Friday, January 20, 2012

"And they all lived happily. . ." for awhile anyway.  Today's reading in Genesis 45 and 46 tells of the happy reunion between Joseph and his father, Jacob (Israel).  It is a beautiful picture -- ". . .he threw his arms around his father and wept for a long time."  The extreme sorrow each of them felt when separated is now obliterated by their intense joy!  The family tree of Israel is explained in detail here.  One of the details raised a question for me.  All 12 of Israel's sons are listed, along with the sons of the 12 sons, and with distinction as to the mothers of each.  However, in only two cases are the grandsons of the 12 sons listed.  The two cases are for Judah's son, Perez, and Perez' two sons, Hezron and Hamul; and Asher's son, Beriah, along with his two sons, Heber and Malkiel.  I thought that Judah's grandsons were listed because of the lineage of Jesus.  But, if that is the case, then why list Asher's?