1 Chronicles 1:44 kjv
And when Bela was dead, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead.
1 Chronicles 1:44 nkjv
And when Bela died, Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.
1 Chronicles 1:44 niv
When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah succeeded him as king.
1 Chronicles 1:44 esv
Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.
1 Chronicles 1:44 nlt
When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah became king in his place.
1 Chronicles 1 44 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 36:36 | When Hadad was dead, Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his stead. | Direct parallel to this verse, same event. |
| Gen 36:31 | These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel. | Establishes Edomite monarchy predating Israel's. |
| 1 Chr 1:43 | These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the children of Israel: Bela son of Beor, and the name of his city was Dinhabah. | Introduction to the list of Edomite kings. |
| 1 Chr 1:1 | Adam, Seth, Enosh, ... | Illustrates the broader genealogical context. |
| Gen 5:3-32 | Adam lived 130 years... and had sons and daughters. | Example of detailed early biblical genealogies. |
| Ruth 4:18-22 | These are the generations of Perez... Perez, Hezron, Ram, Amminadab, Nahshon, Salmon, Boaz, Obed, Jesse, David. | Illustrates continuation of important lineages. |
| Matt 1:1-17 | The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham... | New Testament emphasis on detailed genealogies. |
| Luke 3:23-38 | Jesus... being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph... the son of Adam, the son of God. | Traces lineage to Adam, highlighting universal ancestry. |
| Num 20:14-21 | Israel sent messengers to the king of Edom... But Edom refused to allow Israel to pass through their territory. | Describes conflict with Edom and their independence. |
| Deut 17:14-20 | When you come to the land... and say, ‘I will set a king over me, like all the nations that are around me’... | Divine instruction on kingship, later adopted by Israel. |
| 1 Sam 8:5-7 | "Now appoint for us a king to govern us like all the nations." But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to govern us." | Israel's eventual demand for an earthly king. |
| Prov 28:2 | When a country is rebellious, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, order is sustained. | Principle of succession and stability. |
| Ecc 2:18-19 | I hated all my toil in which I toil under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to the man who will come after me... Who knows whether he will be wise or a fool? | Reflection on the nature of succession and inheritance. |
| Psa 78:5-6 | He established a testimony in Jacob... that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn... | Purpose of recording history and teaching lineage. |
| Obadiah 1:3-4 | The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rock... Though you soar aloft like the eagle... I will bring you down. | Prophetic judgment on the kingdom of Edom. |
| Amos 1:11-12 | Thus says the Lord: "For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because he pursued his brother with the sword..." | Edom's consistent animosity towards Israel (Jacob). |
| Jer 49:7-13 | Concerning Edom... "Is wisdom no more in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent... I will bring disaster upon Esau." | Further prophecies regarding Edom's demise. |
| Isa 34:5-6 | My sword is sated in the heavens; behold, it descends for judgment upon Edom, upon the people I have devoted to destruction. | Judgment on Edom linked to God's ultimate plan. |
| Eze 35:15 | As you rejoiced over the inheritance of the house of Israel because it was desolate, so I will deal with you... Edom shall be a desolation. | Divine retribution against Edom. |
| Gen 25:23 | Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger. | Fulfillment of prophecy regarding Jacob and Esau's descendants. |
| Ezra 2:59-63 | These were the ones who came up from Tel-melah... But they could not prove their father's houses or their descent... | Importance of lineage post-exile for identity. |
| Neh 7:61-64 | Some of the descendants of the priests, the Levites... searched for their registration among those enrolled in genealogies, but they were not found. | Further emphasis on accurate genealogical records. |
1 Chronicles 1 verses
1 Chronicles 1 44 Meaning
This verse records a transition of kingship within the ancient kingdom of Edom, stating that following the death of King Hadad, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him on the throne. It is part of the extensive genealogies in 1 Chronicles, establishing the historical lineage and succession of various peoples, including the descendants of Esau (Edom), before focusing on Israel's lineage.
