[DManA]

I am personally confused by this issue.

The Jews are not a race; there are Jews of every race.

Then why the emphasis on genealogies in the Bible?

[DManA]

Maybe it’s more of a family than a race. Racially what is the difference between an Arab and an ethnic Jew?

[Jewbacca]

“Then why the emphasis on genealogies in the Bible?”

There are certain promises and obligations of each tribe. For example, Levites and, as a subset, the Cohenim, have an obligation to serve in the Temple. This is a paternal-line obligation.

Similarly, from the line (of most recently) David comes the Messiah.

I have heard it expressed that “converts” are not actually “converts” but Jewish people born to other families, for whatever reason. The deal was struck at Mt. Sinai with all future, present, and past Jewish souls.

[Westbrook]

> Then why the emphasis on genealogies in the Bible?

In the genealogy of Jesus are Rahab of Jericho and Naomi the Moabitess, neither of which were ethnic Jews.

[Jedidah]

In the genealogy of Jesus, there are ancestors who were not Jews by birth. Ruth, from Moab, and Rahab, a Canaanite, come to mind.

[Wuli]

“Then why the emphasis on genealogies in the Bible?”

Genealogies define “family lineage” and not necessarily “race”, for more than one “race” may be in that lineage.