Abraham’s Fourfold Genealogy

Abraham’s genealogy in 1 Chronicles 1 can’t seem to get off the ground. He’s identified as father of “Isaac and Ishmael” (v. 28), but the genealogy that follows goes off with 12 sons of Ishmael (the genealogy is enclosed with Ishmael’s name, vv. 29–31) and leave Isaac behind.

Finally, we hope, we get to Isaac, but verse 32 lists the 6 sons of Keturah, and adds further generations of Jokshan and Midian. Again, the whole is enclosed by references to Keturah (“sons of Keturah” in vv 32, 33).

Finally again, verse 34 begins: “And Abraham became the father of Isaac,” but instead of giving us Israel’s genealogy—which we what we tuned in for—the Chronicler gives us a lengthy family tree for Esau (vv. 35–54), including 12 kings and a list of chiefs. Only in chapter 2 do we get to the genealogy we’ve been waiting for, that of Issac’s son Israel.

The genealogy meanders around: Abraham’s firstborn; then his sons by his second wife, Keturah; then his grandson Esau; finally the descendants of his grandson Isaac.

Two explanations are possible. First, the genealogy highlights the inversion of primogeniture that is so common in Genesis. Isaac is the most important son, the bearer of the covenant, but the important genealogy comes fourth. Second, Isaac is mentioned three times (vv. 28, 34 [2x]), but very much in passing. As in Genesis, Isaac is a transitional figure between Abraham, the tenth from Noah, and Isaac’s second son Jacob.