These are the sons of Israel: Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher. (vv.1-2)
Here in chapter 2 Ezra begins with a list of the twelve patriarchs of Israel (vv.1-2). Next in verse 3 he traces the line of Judah, which leads to Boaz (v.11), the “Kinsman Redeemer” (Ruth 4:8-10), a picture of Jesus Christ, our great redeemer. From there the line of Judah leads us to Jesse who had eight sons (vv.12-15), the most famous of which was David, the man after God’s own heart.
The account of the tribe of Judah, which has been given such high priority by the chronicler here in chapter 2, was not so much for the sake of David as it was for the Son of David, our LORD, who came (sprang) out of Judah (Hebrews 7:14). The family of Jesse however is recorded for both David, and the Son of David, of which the rod out of the stem of Jesse will come forth (Isa. 11:1).
The rest of chapter 2, list the remaining side-line descendants of the tribe of Judah, separate from the line that culminated in David.
The Truth: The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham. (Matthew 1:1-15)
