1 Chronicles 2:34-35
This page isn't yet indexed by search engines.
What's striking here is how the genealogies, usually focused on sons and heirs, suddenly pause to notice a daughter and even an outsider – an Egyptian slave. This highlights that God's story isn't limited to the expected lines of descent; He weaves His purposes through all kinds of people and circumstances, even those seemingly outside the "normal" framework.
Now Sheshan had no sons, only daughters, but Sheshan had an Egyptian slave whose name was Jarha. So Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to Jarha his slave, and she bore him Attai.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This passage is part of a genealogy tracing the lineage of Israel, emphasizing important family lines. Sheshan, a key figure in Judah's family tree, is presented as having no male heirs to carry on his name. The surprising detail about his Egyptian slave, Jarha, immediately before detailing his descendants, highlights an unexpected turn that will affect this significant bloodline.
When we read genealogies, we often skip them, seeing them as just a list of names. But what if these names point to God's surprising ways of working, even through people who seem ordinary or even on the margins?
This verse drops a little bombshell! Sheshan, a prominent figure in the lineage of David (and thus Jesus!), had no sons to carry on his name. This was a HUGE deal in that culture. But God, in His wisdom, provided a solution: an Egyptian slave named Jarha. More than that, Jarha married Sheshan's daughter. This means the line of David, the royal line, would pass through a union that was quite unexpected – involving a foreigner and a slave.
In a world obsessed with status and purity, how could a union involving a foreign slave possibly be part of God's chosen line? This verse asks us to look closer.
This is incredibly significant! Sheshan's name is vital because he's in the direct line leading to King David. For his name to continue, and for the royal lineage to be preserved, a marriage had to happen. The fact that it's his daughter marrying an Egyptian slave is a testament to God's sovereign power. He doesn't need the 'right' people or the 'perfect' circumstances. He can use anyone, anywhere, to fulfill His redemptive plan. This wasn't just about Sheshan; it was about securing the future lineage through which the Messiah would come.
Understand the original words
Ask a follow-up
bath · Hebrew Noun
A female descendant; while their status in legal inheritance varied, they were essential members of the clan and frequently involved in marriage alliances that preserved family continuity.
ebed · Hebrew Noun
An individual held in perpetual service to another; in biblical law, this condition could result from debt, poverty, or capture in war, and they were considered part of the household.
nathan le'ishah · Hebrew Verb phrase
The formal social and legal union between a man and a woman; biblically, it is a covenantal commitment often used to establish lineage and legal inheritance.
The mention of an Egyptian slave in Sheshan's lineage, and his marriage into the prominent family of Judah, points to the deep and often complex interactions between Israel and Egypt, even during periods of Israelite independence.
c. 1550-1292 BC
New Kingdom of Egypt
This era saw powerful Egyptian pharaohs expand their influence and control into Canaan and the Levant.
c. 1450 BC
Egyptian conquest of Canaan
Egyptian Pharaoh Thutmose III conquered much of Canaan, establishing Egyptian dominance and facilitating trade and movement of people.
c. 1350 BC
Amarna Letters
These letters, written by Canaanite rulers to their Egyptian overlords, reveal a complex political landscape with significant Egyptian presence.
c. 1200 BC
Late Bronze Age Collapse
A period of widespread societal collapse across the Mediterranean, leading to the decline of Egyptian power in Canaan.
c. 1050-950 BC— this verse
United Monarchy of Israel
The period when Israel was united under Kings Saul, David, and Solomon, a time of relative stability and prosperity.
c. 970 BC
Reign of Solomon
Solomon's reign was marked by extensive building projects, including the First Temple in Jerusalem, and significant international relations, including marriage to Pharaoh's daughter.
This passage highlights the theme of unexpected adoption and inclusion within God's people, mirroring how Jarha, an outsider, becomes part of Sheshan's lineage.
Ruth 4:13-17Similar to how Ruth the Moabitess is incorporated into Israel's lineage and becomes an ancestor of David, Jarha the Egyptian is brought into a significant Israelite family line.
Galatians 3:28This verse speaks to the breaking down of social and ethnic barriers in Christ, which resonates with the inclusion of an Egyptian slave into the genealogy of Judah, an important tribe.
Genesis 15:13-14This prophecy foreshadows the Israelites' time in Egypt and their eventual deliverance, showing a historical pattern of Egyptians being intertwined with Israel's story, even in unexpected ways.
What's striking here is how the genealogies, usually focused on sons and heirs, suddenly pause to notice a daughter and even an outsider – an Egyptian slave. This highlights that God's story isn't limited to the expected lines of descent; He weaves His purposes through all kinds of people and circumstances, even those seemingly outside the "normal" framework.
This passage is part of a genealogy tracing the lineage of Israel, emphasizing important family lines. Sheshan, a key figure in Judah's family tree, is presented as having no male heirs to carry on his name. The surprising detail about his Egyptian slave, Jarha, immediately before detailing his descendants, highlights an unexpected turn that will affect this significant bloodline.
This passage is part of a genealogy tracing the lineage of Israel, emphasizing important family lines. Sheshan, a key figure in Judah's family tree, is presented as having no male heirs to carry on his name. The surprising detail about his Egyptian slave, Jarha, immediately before detailing his descendants, highlights an unexpected turn that will affect this significant bloodline.
"Now Sheshan had no sons, only daughters, but Sheshan had an Egyptian slave whose name was Jarha. So Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to Jarha his slave, and she bore him Attai." — What's striking here is how the genealogies, usually focused on sons and heirs, suddenly pause to notice a daughter and even an outsider – an Egyptian slave. This highlights that God's story isn't li…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026
