Geneaology of People in the Bible

Question

Does anyone know of a genealogy tree for people listed in the Bible? He as anyone attempted this? - Is there a program or website that has something like this? Could this be done within WikiTree? Or is there a blank computer tree program available where someone could start entering a bible family tree citing verses and historical references for personal study? The Bible is filled with numerous Genealogy lists.  It would be interesting.

Answer 1

Hi Kevin,

Maybe something like these are what you are looking for?

http://www.complete-bible-genealogy.com/

http://www.geni.com/projects/Biblical-Genealogy-Portal/8153

It's not possible on WikiTree to do a history of the people in the Bible because we don't allow for B.C. profiles.

Interesting question though - thanks!

Comments

Thank you for the helpful links!

Answer 2

I would love to see this done through Wikitree. I've spent a lot of time working on Bible Genealogy. It not only makes for a very interesting and useful project, but if you think of the many historical figures mentioned in the Bible, which are also missing out on profiles on Wikitree, we have a huge gap here. Consider the Caesars, and Alexander the Great, the rulers of Babylon and the Medes and Persians.

There is so much established history, which we are missing here. There is great genealogies for the Pharoah's, and the Emperors of China, going back to about 2000BC.

Comments

There is no bias in not having Before Common Era (BCE or BC) profiles because they are mentioned in the Bible. After all the Chinese Emperors that are BCE are not allowed either and I believe they are not mentioned in the Bible.

The reason is actually technical as explained on Help:Profiles BCE . That explains how that negative dates are technically impossible to enter. It also points out that those people are more likely to be found elsewhere on the internet such as Wikipedia or the links provided in the answer from 2016 on this question.

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Yes. True that. I guess my comment on bias, is more based on the arguments that I've seen it produce, with people quite vehemently pointing to the Bible as fairy tales. And from there, an assumption that those at Wikitree are of the same mindset. So, forgive my assumptions, if I'm wrong.

Considering the wealth of BC information, it is ashame we couldn't do something. Even if a limited number of people could produce something that others could view in this system. I guess you are correct though, that it just has to be left to other websites to handle it. It's pity though, because of the strengths of the Wikitree system.

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Ben, putting aside my personal opinions on the Bible, the genealogists here on Wikitree are not qualified to tackle sourcing and genealogy that early.

Check out Christopher Bennett's monumental work on the Ptolemaic dynasty. Bennett is an Egyptologist who did things like translate papyrus, stelae, and chronicles in several different languages. This is well beyond the average internet genealogist's expertise level. Honestly, there is still a LOT of work to be done in A.D. era genealogy, without overextending ourselves to work on lines that will never connect to us.

Answer 3

Wikitree does NOT support dates BCE - before the common era.

 So any genealogies before the birth of Jesus Christ are not eligible.

Also there are very few sources or records (BMD records) that go back 2020 years... And without these records, no family tree would meet the Genealogical Standards of Proof.

Except the Chinese Emperors as stated in Darren's comment above!!

Comments

Dang it!!!

I did not see that this is a 4 YEAR OLD QUESTION!!!

I must be going blind in my doddering old age... LOL

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Types of historic record change as you go back in time. The first hundred years back or so, would be state BDM records. The next several hundred years, depending on where you are, would be church records. The records I have older than that, are heraldry records, which don't have a great deal of dates. Older than that, tends to be other historic documents. When you get back to Bible era, the Bible itself is considered by historians to be the best attested document available, and they could only wish they had so many documents to prove other historic figures. Of course, the historic record all the way through, is backed up by archaeology. From finding grave details, to finding coins and pottery. Standards don't necessarily deminish, as there is a massive amount of work available on textual criticism. Of course, most of it aimed at the Bible, because it seems to always be presumed wrong, but other sources seem to be assumed right.

I'm not sure why the question was drawn to your attention after I put an answer up. (Not that I'm worried, or critical of that) I was aware that it was four years old, when I answered. My wife has ordered for me 'After The Flood', which details genealogies that proceed from the Table of Nations in Genesis 10, so I thought I'd just comment my wish again, that Wikitree would allow some sort of way to start producing BC profiles. Even if Wikitree could produce a side system to handle it. Anyway. There was no point starting a new question over it, because I'm already aware of the answer.