1 Chronicles 1:48 kjv
And when Samlah was dead, Shaul of Rehoboth by the river reigned in his stead.
1 Chronicles 1:48 nkjv
And when Samlah died, Saul of Rehoboth-by-the-River reigned in his place.
1 Chronicles 1:48 niv
When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river succeeded him as king.
1 Chronicles 1:48 esv
Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth on the Euphrates reigned in his place.
1 Chronicles 1:48 nlt
When Samlah died, Shaul from the city of Rehoboth-on-the-River became king in his place.
1 Chronicles 1 48 Cross References
Verse | Text | Reference |
---|---|---|
Gen 36:39 | when Hadar died, Baal-Hanan son of Achbor succeeded him. | Parallel account of Baal-Hanan's succession (minor textual variance in prior king). |
Gen 36:31 | These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king reigned over the sons of Israel. | Contextualizes the Edomite kings predating Israel's monarchy. |
Gen 36:40 | These are the names of the chiefs of Esau... | Edomite leadership transition from kings to chiefs. |
1 Sam 31:6 | So Saul died with his three sons and his armor-bearer... | King Saul of Israel's death (distinction from Edomite Shaul). |
1 Chron 10:6 | So Saul died with his three sons and all his house. | Chronicles' account of Israel's King Saul's death. |
1 Kgs 2:10 | Then David slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David. | Example of a king dying, leading to succession. |
1 Kgs 11:43 | So Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried... Rehoboam his son reigned in his place. | Another example of a king's death and succession. |
1 Chron 29:28 | He died in a good old age... and Solomon his son reigned in his place. | Succession of David by Solomon. |
2 Chron 9:31 | So Solomon slept with his fathers and was buried in the city of David his father, and Rehoboam his son reigned in his place. | Another Chronicler's succession account. |
Ps 146:3-4 | Put not your trust in princes... his breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth... | Emphasizes the mortality and transience of human rulers. |
Ecc 9:5 | For the living know that they will die... | Universal truth of mortality. |
Job 30:23 | For I know that you will bring me to death... | Acknowledgment of inevitable death. |
Isa 2:22 | Stop regarding man, whose breath is in his nostrils, for of what account is he? | Humility concerning human authority and life. |
Jer 22:30 | Thus says the LORD: 'Write this man down as childless... | Divine pronouncements on ending a royal line. |
Dan 2:21 | He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings... | God's sovereignty over earthly rulers and their reign. |
Rom 13:1 | For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. | All authority, including kingship, originates from God. |
Lk 3:23-38 | Jesus, when He began His ministry, was about thirty years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph... the son of Adam. | Example of extensive genealogical lists. |
Heb 9:27 | And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment. | Universal appointment of death for all humans. |
Exo 1:6 | And Joseph died, and all his brothers and all that generation. | Death of a prominent figure. |
1 Chron 28:5 | ...and of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons), he has chosen Solomon my son... | Divine choice in succession. |
Gen 10:1-32 | These are the generations of the sons of Noah... | Another major biblical genealogy list. |
1 Chronicles 1 verses
1 Chronicles 1 48 Meaning
This verse records a point of succession within the genealogy of the kings of Edom. It states that following the death of King Shaul of Rehoboth by the River, Baal-Hanan son of Achbor ascended to the throne and reigned in his stead. It is a historical record of leadership transition in an ancient monarchy, establishing a chronological and genealogical link.
1 Chronicles 1 48 Context
1 Chronicles chapter 1 is largely a genealogical record, beginning from Adam and tracing lineages through the patriarchs, including the descendants of Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. The specific verse (1:48) falls within the list of the kings of Edom, descendants of Esau. The purpose of including this specific detail is to meticulously chronicle the established reigns of a non-Israelite monarchy that existed before any king reigned over the children of Israel (1 Chron 1:43). The Chronicler’s focus is on lineage and historical continuity, providing a comprehensive background before shifting focus to the twelve tribes of Israel and, eventually, the Davidic line. This highlights God’s sovereign control over the rise and fall of nations, not limited solely to Israel.
