Genealogy Issues
These are notes for an incomplete "Concept" page.
- Information is being added as the Bible Pages are added. In the end, everything will be compiled, further information added (as necessary), broken links connected, etc.
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PURPOSE
The purpose was to show who you are, not necessarily to present a sterile list of "who all your ancestors were." [see 1 Chron. info] Because of this, it was not necessary to always include all the names of all one's ancestors!
OMISSIONS
Sometimes some names may be omitted from a genealogy, in order to obtain a numerical pattern. This can be seen in Matthew 1, where we find three groups of 14 names. In Genesis, several lists are comprised of "ten" names, for "ten" apparently symbolized completeness. So it is theoretically possible that there may have been other ancestors not included in those lists. (Luke 3:36 seems to point out an example of this. (In this case, the phrase indicating that someone "became the father of..." would have the meaning of "became the ancestor of...")
CAINAN
In Luke 3:36, the name "Cainan" occurs between Arpachshad and Shelah. The nation of Israel once possessed an extensive set of genealogical lists (eventually stored in the temple); and that name might have been listed there, though not mentioned in the Genesis account. (Since those lists no longer exist, we cannot confirm this.)
Incomplete List of Bible Pages about Genealogies (with comments)
Genesis 5:1-32 (Shem's genealogy)
- The great overlap between the generations listed here - it would allow the communication of verbal information accurately down through the centuries. If there are no breaks (omitted names) in the genealogy, Lamech (Noah's father) would have been 56 years old when Adam died! The ages of the people show the effects of living under "pre-Flood" conditions.
Genesis 10:1-32 (Table of nations)
- Shows that the lists are purposefully selective. Peleg's line (from Shem) is omitted, because it's mentioned in the genealogy that follows.
Genesis 11:10-32 (Shem to Abraham, comprised of 2 lists)
- The ages of the people show the effects of living under "post-Flood" conditions, and the effects of the people spreading-out across the earth when language changes result in isolation of each group from the other.
Unless otherwise noted, all notes and comments are © by Dennis Hinks.
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