1 Chronicles 5 5

1 Chronicles 5:5 kjv

Micah his son, Reaia his son, Baal his son,

1 Chronicles 5:5 nkjv

Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son,

1 Chronicles 5:5 niv

Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son,

1 Chronicles 5:5 esv

Micah his son, Reaiah his son, Baal his son,

1 Chronicles 5:5 nlt

Micah, Reaiah, Baal,

1 Chronicles 5 verses

1 Chronicles 5 5 Meaning

1 Chronicles 5:5 lists three individuals, Micah, Reaia, and Baal, tracing a specific patrilineal descent through their relationship as "his son." This verse is a segment within the comprehensive genealogies of the tribe of Reuben, providing a precise record of an individual line within the larger tribal structure. Its primary meaning is to preserve and transmit ancestral heritage, crucial for maintaining tribal identity, land inheritance claims, and the broader historical continuity of God's people in the post-exilic period for whom the Chronicler was writing. It underscores the meticulous attention to lineage that characterized ancient Israel.

1 Chronicles 5 5 Context

1 Chronicles chapter 5 continues the detailed genealogical records that characterize the initial nine chapters of the book. Specifically, it focuses on the Transjordanian tribes: Reuben, Gad, and the half-tribe of Manasseh. The Chronicler provides extensive lineages, noting their dwelling places and significant historical events related to them, such as their victories against their neighbors and their eventual exile due to transgression against the Lord.

Verse 5 is embedded within the genealogy of Reuben, the firstborn of Israel, whose birthright was forfeited due to his defilement of his father's bed (1 Chron 5:1). This context highlights the importance of maintaining proper lineage despite past failures or tribal reordering. The Chronicler, writing for a post-exilic audience, emphasizes these genealogies to help the returned exiles re-establish their identity, confirm their tribal affiliation, validate their land claims, and rebuild their society around the covenant relationship with God. The meticulous listing of names, even for relatively obscure individuals, reinforced the divine continuity of Israel's history and its future hope.

1 Chronicles 5 5 Word analysis

• Micah (Hebrew: מִיכָה - Mîḵâ): A common Hebrew name. The literal meaning is a shortened form of "Who is like Yahweh?" (e.g., Mikaiah). This name, containing a reference to the divine name Yahweh (Yah), indicates a connection to Israelite worship of God, even if a direct statement of piety isn't present for this individual. Its inclusion is part of the objective recording of ancestry.
• his son (Hebrew: בְּנוֹ - bənô): The possessive form of the noun "son" (בֶּן - ben). This phrase explicitly denotes direct patrilineal descent, forming the foundational relationship within these genealogies. In ancient Israel, such clear lineage was paramount for establishing identity, rights to inheritance (land, tribal position), and tribal belonging. The repetition "his son" emphasizes this unbroken chain of father-son succession.
• Reaia (Hebrew: רְאָיָה - Re'āyâ): Also found as "Reaiah" in some versions. This name, similar to Micah, also carries a theophoric element, meaning "Yah has seen" or "Yahweh has revealed." Its presence suggests another individual in a line likely within a Yahwistic cultural context. Names in these genealogies often served as small markers of the faith or prevailing culture.
• Baal (Hebrew: בַּעַל - Ba‘al): This is the most notable and potentially complex name in the verse. Its primary Hebrew meaning is "master," "lord," or "owner" (e.g., "husband" in Hos 2:16, or "owner of a house" in Exod 21:29). However, Baal also became the prominent name for the Canaanite storm and fertility deity, extensively worshipped by Israel's neighbors and against whom the prophets vigorously contended. Its appearance here in an Israelite genealogy requires careful consideration.
  • It is important to note that Baal could be part of a compound name (e.g., "Ish-baal," "Merib-baal," or names referring to a place, "Baal-Peor"). Over time, the name was likely seen as religiously offensive by later Yahwists and altered to Bosheth ("shame") in some contexts (e.g., Ish-bosheth for Ish-baal).
  • Its inclusion here simply means that at the time this individual lived (likely before the height of cultic Baal worship or strong condemnation), "Baal" as a component in a name was not necessarily inherently pejorative, but meant "lord" or "master" in a neutral sense, or was tied to a local deity without the full later polemical context. The Chronicler, in his meticulous record-keeping, includes the name as it was, without comment, illustrating his role as a factual chronicler of ancestral records, not necessarily a censor of names. The record does not endorse pagan worship; it merely lists a historical name.

1 Chronicles 5 5 Bonus section

The genealogies in 1 Chronicles, including this verse, serve as a bridge between Israel's past and its future. For a people returning from exile, scattered and disillusioned, these lists provided tangible proof of their heritage and their place within God's covenant. Unlike modern histories, ancient genealogies were not just facts; they were theological statements affirming divine election and faithfulness across generations. The sheer amount of space dedicated to genealogies in Chronicles (almost half the first nine chapters) underlines their profound importance for the Chronicler's audience. They are a declaration that despite exile and hardship, God's promise to Israel remained true, anchored in the continuity of its people.

1 Chronicles 5 5 Commentary

1 Chronicles 5:5 is a single, concise entry in a lengthy genealogical account. Its purpose is less about individual biography and more about the rigorous, foundational role of lineage in Israelite identity and divine covenant. The verse simply states a chain of three generations—Micah fathering Reaia, and Reaia fathering Baal—illustrating the unbroken transmission of ancestral ties. This precision was crucial for the post-exilic community in particular, allowing them to verify their tribal membership, stake claims to traditional land, and connect themselves directly to the divine promises made to their ancestors. The meticulous recording of these names, even obscure ones, testifies to the Chronicler's commitment to historical detail as a basis for communal reconstitution and hope. The inclusion of a name like "Baal," though later synonymous with pagan idolatry, underscores the Chronicler's historical faithfulness in listing names as they existed, not necessarily reflecting an endorsement or a comment on the individual's piety, but rather recording the historical record, irrespective of later connotations. The context implicitly assumes that even these individuals, through their participation in the larger lineage of Israel, were part of God's unfolding plan.