1. Genealogy of Jesus
    1. The Noahic Generations
Noah (6/15/04) - 1056 - 2006
(Noach [OT:5146]): from nuwach [OT:5117]: to rest, settle down, dwell, remain, etc. "Rest." Son of Lamech, who lived to be 777. Noah had his first children when he was 500: Shem, Ham, and Japheth (Ge 5:29-32). Noah, like Enoch before him, walked with God, righteous and blameless in his time (Ge 6:8-9). God warned Noah that the world was to be cleansed of mankind because man had become so violent (Ge 6:13). Noah obeyed God's instructions, regarding the building of the ark (Ge 6:22). These instructions included taking seven of every clean, and two of every unclean animal, as well as his own family, for the rains would begin in another 7 days. In this, too, Noah obeyed the Lord (Ge 7:1-7:5). Noah was 600 when the flood came. He gathered the animals, both clean and unclean, putting them on the ark by pairs as God had commanded, and the rains began on the 7th day, on the 17th day of the 2nd month of Noah's 600th year, which rains continued for forty days and nights thereafter. Noah, his three sons, and their wives all entered the ark with the commencement of the rain with the animals in their pairs. Who entered the ark, entered as God commanded, and God closed the door of the ark when they were aboard (Ge 7:6-15). All but those who were in the ark were destroyed by the floods, the waters of which remained on the earth for 150 days (Ge 7:23-24). God, remembering Noah, began the work of lowering the water, and on the 17th day of the 7th month, the ark came to rest on Mt. Ararat. In the 10th month, mountaintops were visible, so after 40 days, Noah sent a raven out, followed by a dove. The dove returned. Seven days later, he tried again, and the dove brought back an olive leaf, showing that the water was receding. Seven days later, he once more sent the dove, but it did not return. So, on the 1st day of the 1st month of his 601st year, Noah opened the ark. By the 27th day of the 2nd month, the earth was dry (Ge 8:1-15). God then instructed Noah to unload the ark, which he did with his sons. Then, he built an altar, and offered from every clean animal. The Lord responded with a promise not to curse the land again, nor to destroy it again as He had done. This covenant promise will stand so long as the earth remains. Days, nights, seasons, sowing and harvesting - these things shall endure (Ge 8:15-22). God blessed Noah, along with his sons, commanding them to multiply so as to fill the earth (Ge 9:1). God spoke to Noah and his sons regarding the covenant He was establishing with them, as well as with all creation. Never again by flood (Ge 9:8-11). From Noah's three sons, the whole earth was repopulated (Ge 9:19). Noah became a farmer, and a vintner (Ge 9:20-29). At some point, he became drunk, and went to bed naked in his tent. Ham, father of Canaan, saw this and told his brothers of it. Shem and Japheth, upon hearing this news, took a garment between them and, walking backwards into the tent so as not to look upon him, they covered his nakedness. Noah awoke aware of Ham's misdeed and cursed his son Canaan, while he blessed Shem and Japheth. Noah lived another 350 years after the flood, dying at the age of 950 (Ge 9:20-29). A descendant of Joseph, through Manasseh named one of his daughters after Noah (Nu 26:33, Nu 27:1-4). These daughters pleaded the case for the women of Israel, those with no male relations to claim their birthrights, before Moses and Aaron. These daughters married into their own tribe to secure their inheritance (Nu 36:11-12). Later, when Israel had entered the land, they came before Eleazer and Joshua to enforce their right of lot (Josh 17:3). The sins of the world have long since returned to the vileness that was mankind before the flood, the days are like Noah's day in God's sight. Yet, He swore to Noah that the flood would not be repeated, and He has also sworn not to be angry with His bride (Isa 54:9). Still, in the unfaithful country, when God determines to destroy it, even such as Noah, Daniel, and Job could deliver none but themselves for all their righteousness (Eze 14:14). Against God's wrath, their righteousness would not suffice even to deliver their own children, but only themselves (Eze 14:20). When Christ returns, it will again be like the days of Noah, when the people gave no thought to God, but lived as though He did not matter, right up to the moment Noah entered the ark (Mt 24:37-38, Lk 17:26-27). All was eat, drink, and be merry, then boom! Noah's obedience in preparing the salvation of his household and thereby condemning the world was by faith. Thus he was made heir of that righteousness which is alone by faith (Heb 11:7). Christ died once for all. He being just died for the unjust so as to bring us to God as those alive in the spirit. This same life He also proclaimed to the spirits of those who died in their sins. They had been disobedient, and God's patience waited for Noah to finish the ark by which he brought no more than 8 people through God's wrathful flood to safety. Baptism is like this, an appeal to God through the resurrection of Christ (1Pe 3:18-21). God did not spare the world, but He did preserve Noah, a preacher of righteousness, along with seven others (2Pe 2:5).
