(Jacob) was chosen by God to be the father of God's chosen people. The Israel tree shows the genealogy of Israel from his grandfather Abraham and Abraham's grandfather to Israel's grandsons. This covers a time period from about 2200BC to 1700BC. The Israel tree also shows the chiefs of descendants of Esau (Israel's brother). They possessed the land of Seir promised by God to Esau. The descendants of Israel hoped for the land of Canaan promised by God to Abraham. "We may suppose it a trial to the faith of God's Israel, to hear of the pomp and power of the kings of Edom, while they were bond-slaves in Egypt; but those that look for great things from God, must be content to wait for them; God's time is the best time. Mount Seir is called the land of their possession. Canaan was at this time only the land of promise. Seir was in the possession of the Edomites. The children of this world have their all in hand, and nothing in hope, Lu 16:25; while the children of God have their all in hope, and next to nothing in hand. But, all things considered, it is beyond compare better to have Canaan in promise, than mount Seir in possession.
" Translation difficulties appear with the names of Esau's wives and Dan's sons.
The
family trees of Israel's twelve sons are basically in the order of 1 Chronicles. Israel's wife Leah's sons are listed first but not in birth order, but of importance. First Judah, whose line includes the Kings and Jesus. Much of Judah's line is part of the David trees under the Kings menu. Then the Simeon tree is included on a separate page. The Reuben tree is combined with Gad and east half of Manasseh as they all settled the land east of the Jordan. Asher and Naphtali are combined as they settled the far northern lands. Zebulun does not have a family tree in 1 Chronicles, however, from what information is available, a brief tree is provided on the Issachar tree page. Zebulun and Issachar were small settlements just south of Naphtali. Benjamin and Dan are the trees on the next page. They settled the land just north of Judah. Much of Benjamin's line is in the Saul tree under the Kings menu. Rachel's son Joseph's sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, are on the last family tree page under Israel. The Levi family tree is included under the Moses menu as the priestly line.
Judah ,Simeon ,Reuben & Gad & Manasseh ,Asher & Naphtali ,Issachar & Zebulun ,Benjamin & Dan ,Manasseh & Ephraim