Genesis 25:1

Why does Genesis 25:1 call Keturah Abraham’s wife, while 1 Chronicles 1:32 calls her his concubine?

PROBLEM: Genesis 25:1 says, “Abraham again took a wife, and her name was Keturah.” However, 1 Chronicles 1:32 states, “Now the sons of Keturah, Abraham’s concubine.” Was Keturah Abraham’s wife, or was she merely one of his concubines?

SOLUTION: The contradiction is only apparent, and the problem can be easily solved by closer consideration.

First, although in Genesis 25:1 the normal Hebrew word for wife (ishshah) is used, it is also the normal word for woman. It is not necessary to take the word in this case to mean wife, especially in light of verse 6 and the statement in 1 Chronicles 1:32 that Keturah was his concubine. Genesis 25:1 can be read simply as, “And Abraham took another woman” as his concubine.

Second, although 1 Chronicles employs the Hebrew word for concubine (pilegesh) in reference to Keturah, Genesis 25:6 uses the same word when referring to the mothers of all his other sons apart from Isaac. This would obviously include Keturah as one of his concubines. Additionally, Genesis 25:1 begins with a Hebrew word (vayoseph) which can be translated, “And adding” or “And in addition to. ” Since Genesis 24:67 clearly states that Sarah, Abraham’s wife, had died, verse 1 of chapter 25 could not mean that Abraham was adding to his number of wives. It is more reasonable to take this word as indicating that Abraham was adding to his number of concubines by taking another woman (ishshah).

Genesis 25:1-2 — How could Abraham have children naturally here when years before he needed a miracle to have Isaac?

PROBLEM: As early as Genesis 17, Abraham “laughed” when God told him he would have a son (Isaac) by Sarah, since he was “a hundred years old” (v. 17). But here in Genesis 25, many years later, he has children by Keturah, the wife he took after Sarah died (vv. 1–2).

SOLUTION: There are two possibilities here, either one of which would explain this difficulty.

First, the Genesis 17 text does not say Abraham laughed because he knew he was too old to have children, but because Sarah was past childbearing age (cf. 17:17; 18:12). There was no sure way for a man in ancient times to know he was no longer fertile, as there was for a woman when her periods ceased. Since Abraham was only 100 here, and he lived to be 175, it is reasonable to assume that he was still fertile. By comparison, men who live till 80 today are still fertile in their 60s.

1 Chronicles 1:32— Why does 1 Chronicles 1:32 call Keturah Abraham’s concubine, while Genesis 25:1 calls her his wife? (See comments under Genesis 25:1) 1 Chronicles 2:18—Was Caleb’s father Hezron, Hur, or Jephunneh?

PROBLEM: According to this verse, Caleb’s father was Hezron. But verse 50 says it was Hur, and Joshua 14:6 lists it as Jephunneh.

SOLUTION: Several solutions are possible. Some scholars believe there may have been two or three Calebs. Others note that the word “son” may mean grandson of even great-grandson. Hence, these men could refer to Caleb’s father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Also, some think that 1 Chronicles 2:50 may not affirm that Caleb is the son of Hur. By placing a period after Caleb (see NASB), the phrase “these are the descendants of Caleb” refers to the preceding verse. If so, Hur would not be the father of Caleb.