Shem (6/15/04) - 1556 - 2156
(Sheem [OT:8035]: "Name." source of the Semitic tribes. Born to Noah when Noah was 500 (Ge 5:32). He went into the ark with Noah, his brothers, and their wives (Ge 7:13). When they departed the ark, Shem his brothers, and their wives, repopulated the earth (Ge 9:18). Shem and Japheth undertook to cover Noah in his drunken error (Ge 9:23), for which Noah blessed them even as he cursed Canaan, son of Ham (Ge 9:26-27). Shem was father of the children of Eber. His sons' names were Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, and Aram (Ge 10:21-22). There follows this a list of the nations descended from Shem, ending in v31. Arphaxad was born when Shem was 100, being two years after the flood, after which Shem lived a further 500 years (Ge 11:10-11). Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech are also listed among Shem's children (1Ch 1:17).
Arphaxad {Arpachshad} (6/16/04) - 1656 - 2094
(`Arpakshad [OT:775]): "He cursed the breast bottle." Son of Shem, father of Shelah (Ge 10:22-24). Born the 100th year of Shem, 2 years post-flood, he became a father at 35, and lived to be 438 (Ge 11:10-13).
Cainan (6/15/04)
There is no record of a Cainan existing at this point in the lineage. There was one earlier, which has already been considered. The genealogies are consistent in having Shelah the son of Arphaxad with no intermediate generation.
Shelah (6/16/04) - 1691 - 2124
(Shaalach [OT:7974]): from shalach [OT:7971]: to send away, send for, send out. A missile, or spear. "Sprout." Son of Arphaxad, father of Eber (Ge 10:24). Born in the 35th year of Arphaxad, he fathered Eber at the age of 30, and lived to be 433 (Ge 11:12-15). Another by this name was born to Judah by a Canaanite woman, his third by this woman. It is noted that he was born in Chezib. Judah brought Tamar as wife to the oldest of these three, but he God killed him as evil. She passed to the second son, but he would not fulfill his duty upon her. Having shown himself evil, God also killed him. At the time, Shelah was too young to take his place as her husband, so Judah sent her to her father's house. This, though, was an excuse. Judah was afraid he would lose Shelah, as well (Ge 38:5-11). Eventually, she caught on to Judah's nonsense, and tricked him into fathering a child on her. Judah came to recognize the right of her actions, sparing her life, but refusing to have further relations with her (Ge 38:14-26). It was by her that Perez (see later in the genealogy) was born. Given that, Judah's declaration, "She is more righteous than I," is significant. Shelah was head of the family of the Shelanites (Nu 26:20), the two sons of Tamar also having their families among the tribe of Judah. This latter Shelah was father to Er, and through that line, head of the families of the linen workers at Beth-ashbea (1Ch 4:21). There was a pool in Jerusalem, near the king's garden, named after one or the other of these Shelahs (Ne 3:15).
Heber {Eber} (6/16/04) - 1725 - 2189
(`Eeber [OT:5677]): from `abar [OT:5674]: to cross over, transitional, to cover. A wide region, the opposite side. "The region beyond." Shem is noted as the father of all who descend from Eber (Ge 10:21), although 3 generations removed. Eber had two sons: Peleg and Joktan (Ge 10:25). Born in Shelah's 30th year, he fathered Peleg when he was 34. He lived to be 464 (Ge 11:14-17). Another Eber shows up in the descendants of Asher (Ge 46:17). Balaam, in his prophesying, declared that Israel would destroy the Amalekites and the Kenites (descendants of Cain?). This latter tribe is noted as being taken by the tribe of Asshur. It is then noted that ships from Kittim would come and afflict Asshur, and Eber, ending in their destruction. One presumes the Eber of this verse is that of Asshur's line, thereby perhaps limiting the scope of destruction to this particular branch of the tribe (Nu 24:24). Yet another Eber is found amongst the very Kenites whom Eber was prophetically declared vanquisher of, but he had separated himself from that tribe. He was descended from the father-in-law of Moses (Jdg 4:11). It was his wife, Jael, who killed Sisera when he hid in their tent (Jdg 4:17-21), for which she was blessed by the LORD's angel (Ge 5:24). Another shows up as father of Soco (1Ch 4:18), but the ordering of the genealogies here is more tangled than I care to pursue at present. Yet another appears as kin to Joel (1Ch 5:13). Another appears in the line of Asher (1Ch 7:31-32), which is perhaps the same one noted in Balaam's prophecy, although his line appears to continue here. Several others are noted amongst the lists of 1Chronicles. Another is noted as head of the priestly family of Amok in the time of Nehemiah (Ne 12:20).
