1 Chronicles 2:21
And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he married when he was threescore years old; and she bare him Segub.
1 Chronicles 2:21 (KJV)
Context
This verse belongs to the genealogies in 1 Chronicles, which trace the families of Israel, especially the tribe of Judah. Hezron was the son of Perez and grandson of Judah, making him an ancestor of David and of Jesus Christ. The record notes that he married the daughter of Machir, a descendant of Manasseh, and that she bore him Segub.
Meaning
The phrase “threescore years old” means sixty years old. This detail shows that Hezron married and became a father late in life. The daughter’s name is not given here, though some traditions link her to Abiah mentioned in 1 Chronicles 2:24, but that remains uncertain. The marriage united the tribal lines of Judah and Manasseh, and Gilead was Machir’s grandson (Numbers 26:29). This union shows how God’s covenant promises continued through specific families, even across tribal boundaries.
Biblical connections
Segub’s son Jair later controlled twenty-three towns in Gilead (1 Chronicles 2:22; Numbers 32:41), showing how this family line received territorial inheritance. This connection reveals God’s providence weaving together family histories and land promises. The genealogies affirm the continuity of God’s plan through generations, and the mention of Gilead ties this family to the broader settlement of the tribes.
Application
Hezron’s late marriage and fatherhood remind us that God’s purposes are not limited by age or circumstance. Even a brief mention in a genealogy shows that every person matters in God’s plan. The careful preservation of these records affirms the historical reliability of Scripture and the value of family heritage. God works through ordinary family histories to accomplish His purposes, and no life is insignificant in His plan.
Reflection
God worked through ordinary families and unexpected timing to bring about the Messiah. This verse encourages us to trust that our own lives, however small they seem, fit into His faithful and sovereign purposes.
