Why does the Sefer give the lineage of Goyim?
'Rashi': 1 The author wanted to give the lineage of David, therefore he included from Adam until Avraham. Since he needed to give the lineage of Avraham, he mentioned also the Goyim. Due to Avraham's children, he needs to teach about other Nochrim, Bnei Kena'an, to teach how Avraham inherited their land. Agav (along with mentioning) Kena'an, he mentioned other Nochrim briefly, until he reached what is primary. Bereishis Rabah (39:10) compares this to a traveler who lost a pearl. A man sifted the earth until he found the pearl. So Hashem said, why should I give the lineage of Shem, Arpachshad? Terach? It was only to find Avraham - "u'Matzasa Es Levavo Ne'eman Lefanecha." Due to Yitzchak's honor, it gives the lineage of the sons of Esav, Yishmael and Bnei Keturah 2 , and casts them away. It mentions Bnei Se'ir ha'Chori, for Esav dispossessed them, and for the lineage of Timna, and to show how Hashem fulfilled His word to Yitzchak to increase his seed and make him rule over all. For Yitzchak's honor it mentions the kings that ruled in Edom.
Malbim: The Sefer comes primarily to give the lineage of people with heart and Bnei Yisrael, who are Segulah Min ha'Amim. Therefore, it mentions only the heart and Segulah of the nations.
Yefe To'ar (on Bereishis Rabah 37:1), Mor u'Ketzi'ah (OC 306 DH v'Ra'isi), Malbim (10), Hagahah in Vilna Gaon (Divrei ha'Yamim II, 36:21, from his grandson) and others say that 'Rashi' on Divrei ha'Yamim is not from Rashi. ('Rashi' there calculates the Bitul of 70 Shemitos unlike Rashi Vayikra 26:35. 'Rashi' says 'Pitaron' about 40 times as often as Rashi's Perushim on the rest of Tanach, and he uses old French words only about a third as often as Rashi's other Perushim. Sefer La'azei Rashi often needs to fix 'Rashi's word; once, it is a German word. The first to cite Rashi on Divrei ha'Yamim is Ma'ase Hashem, a very early Acharon! Below (13), Radak, who lived 130 years after Rashi, cites 'Rashi's Perush in the name of 'one of the Meforshim'. Below (4:31), 'Rashi' says 'so explained to me the brother of [a Rebbi of Rashi,] R. Moshe ha'Darshan.' This implies that 'Rashi' was about the same time as Rashi. However, perhaps 'Rashi' was later, and he cites an earlier Perush! - PF)
Seemingly, the lineage of Bnei Yishmael and Bnei Keturah is for Avraham's honor! (PF)
Why does it say "Adam Shes Enosh"?
'Rashi': It means Bnei Adam Shes u'Vnei Shes Enosh. It is abbreviated, for it is not the primary lineage. It does not mention Kayin and Hevel, for they did not father generations [that lasted]. From Shes came Noach, Avraham and David.
Radak: It teaches who fathered whom. However, it says "Noach Shem Cham v'Yefes" (4), even though the last three were brothers, like "Reuven Shimon Levi Yehudah."
Malbim: The Kuzari writes that initially, the heart and Segulah were found only in individuals; the rest were Kelipos (shells). This is until Avraham. Some of the individuals listed were not Segulah, but Segulah would come from his sons or grandsons. The lineage [before Noach] is in three verses, for Adam, Shes and Enosh themselves were Segulah. Keinan, Mehalal'el and Yered were not Segulah, but their seed was heart and Segulah - Chanoch, Mesushalach and Lemech, who were Tzadikim. They asked Aba Kohen Bardela why Adam Shes Enosh are one verse. He answered, until now is Tzelem and Dmus; the Tzelem and Dmus did not return until Chanoch, Mesushalach and Lemech (Bereishis Rabah 23:6).
