This genealogy covers the rest of the 12 tribes with the exception of Zebulun and Dan. In their place, in order to preserve the ideal number of 12, the Chronicler has added Ephraim and Manasseh both members of the former Northern Kingdom of Israel included in the exiles returned from Babylon. The list appears to have been based on a military census, probably the one that David took which ended in disaster (2 Sam. 24). The number of fighting men gives the impression of the former glory and strength of Israel, perhaps of nostalgia. The purpose of the Chronicler, however, is to get the people focused on reality. The nostalgia is tempered by the reminder that all this was lost due to idolatry.
Many times humans look at the past with nostalgia. We look at the glory and/or simplicity of the past, of the days when we were kids, or when our grandparents were kids, or the days of our forefathers. In America it is quite common to look at the past history of the nation and idealize the lives and values of the founding fathers or the important personages of our history, or the deeds and accomplishments of our valiant armies. Nostalgia usually forgets about the hard times, the evil, the racism, the fear, the sickness, the sinfulness, the suffering, and the cruelties of war. We forget that the glory was always tarnished by sin.
In my own life, I recall the innocence of childhood, of growing up in the fifties. I look back fondly with thoughts of holidays and celebrations. Yet my nostalgic wistfulness is tempered by the reminder of the real threat of nuclear annihilation that gripped our lives back then as well as the lies I was told, and the spiritual abuse I suffered at the hands of the Roman Catholic Church. We must avoid looking back at an idealized version of the past lest we forget the lessons that the sins of the past teach us that we need to grow into the image and likeness of Jesus Christ. Then indeed we will find real glory in being one with Him.
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