1 Chronicles 1 48 Word analysis
- When: Signifies a point in time, initiating a sequence of events. It establishes the temporal relationship between two distinct occurrences: the prior king's death and the successor's ascent.
- Shaul (שָׁאוּל - Sha’ul): This refers to the Edomite king mentioned in Gen 36:37-38 and 1 Chron 1:47-48, distinct from King Saul of Israel. His name implies "asked of God." Here, it simply identifies the specific king whose reign concluded.
- died (מֵת - met): The Hebrew verb for "to die." It points to the universal reality of human mortality, affecting even those in positions of power. The death of the reigning monarch necessitates a transfer of power.
- Baal-Hanan (בַּעַל חָנָן - Ba'al Ḥanan): The name means "Baal has been gracious" or "Baal is gracious." This king's name reflects the religious landscape of Edom, where "Baal" (a common Semitic deity) was recognized. His inclusion in this list underscores the Chronicler's recording of factual historical and cultural elements without endorsement.
- son of (בֶּן - ben): A common patronymic marker, indicating the immediate paternal lineage. It is essential for distinguishing individuals in genealogical records and establishing identity within a family line.
- Achbor (עַכְבּוֹר - Akbor): The name of Baal-Hanan's father, meaning "mouse" or "jerboa" in Hebrew. This simple naming convention, sometimes derived from animals or everyday objects, was common in the ancient Near East.
- succeeded him (וַיִּמְלֹךְ תַּחְתָּיו - va-yimlokh takhtav): Literally "and he reigned in his place." This phrase is crucial as it describes the transfer of power and the continuity of the monarchy. Malak (מָלַךְ), the root, signifies kingship or to reign. It highlights a stable, established monarchical system in Edom.
Words-group analysis
- When Shaul died: This phrase acts as a pivotal moment, marking the conclusion of one reign and paving the way for the next. It underscores the transient nature of earthly authority.
- Baal-Hanan son of Achbor: This identifies the new king with his specific lineage. In ancient societies, one's identity and legitimacy often depended on known parentage and family ties, which genealogies like this aim to preserve.
- succeeded him: This compact phrase conveys the seamless transition of royal power. It shows an established political structure where the death of a king did not lead to chaos but to an orderly change of leadership, ensuring governmental stability within the kingdom.
1 Chronicles 1 48 Bonus section
The inclusion of this Edomite king-list in 1 Chronicles (which closely mirrors Gen 36) serves multiple purposes for the post-exilic Israelite audience:
- Legitimacy of Lineage: It demonstrates the meticulous care taken by the Chronicler in establishing genealogical records, foundational for the national identity and land claims of the returning exiles.
- Universal Sovereignty of God: By including the history of other nations, the Chronicler subtly communicates that God's hand is not limited to Israel but is at work throughout all human history and among all peoples (Dan 2:21). Even the successions in pagan monarchies are part of the larger divine narrative.
- Historical Chronology: The specific note in 1 Chron 1:43, "These are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Israel," sets an important chronological marker, placing the Edomite monarchy historically before Israel's own. This details an independent development of stable monarchical governance in the region.
1 Chronicles 1 48 Commentary
This concise verse, found within the Edomite king-list of 1 Chronicles 1, serves primarily as a factual historical notation of succession. It shows the orderly transition of kingship in Edom, a neighboring nation descended from Esau. The Chronicler includes these non-Israelite genealogies to provide a broad sweep of history and human origin, placing Israel within a wider, divinely orchestrated world order. The recording of Baal-Hanan's succession after Shaul's death, though brief, signifies the continuous and structured nature of their monarchy, predating Israel's own established kingship. The mention of "Baal" in the name of a king simply reflects the prevailing religious naming practices in the region, without any polemical or theological comment by the Chronicler at this point. This verse emphasizes the constant ebb and flow of human authority, a stark contrast to God's eternal sovereignty.