1Adam, Seth, Enosh, 2Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, 3Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, 4Noah, Shem, Ham, and Japheth.
5The sons of Japheth: Gomer, Magog, Madai, Javan, Tubal, Meshech, and Tiras. 6The sons of Gomer: Ashkenaz, Diphath, and Togarmah. 7The sons of Javan: Elishah, Tarshish, Kittim, and Rodanim.
8The sons of Ham: Cush, Mizraim, Put, and Canaan. 9The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabta, Raama, Sabteca. The sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan. 10Cush became the father of Nimrod. He began to be a mighty one in the earth. 11Mizraim became the father of Ludim, Anamim, Lehabim, Naphtuhim, 12Pathrusim, Casluhim (where the Philistines came from), and Caphtorim. 13Canaan became the father of Sidon his firstborn, Heth, 14the Jebusite, the Amorite, the Girgashite, 15the Hivite, the Arkite, the Sinite, 16the Arvadite, the Zemarite, and the Hamathite.
17The sons of Shem: Elam, Asshur, Arpachshad, Lud, Aram, Uz, Hul, Gether, and Meshech. 18Arpachshad became the father of Shelah, and Shelah became the father of Eber. 19To Eber were born two sons: the name of the one was Peleg, for in his days the earth was divided; and his brother’s name was Joktan. 20Joktan became the father of Almodad, Sheleph, Hazarmaveth, Jerah, 21Hadoram, Uzal, Diklah, 22Ebal, Abimael, Sheba, 23Ophir, Havilah, and Jobab. All these were the sons of Joktan. 24Shem, Arpachshad, Shelah, 25Eber, Peleg, Reu, 26Serug, Nahor, Terah, 27Abram (also called Abraham).
There is no way around it and no way to cushion it, reading chapters 1-9 of Chronicles is like reading the phone book. There is a significant story behind the lists of names, but that doesn’t help in its reading.
In the Jewish bible Chronicles is the last book in the OT it does not fall after Kings. It may appear to be a repetition of Kings and Samuel, but it is actually a summary whole their history from the beginning (the first name being Adam) to the return to Jerusalem after the exile. This story is being told to those who have been held captive in a foreign land for many years. They have no sense of home, or nation or worth. The author is reminding them of who they are and who God is.
It is worth noting that while other tribes are mentioned the book emphasises two particular family lines; the house of David and the tribe of Levi. The focus on these two lines was very deliberate. The Levites were the priests who worked in the temple and David’s dynasty was one of royalty. The temple signified the presence of God and the royal line signified the promise of God. As these broken people returned they were reminded that they were the Royal people of God and He was still their God. This gave them a sense of home, identity and worth. We too are his royal people, the children of the most high King, it is in him that we find our identity and worth.