1 Chronicles 1 44 Context
First Chronicles chapter 1 is largely a genealogical record, beginning with Adam and tracing human lineage through various patriarchal lines, including the sons of Noah, before detailing the descendants of Abraham through Ishmael and then focusing intently on Esau (Edom). Verses 43-54 list the kings of Edom who reigned "before any king reigned over the children of Israel," directly establishing Edom as an established monarchy prior to Israel's kingdom. This particular verse (1 Chr 1:44) continues this list, detailing the succession from Hadad to Samlah. The historical context positions Edom as a prominent, early nation south and east of Israel, having established a stable succession of rulers while Israel was still forming its identity and structure. The Chronicler's purpose in including such detailed foreign genealogies, specifically those related to Israel through common ancestry (Abraham, Isaac), highlights a comprehensive view of history from God's perspective and serves to anchor Israel's identity within a broader global narrative, showing God's sovereign oversight even of nations outside the direct covenant line.
1 Chronicles 1 44 Word analysis
- And when Hadad was dead
- And when (וַיָּמָת, vayyamat): This conjunction emphasizes sequential action, indicating a direct transition. The form is a waw-consecutive, signaling narrative flow.
- Hadad (הֲדַד, Hadad): This is a common Northwest Semitic name, often associated with a storm deity (similar to the Syrian god Hadad). Here, it functions purely as the name of a human king of Edom. His reign concludes, marking the necessity for succession.
- was dead (מֵת, met): From the verb מוּת (mut), meaning "to die." The phrase succinctly states the cessation of life, the natural end of a king's reign, leading to the necessity of a new ruler. This common occurrence facilitates the continuation of the monarchical line.
- Samlah of Masrekah
- Samlah (שָׁמְלָה, Samlah): The name is somewhat unusual for a king and literally means "garment" or "cloak." Its precise etymology or deeper significance for this individual is not explicitly given, but it simply identifies the specific person who took the throne.
- of Masrekah (מַשְׂרֵקָה, Masrekah): This is a geographical identifier, likely indicating Samlah's origin or hometown. The name may relate to a "vineyard" or "grapestone," suggesting an agricultural region or a place known for its vineyards. Providing the place of origin reinforces the specific historical nature of this record, grounding the individual within a recognized territory in Edom.
- reigned in his stead
- reigned (וַיִּמְלֹךְ, vayyimlōḵ): From the verb מָלַךְ (malakh), "to reign" or "to be king." This term directly states the exercise of royal authority and power. Its placement directly after the name emphasizes Samlah's immediate assumption of kingship.
- in his stead (תַּחְתָּיו, taḥtāyw): This phrase literally means "under him" or "in his place." It signifies succession, the transfer of authority from the deceased king to the new one, ensuring the continuous governmental structure of the kingdom. It highlights the orderly continuation of power, a key element of stability in ancient monarchies.
1 Chronicles 1 44 Bonus section
The Chronicler's primary goal in compiling 1 Chronicles was to encourage and instruct the post-exilic community. By meticulously recording genealogies, including seemingly peripheral ones like Edomite kings, the Chronicler reinforced a sense of identity, continuity, and belonging for the repatriated Israelites. It served to demonstrate God's continued involvement in history and His faithfulness to covenant promises, even through generations and across different nations. The inclusion of Edomite kings specifically highlights the fulfillment of God's promise to Esau that he would become a "nation" and produce kings (Gen 36:31). Furthermore, presenting these non-Israelite royal lines might also subtly convey the understanding that Israel's eventual demand for a king (1 Sam 8) was not a unique deviation but a societal norm for powerful nations in the region, providing a historical context for Israel's later monarchy. The attention to the exact succession reinforces the idea of divinely ordained order and structure within kingdoms, whether foreign or domestic.
1 Chronicles 1 44 Commentary
1 Chronicles 1:44 is a concise record of royal succession within the Edomite monarchy, meticulously preserved by the Chronicler. Its brevity belies its significance as part of a longer genealogical and historical account. The primary parallel passage in Genesis 36 underscores the ancient roots and verification of these details, with only minor orthographical differences in names often found in transcriptions. By detailing these foreign kings, the Chronicler sets the stage for the narrative of Israel. It emphasizes that Edom, Israel's "brother" nation through Esau, had an established, successive monarchy even before Israel unified under its own kings. This precise historical documentation serves to ground biblical history within known geopolitical realities of the ancient Near East. The very act of naming kings and their cities reinforces the divine ordering of nations and the detailed outworking of God's plan for humanity. While a mere chronological data point for Edomite history, it underscores the Bible's commitment to historical accuracy and continuity, serving as a preamble to the genealogies of Israel and eventually its Davidic kingship. It demonstrates the meticulous recording of details to present a comprehensive history from Adam to the re-establishment of the Jewish community after the Babylonian exile, revealing the faithfulness of God through all generations.