Genealogies

Whenever we come upon a long list of begats, I find it difficult to stay mentally engaged. I skim. I don't recognize most of the names and honestly, the lists have little meaning to me. And yet, they were of extreme importance to the Jews. Genealogies were necessary under the Old Law in order to distinguish tribes, disseminate land, discern duties (e.g., the responsibilities of Levites were very different than other Israelites), and, most important, to disclose from which nation, tribe, and family the prophesied Messiah would come. The genealogies were essentially used to legitimize the claims of the Israelites...claims of land inheritance, qualification for the priesthood, etc. They were considered proof of identity; the closest thing they had to a birth certificate. It is no surprise then, that the gospel accounts begin with the genealogy of Christ. It was the genealogy that was His proof of identity, but the Jews chose not to believe.

Tomorrow's reading: 1 Samuel 1:9- 4:11