lehabim: (Hebrew: לְהָבִים, Lĕhābîm) Widely identified with the Libyans (often called Lubim elsewhere in the Bible). Libya was a major region to the west of Egypt. The Lehabim, therefore, represent the tribal groups inhabiting the lands bordering Egypt to the west, reinforcing the geographic sweep of Mizraim's descendants across North Africa.

• and Naphtuhim: (Hebrew: נַפְתּוּחִים, Naphtuḥîm) A fourth son of Mizraim mentioned in this verse. Their specific identity and location are also uncertain but are generally believed to be within or very close to Egypt, possibly associated with the Nile Delta or some part of lower Egypt. The consistent pattern of the names in this verse suggests various groups associated geographically with Egypt.

• Words-group Analysis: "Mizraim begat Ludim, and Anamim, and Lehabim, and Naphtuhim,": This specific list of peoples highlights the Chronicler's encyclopedic aim. By naming these specific descendants of Mizraim, the text demonstrates the diversity and spread of nations stemming from a single common ancestor. This emphasis on extensive lineage affirms a monogenetic view of humanity, tracing all peoples back to Noah's sons and ultimately to Adam. For the post-exilic audience, it validated their place within a comprehensive divine plan for humanity while specifically building toward the meticulous lineage of Israel. The inclusion of non-Israelite groups also provides a theological backdrop for Israel's future interactions with these nations and establishes a shared human heritage.

1 Chronicles 1 13 Bonus section

The seemingly "foreign" names in this list serve to illustrate the vastness of the ancient world known to the biblical authors and their attempt to integrate all known human populations into the lineage derived from Noah. The Chronicler's version of this genealogy (identical to Gen 10:13-14) is often slightly abbreviated compared to other genealogies or lists, yet each name is retained for its historical and geographical significance. This detailed enumeration implicitly refutes polytheistic creation accounts, emphasizing a single, universal Creator who ordered the origins of all nations. The focus on "begat" throughout this chapter signifies the direct transmission of blessing and, implicitly, covenant responsibility through bloodline, even when not directly discussing the chosen line of Israel.

1 Chronicles 1 13 Commentary

1 Chronicles 1:13, though seemingly a dry list of names, is crucial for understanding the biblical narrative's comprehensive scope. As part of the Hamite genealogy, specifically the line of Mizraim (Egypt), it methodically records the origins of various peoples in the ancient Near East and North Africa. For the Chronicler's post-exilic audience, these detailed genealogies served to firmly re-establish their identity and heritage by demonstrating continuity from the beginning of creation. By linking the nations of the world back to a common ancestor, the verse reinforces the biblical principle of a singular creation and the universal sovereignty of God over all peoples, challenging any narrow ethnic nationalism. This foundation of shared human origin underscores the unity of mankind and sets the stage for future divine interaction, whether in judgment or blessing, with these diverse groups in later biblical history.