Peleg (6/17/04) - 1759 - 1998
(Peleg [OT:6389]): "earthquake." So named because the earth was divided in his day (Ge 10:25). Father of Reu at age 30. Lived to be 239 (Ge 11:18-19).
Reu (6/17/04)- 1789 - 2028
(Re`uw [OT:7466]): from re`iy [OT:7471]: from ra`ah [OT:7462]: to tend a flock, to pasture, graze, associate with as a friend; pasture. "Friend." Father at 32, dead at 239 (Ge 11:20-21).
Serug (6/17/04) - 1821 - 2051
(Seruwg [OT:8286]): from sarag [OT:8276]: to intwine. "tendril" or "branch." Father at 30, dead at 230 (Ge 11:22-23).
Nahor (6/17/04) - 1851 - 1999
(Nachowr [OT:5152]): "Snorer." Father at 29, dead at 148 (Ge 11:24-25). There is also a brother to Abraham of this name, who plays a greater role in the histories (Ge 11:27). There had been three brothers, but one died in Ur, leaving Abram and Nahor, although not before this third had become father of Lot. The remaining brothers married, Nahor taking Milcah, a daughter of his dead brother, while Abram took Sarai (Ge 11:26-29). Just after Abraham received the covenant of God, somebody came to tell him of all the children Nahor and Milcah had, among them the father of Rebekah (Ge 22:20-23). Some time later, Abraham sent his servant to the city of Nahor, still in Mesopotamia, in search of a bride for Isaac. He found this very Rebekah, grand-daughter of Abraham's brother (Ge 24:10-15). Jacob would also find his wives among the descendants of Nahor, for Laban was Nahor's son (Ge 29:5). During the bitterness of Jacob's leave-taking from Laban, it was the God of Abraham, Nahor, and their father who was called to judge between them (Ge 31:53). Yet, God declared through Joshua that Terah and several preceding generations had been serving other gods while they were in Ur (Jos 24:2). [Who, then, was called to judge between Jacob and Laban?]
Terah (6/17/04) - 1880 - 2085
(Terach [8646]): "station, delay". A station in the wilderness. Father at 70, he had three sons, Abram, Nahor, and Haran, but Haran, father of Lot, died young (Ge 11:26-28). Terah took Abram, Lot, and their families out from Ur to go to Canaan, but got no further than Haran, where Terah died at the age of 205 (Ge 11:31-32). During the Exodus, in the course of their desert wanderings, they camped at Terah (Nu 33:27-28). Terah, father of Abraham and Nahor served other gods, as did his father before him (Jos 24:2).
