Genesis 46:12
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan); and the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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Even within this genealogical list, we see God's faithfulness at work. Judah's line should have ended with Er and Onan's deaths in Canaan, but their sons Hezron and Hamul, though born later in Egypt, are recognized here, signifying that God’s covenant plan would continue through them despite earlier setbacks.
This verse details the descendants of Judah as Jacob's family prepares to relocate to Egypt. It lists Judah's sons, noting that two, Er and Onan, died in Canaan, and then names the sons of Pharez, Hezron and Hamul, who are counted among those going to Egypt. This list is part of a larger census of Jacob's descendants arriving in Egypt, emphasizing the continuation of his lineage despite past tragedies and the impending move to a new land.
Why does Genesis mention sons who died young in a family genealogy? It's not just a list; it's a testament to God's plan unfolding, even through pain.
In Genesis 46:12, we see the lineage of Judah. Two of his sons, Er and Onan, are explicitly noted as having died in Canaan. This isn't a mistake or an oversight. It highlights a crucial biblical theme: God's purposes advance even when human lives are cut short. Their deaths mean they aren't counted in the total number going to Egypt, but their mention underscores that God's plan isn't derailed by tragedy. The line continues through their brothers and later generations, showing God's faithfulness to His promises, no matter the circumstances.
Some names in this list were born after the family arrived in Egypt. How can they be counted among those who 'came into Egypt'?
The text lists Hezron and Hamul as sons of Perez. Some scholars suggest they might have been born after the family arrived in Egypt, during Jacob's 17-year sojourn. Yet, they are included in the count of those who 'came into Egypt.' This teaches us a significant principle of biblical accounting: individuals are often counted as present if they were conceived or in their father's loins at the time of a significant event. It's like saying they 'came' in their parents. This perspective emphasizes the continuity of lineage and the unfolding of God's covenant promises, even before physical birth.
Why focus so much on Judah's sons in this specific list? It's more than just a family tree; it points towards a future King.
The detailed listing of Judah's sons, including those who died young and those born later, sets the stage for an important theological truth. Judah's line is set apart because it's the lineage from which the Messiah would eventually come. While Er and Onan's stories in Genesis 38 are cautionary tales of sin and its consequences, and Perez and Zerah represent the continuation of the line through God's mercy, the inclusion of Hezron and Hamul ultimately points forward. Hezron, in particular, becomes a direct ancestor of David and Jesus. This detailed genealogical record isn't just historical; it's a theological roadmap, highlighting God's purposeful selection and preservation of a specific family line for His redemptive purposes.
Understand the original words
Kena'an · Hebrew Noun
A term denoting the territory promised by God to Abraham and his descendants as a perpetual possession. It is the geographic center of the covenant history in the Old Testament.
This genealogy of Judah's sons, including those who died in Canaan and those born later in Egypt, highlights the transition of Jacob's family from a small, wandering group in Canaan to a settled people in Egypt, setting the stage for their future growth and eventual enslavement.
c. 1700s BC
Joseph's Family in Canaan
Jacob's family, descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, are living as semi-nomadic people in the land of Canaan, with Joseph having been sold into slavery in Egypt and later rising to power.
c. 1700s BC
Joseph's Rise to Power in Egypt
Through a series of events involving his prophetic gifts, Joseph becomes second-in-command to Pharaoh, saving Egypt from a severe famine and positioning his family for migration.
c. 1700s BC— this verse
Jacob and Sons Migrate to Egypt
Jacob, called by God to leave Canaan due to famine, leads his entire household, including his sons and grandsons, into Egypt, settling in the land of Goshen as arranged by Joseph.
c. 1700s BC
Jacob's Family Settles in Goshen
Jacob's descendants are granted the fertile region of Goshen to live in, distinct from the Egyptians who held shepherds in low regard, allowing them to multiply.
This passage directly traces the lineage from Perez, highlighting Hezron as a key ancestor, thus showing the continuation and significance of this line from Judah through generations.
1 Chronicles 2:1-5This chapter provides another genealogical listing of Judah's sons and their descendants, including Perez, Hezron, and Hamul, reinforcing their place in Israel's history and the Messianic line.
Matthew 1:1-3This genealogy explicitly names Perez and Zerah as ancestors of David and Jesus, demonstrating that the descendants of Judah, including those listed here, are foundational to the fulfillment of God's promises concerning the Messiah.
calvinGenesis 46:1-34: "And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac."
- Et dixit Deus ad Israel in visi onibus noctis, dixit inquam, Jahacob Jahacob. Ille respondit, Ecce, adsum.
3 And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
- Et dixit, Ego sum Deus, Deus patris tui: ne timeas descendere in Aegyptum: quia in gentem magnam ponam to ibi…
clarkeGenesis 46:12: "And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zerah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul."
The sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul - It is not likely that Pharez was more than ten years of age when he came into Egypt, and if so he could not have had children; therefore it is necessary to consider Hezron and Hamul as being born during the seventeen years that Jacob sojourned in Egypt, See Clarke on Genesis 4…
Even within this genealogical list, we see God's faithfulness at work. Judah's line should have ended with Er and Onan's deaths in Canaan, but their sons Hezron and Hamul, though born later in Egypt, are recognized here, signifying that God’s covenant plan would continue through them despite earlier setbacks.
This verse details the descendants of Judah as Jacob's family prepares to relocate to Egypt. It lists Judah's sons, noting that two, Er and Onan, died in Canaan, and then names the sons of Pharez, Hezron and Hamul, who are counted among those going to Egypt. This list is part of a larger census of Jacob's descendants arriving in Egypt, emphasizing the continuation of his lineage despite past tragedies and the impending move to a new land.
This verse details the descendants of Judah as Jacob's family prepares to relocate to Egypt. It lists Judah's sons, noting that two, Er and Onan, died in Canaan, and then names the sons of Pharez, Hezron and Hamul, who are counted among those going to Egypt. This list is part of a larger census of Jacob's descendants arriving in Egypt, emphasizing the continuation of his lineage despite past tragedies and the impending move to a new land.
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c. 1700s BC - c. 1683 BC
Jacob's Sojourn and Death in Egypt
Jacob lives out his days in Egypt, blessing his sons and grandsons, and eventually dying there. His family continues to reside in Goshen.
"The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan); and the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul." — Even within this genealogical list, we see God's faithfulness at work. Judah's line should have ended with Er and Onan's deaths in Canaan, but their sons Hezron and Hamul, though born later in Egyp…
