1 Ch 1:1 Adam, Seth, Enosh, 1:2 Kenan, Mahalalel, Jered, 1:3 Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, 1:4 Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth. 

Most conservative scholars believe that Ezra wrote 1-2 Chronicles during the Babylonian Captivity. Some scholars call this book “Things Omitted.” Chronicles contains about 55% of new material which was not recorded in 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings. Basically, 1-2 Samuel and 1-2 Kings recorded history from man’s point of view. 1-2 Chronicles recorded history from God’s point of view. Samuel and Kings gave the history of Saul, David, Solomon, and the divided kingdom. Chronicles concentrates on the Abrahamic and Davidic Covenants; so very little is said about Saul, Solomon, and the northern kingdom. There is more detailed information of David and his line, since the Messiah would come from the line of Judah. The author is reminding the Jews in captivity that God is not finished with Israel. He still has a plan for Israel. The Abrahamic and Davidic Covenant are both still in effect. To sum it up, Chronicles is actually a mini-history book written to a nation in captivity, which reminds them of the promises of the Davidic Covenant.

The author began his book with genealogy, to prove that the Davidic Covenant was still in effect. He starts with Adam to Noah, covering the ancestors of David before the flood. Notice that the rejected line of Cain is not mentioned, because he was not an ancestor of David.

1:5 The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 1:6 The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Riphath, and Togarmah. 1:7 The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, the Kittites, and the Rodanites. 

The Holy Spirit always begins with the rejected line. Japheth was the oldest son of Noah. He gave birth to many of the European nations.

1:8 The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 1:9 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raamah, and Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. 1:10 Cush was the father of Nimrod, who established himself as a mighty warrior on earth. 1:11 Mizraim was the father of the Ludites, Anamites, Lehabites, Naphtuhites, 1:12 Pathrusites, Casluhites (from whom the Philistines descended), and the Caphtorites. 1:13 Canaan was the father of Sidon—his firstborn—and Heth, 1:14 as well as the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites, 1:15 Hivites, Arkites, Sinites, 1:16 Arvadites, Zemarites, and Hamathites. 

Ham was the father of many of the Canaanite races, including Egypt and Africa.

1:17 The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arphaxad, Lud, and Aram. The sons of Aram: Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. 1:18 Arphaxad was the father of Shelah, and Shelah was the father of Eber. 1:19 Two sons were born to Eber: the first was named Peleg, for during his lifetime the earth was divided; his brother’s name was Joktan. 1:20 Joktan was the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 1:21 Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 1:22 Ebal, Abimael, Sheba, 1:23 Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. 1:24 Shem, Arphaxad, Shelah, 1:25 Eber, Peleg, Reu, 1:26 erug, Nahor, Terah, 1:27 Abram (that is, Abraham). 

Shem was in the Noahic line who was to bring in the Messiah predicted in the protoevangelium of Genesis 3:15. God promised Abraham the messianic seed, the land of Israel, and multitudes of descendants. Abraham was the first Jewish citizen in existence.

1:28 The sons of Abraham: Isaac and Ishmael. 1:29 These were their descendants: Ishmael’s firstborn son was Nebaioth; the others were Kedar, Adbeel, Mibsam, 1:30 Mishma, Dumah, Massa, Hadad, Tema, 1:31 Jetur, Naphish, and Kedemah. These were the sons of Ishmael. 

Isaac was born to Abraham and Sarah.  Ishmael was born to Abraham and Hagar, Sarah's handmaid. The Holy Spirit recorded the rejected line of Ishmael first. These 12 sons of Ishmael developed into the 12 tribes and became the Arab people. The Abrahamic Covenant was given to Isaac and not Ishmael.

1:32 The sons to whom Keturah, Abraham’s concubine, gave birth: Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, Shuah. The sons of Jokshan: Sheba and Dedan. 1:33 The sons of Midian: Ephah, Epher, Hanoch, Abida, and Eldaah. All these were the sons of Keturah. 

After Sarah died, Abraham married Keturah. The line of Abraham and Keturah was another rejected line of the Messiah. Keturah was to become the mother of many of the Arab races.

1:34 Abraham was the father of Isaac. The sons of Isaac: Esau and Israel. 1:35 The sons of Esau: Eliphaz, Reuel, Jeush, Jalam, and Korah. 1:36 The sons of Eliphaz: Teman, Omar, Zephi, Gatam, Kenaz, and (by Timna) Amalek. 1:37 The sons of Reuel: Nahath, Zerah, Shammah, and Mizzah. 1:38 The sons of Seir: Lotan, Shobal, Zibeon, Anah, Dishon, Ezer, and Dishan. 1:39 The sons of Lotan: Hori and Homam. (Timna was Lotan’s sister.) 1:40 The sons of Shobal: Alyan,Manahath, Ebal, Shephi, and Onam. The sons of Zibeon: Aiah and Anah. 1:41 The son of Anah: Dishon. The sons of Dishon: Hamran, Eshban, Ithran, and Keran. 1:42 The sons of Ezer: Bilhan, Zaavan, Jaakan. The sons of Dishan: Uz and Aran. 1:43 These were the kings who reigned in the land of Edom before any king ruled over the Israelites: Bela son of Beor; the name of his city was Dinhabah. 1:44 When Bela died, Jobab son of Zerah from Bozrah, succeeded him. 1:45 When Jobab died, Husham from the land of the Temanites succeeded him. 1:46 When Husham died, Hadad son of Bedad succeeded him. He struck down the Midianites in the plains of Moab; the name of his city was Avith. 1:47 When Hadad died, Samlah from Masrekah succeeded him. 1:48 When Samlah died, Shaul from Rehoboth on the river succeeded him. 1:49 When Shaul died, Baal-Hanan son of Achbor succeeded him. 1:50 When Baal-Hanan died, Hadad succeeded him; the name of his city was Pai. His wife was Mehetabel, daughter of Matred, daughter of Me-Zahab. 1:51 Hadad died. The tribal chiefs of Edom were: Timna, Alvah, Jetheth, 1:52 Oholibamah, Elah, Pinon, 1:53 Kenaz, Teman, Mibzar, 1:54 Magdiel, Iram. These were the tribal chiefs of Edom. 

Isaac was the father of twin sons, Esau and Jacob. Esau was the older brother, but the messianic seed passed through Jacob. Since Esau was the rejected line, then the Holy Spirit recorded Esau’s genealogy first. Basically, chapter one is the genealogy of the rejected line of the Messiah. The sons of Ishmael, Keturah, and Esau will not bring in the Messiah. Therefore, those in captivity will not find the Messiah in these three family lines. They must look to the tribe of Judah.