A. Adam to Israel (1:1-2:2)

After ten antediluvian generations, the chronicler lists Noah’s sons (1:4). He reverses the standard birth order when discussing their families (vv.5-27). This climactic arrangement leads to the Israelites' forebear, Abram.

The chronicler lists Abraham’s sons in reverse birth order, with the favored offspring last (1:28-37). He arranges the material according to the mother of the children: Hagar, the concubine; Keturah, the second wife; and Sarah, the wife of promise. Vv.38-54, like Ge 36, discuss Sarah’s spurned grandson, Esau, and his connections with Edomites.

1Ch 2:1-2 is the high point of the patriarchal genealogy and serves as a bridge to the largest section. The chronicler introduces the ancestors of the twelve tribes. Again, for reasons of emphasis, he does not follow the birth order. Here he places the most important tribe, Judah, at the beginning.

The patriarchal genealogy places Israel within the human family. God’s choice of the nation involved a progressive narrowing. The incipient election of Israel at Creation in Adam was realized in Jacob (consistently called Israel by the chronicler) and his family. Later this exclusive family becomes more inclusive.