📖WEB · 1 Chronicles 1:46
What does 1 Chronicles 1:46 mean?
"Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Avith."
— 1 Chronicles 1:46 (World English Bible)
Surrounding context
Now these are the kings who reigned in the land of Edom, before any king reigned over the children of Israel: Bela the son of Beor; and the name of his city was Dinhabah.
Bela died, and Jobab the son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his place.
Jobab died, and Husham of the land of the Temanites reigned in his place.
Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who struck Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his place; and the name of his city was Avith.
Hadad died, and Samlah of Masrekah reigned in his place.
Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the River reigned in his place.
Shaul died, and Baal Hanan the son of Achbor reigned in his place.
Explanation
1 Chronicles 1:46 is a simple genealogical notice recording a transition of political power. It tells us that a king named Husham died, and he was succeeded by Hadad, the son of Bedad. This new king, Hadad, is noted for a specific military accomplishment—he defeated the Midianites in a battle that took place in the territory of Moab. The verse closes with a small geographical detail: Hadad's home city was called Avith.
This verse sits within a long genealogical record that opens the book of 1 Chronicles, tracing lineages from Adam all the way through the patriarchs and into the various nations descended from Abraham's family line. Specifically, this section (1 Chronicles 1:43-51) lists the kings who reigned in the land of Edom "before any king reigned over the Israelites" (v. 43). Edom was the nation descended from Esau, Jacob's brother, and this list is nearly identical to one found earlier in Genesis 36:31-39. The Chronicler, writing after the Babylonian exile to help the returning Israelite community understand their identity and history, included this material to situate Israel within the larger sweep of ancient Near Eastern nations and to show the fulfillment of God's promises to both Jacob and
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