Abraham Abraham (6/17/04-6/18/04) - 1950 - 2125
('Abram [OT:87]): contraction of 'Abiyram [OT:48]: from 'ab [OT:1]: father, and ruwm [OT:7311]: to raise; father of height, lofty father. "exalted father." Left Ur with Lot and Terah (Ge 11:31). God told Abram to leave Haran and go where He would direct, a place wherein God would make of Abram a great nation. Here was the beginning of God's promise: "I will bless those who bless you, and curse those who curse you, and in you I will bless all the families of the earth." Abram obeyed, sort of. He was told to leave all his relatives, but he took Lot along. This occurred in Abram's 75th year. Abram also took all his accumulated possessions and peoples as he departed for Canaan. At Shechem, God told Abram that the land he could see would be given to his descendants, which led Abram to build an altar to the LORD (Ge 12:1-10). He also built an altar on the mountain east of Bethel, before continuing toward the Negev, and through it to Egypt to avoid famine. In spite of troubles, in the end Abram left Egypt richer than he arrived, and returned through the Negev once more (Ge 12). At Bethel, he and Lot split up, and Abram moved on to Mamre (Ge 13). Lot having become captive in a war, Abram came to rescue him, refusing to take any reward in the matter (Ge14). It was in response to this action that God spoke to Abram of the child who would come to be. This was also the precedent to God's coming into covenant with Abram. In that covenant, Abram was told of the period of Egyptian enslavement that would come, and also of the Exodus. This covenant deeded the land of Canaan, from Egypt to the Euphrates, to the children of Abram (Ge 15). At Sarai's suggestion, Abram fathered a child by her slave Hagar, and named him Ishmael. He was 86 at the time. Not long after having Ishmael, Sarai became jealous of Hagar, and Hagar fled, but the angel came promising her a large family, and calling her to submit to authority (Ge 16). At 99, Abram again heard from God, and the covenant was renewed and strengthened. Further, his name was changed to Abraham at that time (Ge 17). ('Abraham [OT:85]): from 'ab [OT:1]: father, and another word meaning populous. "father of a multitude." Nehemiah sums this up nicely: God chose Abram, took him out of Ur, and gave him the name Abraham. Finding him faithful, He made covenant with him, giving him the lands of many nations (Neh 9:7-8). Abraham took on the sign of the covenant at 99. Abraham was told of Sodom's fate, and pled with God on behalf of any righteous who might live there (thinking, no doubt, of Lot) (Ge 18). God preserved Lot because of Abraham's words (Ge 19:27-29). Abraham played the same game with Abimelech that he had done in Egypt, to the same result: he was further enriched, but he did bless Abimelech at God's instruction, removing the barrenness from his family (Ge 20). Finally, a son! Abraham was 100 at the time. Jealousy again arose, and Hagar was driven from the camp with her son (Ge 21). Abraham was tested by God, asked to sacrifice the very son that God had given him, in which Abraham acted faithfully. Prophetically, he told his son that God would provide the sacrifice, which He certainly did (Ge 22). When Sarah died, Abraham procured a burial place from the sons of Heth (Ge 23). Abraham sent his servant to his brother Nahor to seek a bride for Isaac. He found Rebekah (Ge 24). Abraham took a second wife, Keturah, and they had many children, but all was given to Isaac. Abraham lived to be 175. From this point forth, God is often spoken of as the God of Abraham. Isaac and Jacob were buried in the same place that Abraham and Sarah were, as were their wives. God remembered His covenant with Abraham, and acted with regard to Israel's enslavement (Ex 2:24). In speaking to Moses, God made clear that it was He who had been with Abraham and his descendants (Ex 3:6). Later, in the desert, when God was ready to destroy the rebellious Israelites, Moses reminded God of that same covenantal relationship (Ex 32:13). Of all whom God brought out of Egypt, only Caleb and Jacob were privileged to enter the land of promise, for they alone were fully faithful to God (Nu 32:11). Throughout Moses' history, much is made of God as the God of Abraham, as well as His covenant with Abraham. Elijah called upon the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel to show Himself true God in the face of the Jew's falling into Baal worship (1Ki 18:36). Jesus warned that mere descent from Abraham was no guarantee of salvation, for God could as easily raise up new sons for Abraham from the stones of the field (Mt 3:9, Lk 3:8). Salvation comes to the sons of Abraham (Lk 19:9). Abraham's children do as Abraham did (Jn 8:39-40). Before Abraham was even born, Jesus is (Jn 8:58). If Abraham had been justified by his own efforts, he would have had cause to boast, though not in God's sight. But it was his belief of God's word that was counted as righteousness (Ro 4:2-3). This declaration of his righteousness preceded his taking on the sign of the covenant, so it couldn't have been declared because of his taking that sign (Ro 4:9). Abraham is father of the faithful (Ro 4:16, Gal 3:7). Abraham obeyed God by faith (Heb 11:8). Still, he was justified by his works, as we see in his obedience in offering up his son, because his faith was shown alive in his works, and the works that displayed his faith made his faith complete(Jas 2:21-23). Sarah obeyed Abraham. Like her, we ought to do right without fear (1Pe 3:6).