1 Chronicles 4

1Ch 4:1-8.

POSTERITY OF

JUDAH BY

CALEB THE

SON OF

HUR.

1. the sons of Judah--that is, "the descendants," for with the

exception of Pharez, none of those here mentioned were his immediate

sons. Indeed, the others are mentioned solely to introduce the name of

Shobal, whose genealogy the historian intended to trace

(1Ch 2:52).

1Ch 4:9-20.

OF

JABEZ, AND

HIS

PRAYER.

9, 10. Jabez--was, as many think, the son of Coz, or Kenaz, and

is here eulogized for his sincere and fervent piety, as well, perhaps,

as for some public and patriotic works which he performed. The Jewish

writers affirm that he was an eminent doctor in the law, whose

reputation drew so many scribes around him that a town was called by

his name

(1Ch 2:55);

and to the piety of his character this passage bears ample testimony.

The memory of the critical circumstances which marked his birth was

perpetuated in his name (compare

Ge 35:15);

and yet, in the development of his high talents or distinguished worth

in later life, his mother must have found a satisfaction and delight

that amply compensated for all her early trials. His prayer which is

here recorded, and which, like Jacob's, is in the form of a vow

(Ge 28:20),

seems to have been uttered when he was entering on an important or

critical service, for the successful execution of which he placed

confidence neither on his own nor his people's prowess, but looked

anxiously for the aid and blessing of God. The enterprise was in all

probability the expulsion of the Canaanites from the territory he

occupied; and as this was a war of extermination, which God Himself had

commanded, His blessing could be the more reasonably asked and expected

in preserving them from all the evils to which the undertaking might

expose him. In these words, "that it may not grieve me," and which

might be more literally rendered, "that I may have no more sorrow,"

there is an allusion to the meaning of his name, Jabez, signifying

"grief"; and the import of this petition is, Let me not experience the

grief which my name implies, and which my sins may well produce.

10. God granted him that which he requested--Whatever was the kind of

undertaking which roused his anxieties, Jabez enjoyed a remarkable

degree of prosperity, and God, in this instance, proved that He was not

only the hearer, but the answerer of prayer.

13. the sons of Kenaz--the grandfather of Caleb, who from that

relationship is called a Kenezite

(Nu 32:12).

14. Joab, the father of the valley of Carashim--literally, "the

father of the inhabitants of the valley"--"the valley of craftsmen," as

the word denotes. They dwelt together, according to a custom which,

independently of any law, extensively prevails in Eastern countries for

persons of the same trade to inhabit the same street or the same

quarter, and to follow the same occupation from father to son, through

many generations. Their occupation was probably that of carpenters, and

the valley where they lived seems to have been in the neighborhood of

Jerusalem

(Ne 11:35).

17, 18. she bare Miriam--It is difficult, as the verses stand at

present, to see who is meant. The following readjustment of the text

clears away the obscurity: "These are the sons of Bithiah the daughter

of Pharaoh, which Mered took, and she bare Miriam, and his wife

Jehudijah bare Jezreel," &c.

18. Jehudijah--"the Jewess," to distinguish her from his other

wife, who was an Egyptian. This passage records a very interesting

fact--the marriage of an Egyptian princess to a descendant of Caleb.

The marriage must have taken place in the wilderness. The barriers of a

different national language and national religion kept the Hebrews

separate from the Egyptians; but they did not wholly prevent

intimacies, and even occasional intermarriages between private

individuals of the two nations. Before such unions, however, could be

sanctioned, the Egyptian party must have renounced idolatry, and this

daughter of Pharaoh, as appears from her name, had become a convert to

the worship of the God of Israel.

1Ch 4:21-23.

POSTERITY OF

SHELAH.

21. Laadah . . . the father . . . of the house of them that wrought

fine linen--Here, again, is another incidental evidence that in very

early times certain trades were followed by particular families among

the Hebrews, apparently in hereditary succession. Their knowledge of

the art of linen manufacture had been, most probably, acquired in

Egypt, where the duty of bringing up families to the occupations of

their forefathers was a compulsory obligation, whereas in Israel, as in

many parts of Asia to this day, it was optional, though common.

22, 23. had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubi-lehem--"And these are

ancient things" seems a strange rendering of a proper name; and,

besides, it conveys a meaning that has no bearing on the record. The

following improved translation has been suggested: "Sojourned in Moab,

but returned to Beth-lehem and Adaberim-athekim. These and the

inhabitants of Netaim and Gedera were potters employed by the king in

his own work." Gedera or Gederoth, and Netaim, belonged to the tribe of

Judah, and lay on the southeast border of the Philistines' territory

(Jos 15:36;

2Ch 28:18).

1Ch 4:24-43.

OF

SIMEON.

24. The sons of Simeon--They are classed along with those of Judah,

as their possession was partly taken out of the extensive territory of

the latter

(Jos 19:1).

The difference in several particulars of the genealogy given here from

that given in other passages is occasioned by some of the persons

mentioned having more than one name [compare

Ge 46:10;

Ex 6:15;

Nu 26:12].

27. his brethren had not many children--(see

Nu 1:22; 26:14).

31-43. These were their cities unto the reign of David--In consequence

of the sloth or cowardice of the Simeonites, some of the cities within

their allotted territory were only nominally theirs. They were never

taken from the Philistines until David's time, when, the Simeonites

having forfeited all claim to them, he assigned them to his own tribe

of Judah

(1Sa 27:6).

38, 39. increased greatly, and they went to the entrance of

Gedor--Simeon having only a part of the land of Judah, they were

forced to seek accommodation elsewhere; but their establishment in the

new and fertile pastures of Gederah was soon broken up; for, being

attacked by a band of nomad plunderers, they were driven from place to

place till some of them effected by force a settlement on Mount Seir.