Breakdown of 1 Chronicles 2:3-9

"The sons of Judah: Er, Onan and Shelah; these three Bath-shua the Canaanite bore to him. Now Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death. His daughter-in-law Tamar also bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah…" — It's easy to overlook Bath-shua's identity, but the text deliberately mentions she was Canaanite. This detail isn't just a footnote; it highlights how Judah, despite his own failings, entered into a…

1 Chronicles 2:3-9 Meaning Explained

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1 Chronicles 2:3-9

The sons of Judah: Er, Onan and Shelah; these three Bath-shua the Canaanite bore to him. Now Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, and he put him to death. His daughter-in-law Tamar also bore him Perez and Zerah. Judah had five sons in all. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara, five in all. The son of Carmi: Achan, the troubler of Israel, who broke faith in the matter of the devoted thing; and Ethan’s son was Azariah. The sons of Hezron that were born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai.

English Standard Version (ESV)

It's easy to overlook Bath-shua's identity, but the text deliberately mentions she was Canaanite. This detail isn't just a footnote; it highlights how Judah, despite his own failings, entered into a union with someone from outside the covenant people, and the tragic consequences that followed for his firstborn son.

What 1 Chronicles 2:3-9 means

This passage is part of a massive genealogy tracing the lineage of Israel, beginning with Adam. After listing Judah's sons and noting the death of his firstborn, Er, for his wickedness, the narrative immediately pivots to detail the ongoing generations of his descendants and the complex relationships within the family, particularly with Tamar. The immediate focus is on establishing the ancestral line from which the promised Messiah would eventually come.

The Shadow of Canaanite Influence

Judah's lineage, the very line through which the Messiah would come, includes a troubling detail: his wife was a Canaanite. What does this tell us about the spiritual landscape of the time, and the choices people made?

A Mixed Heritage

When the Bible introduces Judah's sons, it immediately highlights that their mother, Bath-shua, was a Canaanite. This isn't just a historical footnote; it's significant.

Spiritual Compromise: Canaanites were known for their idolatry and immoral practices. Marrying into this culture, especially for a prominent figure like Judah, suggests a significant spiritual compromise or at least a dangerous proximity to it.
God's Grace: Despite this mixed heritage and the resulting spiritual dangers, God still worked through this line. It shows that God's purposes are not derailed by human weakness or cultural impurity. He chose to work within a flawed situation.
The Danger of Assimilation: The inclusion of Bath-shua's identity serves as an early warning about the dangers of cultural and spiritual assimilation that would later plague Israel.

When 'Evil in the Sight of the LORD' Matters

Judah's firstborn, Er, is described with a stark phrase: 'evil in the sight of the LORD.' This wasn't just a personal failing; it had direct, severe consequences. What does this teach us about God's justice and the seriousness of sin?

The LORD's Judgment on Sin

The declaration that Er was "evil in the sight of the LORD" is a weighty one, leading directly to his death.

God Sees All: This phrase emphasizes that God is not oblivious to human actions. He sees sin, not as we might overlook it, but with perfect clarity and righteous judgment.

Understand the original words

Original language

evilרַע

ra' · Hebrew Adjective

Morally corrupt, wicked, or contrary to the will and character of God; in a biblical context, it describes an attitude or action that brings divine judgment.

LORDיהוה

YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun

The covenant name of the God of Israel, emphasizing His self-existence, faithfulness to His promises, and holiness.

put him to deathמוּת

muth · Hebrew Verb

To cause to cease to exist or to execute judgment, often used in Scripture to describe God’s judicial act of ending a life due to persistent sin.

daughter-in-lawכַּלָּה

kallah · Hebrew Noun

The status of a woman whose husband has died; in biblical law, such women often held specific legal protections and roles within the family structure, as seen in the levirate custom.

Historical context

Written: Likely between 450 and 400 BC
Author: Traditionally understood as Ezra, the priest and scribe
Location: Written from Jerusalem or the Babylonian exile
Genre: Biblical history (narrative) with genealogies, featuring a focus on lineage and faithfulness.

Historical background

The account of Judah's sons, Er and Onan, and their encounters with Tamar, highlights the severe consequences of defying God's commands and the importance of righteous lineage, even amidst the complex family dynamics of the early patriarchs.

c. 1800 BC
Abraham Called by God
God calls Abraham from Ur of the Chaldeans, promising to make him a great nation and bless the world through him. This marks the beginning of the Abrahamic covenant.
c. 1700 BC
Birth of Jacob and Esau
Jacob, grandson of Abraham, is born. His lineage will eventually form the twelve tribes of Israel, carrying on God's promises.
c. 1650 BC
Judah Born to Jacob
Judah, the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, is born. His descendants will play a pivotal role in the history of Israel, and the Messiah will come from his line.
c. 1630 BC— this verse
Judah and Tamar
Judah marries a Canaanite woman and has three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. This event, detailed in Genesis 38, directly precedes and explains the context of Er's death and Judah's subsequent actions.

Key themes

01Judah's lineage traced
02Divine judgment on sin
03Consequences of disobedience

Cross-references

Genesis 38:7

This passage directly echoes the account of Judah's firstborn, Er, and his wickedness, setting the stage for the subsequent events involving Onan and Tamar.

Genesis 38:8-10

This passage explains the specific reason why the LORD put Er to death: he 'wasted his seed on the ground' to avoid giving offspring to his brother, which was displeasing to the LORD.

Numbers 26:19

This census record highlights the stark reality of Er's lineage being cut off, as only the descendants of Judah's other sons are listed, emphasizing the consequence of his sin.

1 Corinthians 10:11

This New Testament passage uses such historical accounts as 'examples' for believers, reminding us that the consequences of sin for ancient Israelites serve as warnings for us today.

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What 1 Chronicles 2:3-9 means

Original language

evilרַע

ra' · Hebrew Adjective

Morally corrupt, wicked, or contrary to the will and character of God; in a biblical context, it describes an attitude or action that brings divine judgment.

LORDיהוה

YHWH · Hebrew Proper Noun

The covenant name of the God of Israel, emphasizing His self-existence, faithfulness to His promises, and holiness.

put him to deathמוּת

muth · Hebrew Verb

To cause to cease to exist or to execute judgment, often used in Scripture to describe God’s judicial act of ending a life due to persistent sin.

daughter-in-lawכַּלָּה

kallah · Hebrew Noun

The status of a woman whose husband has died; in biblical law, such women often held specific legal protections and roles within the family structure, as seen in the levirate custom.

Historical background

c. 1800 BC

Abraham Called by God

God calls Abraham from Ur of the Chaldeans, promising to make him a great nation and bless the world through him. This marks the beginning of the Abrahamic covenant.

c. 1700 BC

Birth of Jacob and Esau

Jacob, grandson of Abraham, is born. His lineage will eventually form the twelve tribes of Israel, carrying on God's promises.

c. 1650 BC

Judah Born to Jacob

Judah, the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, is born. His descendants will play a pivotal role in the history of Israel, and the Messiah will come from his line.

c. 1630 BC— this verse

Judah and Tamar

Judah marries a Canaanite woman and has three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. This event, detailed in Genesis 38, directly precedes and explains the context of Er's death and Judah's subsequent actions.