1The posterity of Judah derived from Hur the firstborn of Caleb by Ephratah. 9Concerning Jabez and his prayer. 11Other families descended from the same stock. 21The sons of Shelah. 24The posterity and cities of Simeon. 39Their conquest of Gedor, and of the Amalekites in mount Seir.
1THE sonsa of Judah; 1Pharez, Hezron, and 2Carmi, and 3Hur, and Shobal.
a Gen. 38:29; 46:12; 1 Chron. 2:4.
1Pharez was (to speak properly) the son of Judah, but those who are named here after him, sprung from Pharez.
2 He is called Chelubai 1 Chron. 2:9, and also Caleb, 1 Chron. 2:18.
3Hur was Shobal’s grandfather 1 Chron. 2:50, so that Caleb, the son of Hur, is here left out.
2And 4Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat Ahumai, and Lahad. These are the families of the 5Zorathites.
4 He is called Haroeh, a son of Shobal, 1 Chron. 2:52.
5 These have dwelt at Zorah, located in the tribe of Judah, Joshua 15:33.
3And these were of the father of 6Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi:
6 That is, who has lived at Etam. See 2 Chron. 11:6.
4And 7Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of 8Hushah. These are the sons of 9Hur, the firstborn of 10Ephratah, the father of Beth-lehem.
7 In 1 Chron. 2:51 he is called Hareph.
8 He is called in verse 11 Shuah by a transposition of the letters.
9 It is to be noted that this Hur was but in part the father of Bethlehemites; for, this is also ascribed to Solomon, 1 Chron. 2:51, 54. See the annotation there.
10 See 1 Chron. 2:19.
5¶And 11Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.
11 He was born after his father Hezron’s death. See 1 Chron. 2:24.
6And Naarah bare him Ahuzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.
7And the sons of Helah were, Zereth, and Jezoar, and Ethnan.12
12 Understand herewith: and Coz (from the following verse) who was a son of Helah, or the beginning of the 8th verse may thus be translated: And Coz who begat Anub. See a similar transposition 1 Chron. 2:47, and here below verse 14.
8And Coz begat Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.
9¶And 13Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because 14I bare him with sorrow.
13 He is one of the most important ones, of whom came the families of Aharhel, whereof mention is made in verse 8.
14Jabez, exchanged into Jazeb, signifies a causer of sorrow.
1015And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me 16indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
15 This is added here to show why Jabez was become more honorable and more excellent than his brethren, namely, because he, by his prayer unto God, had obtained the blessing of God in a more abundant manner upon his house.
16 Hebr. blessing bless me. This is an abrupt and imperfect phrase or manner of speaking, wherein the promise is concealed, which this man made unto God, if he would obtain the blessing, which he had desired of God. As the Hebrews, in making an oath, do conceal the punishment, which they do wish unto themselves if they do swear falsely; so do they sometimes conceal the promise in their desires. In Gen. 28:20, 21, 22, it is stated in full.
11¶And Chelub the brother of 17Shuah begat Mehir, which was the father of Eshton.
17 Verse 4 Hushah.
12And Eshton begat Beth-rapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah 18the father of Ir-nahash. These are the men of Rechah.
18 Other, the father of the city of Nahash.
13And the sonsb of 19Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of Othniel; Hathath.20
b Joshua 15:17.
19 He was the father of Jephunneh, whose son was Caleb, who is therefore also called a Kenezite, Num. 32:12.
20 Understand here with: and Meonothai (from the following verse), which name is not set down in the Hebrew, but it must of necessity be understood.
14And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab, the 21father of the valley of 22Charashim; for 23they 24were craftsmen.
21 That is, governor of those who dwelt in the valley of craftsmen. See 1 Chron. 2 on verse 21. This valley is situated by the border of Judah and Benjamin, so that it is under two jurisdictions, Neh. 11:35.
22 Or, of smiths. Some translate it tradesmen, or, craftsmen, as Neh. 11:35.
23 Namely, Joab’s posterity.
24 The meaning of these words is: Therefore was this valley called the valley of craftsmen, because they, who inhabited the same, were craftsmen or carpenters.
15And the 25sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh; Iru, Elah, and Naam: and the sons of Elah, even 26Kenaz.
25 See Num. 32:12.
26 Other, Ukenaz.
16And the sons of Jehaleleel; Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.
17And the sons of Ezra were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and 27she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.
27 Namely, Bithiah, Pharaoh’s daughter, Mered’s wife. See verse 18.
18And his wife 28Jehudijah bare Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. And 29these are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, which Mered took.
28 This woman is thus distinguished from Mered’s other wife, namely, from Bithiah, who was an foreigner, being a daughter of Pharaoh out of Egypt. Some perceive that this, namely, Jehudijah, that is, Jewish or Jewess was a proper name; or, at least Hodiah, as she is called in verse 19, which also signifies Jewess. Others are of the opinion that Hodiah was Mered’s third wife, and that consequently he had children of three wives.
29 Namely, who are mentioned in verse 17.
19And the sons of his 30wife Hodiah the sister of Naham, the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite.
30 Other, the Jewish woman, or, Jewess.
20And the sons of Shimon were, Amnon, and Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and 31Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were, Zoheth, and Ben-zoheth.
31 Other, Tulon.
21¶The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were, Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of them that 32wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea,
32 That is, of those who wrought in costly fine linen, which is made of fine Egyptian flax. This flax was as fine as silk, and therefore some do render it artisans in silk, or, silk-workers.
22And Jokim, and the men of 33Chozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, 34who had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubi-lehem. 35And these are ancient things.
33 This city is called Chezib; see Gen. 38 on verse 5.
34 That is, who, in the king’s stead, had dominion over the Moabites.
35 As if he had said: It is superfluous to speak or write much of these, for, although many of these in their time were men of note, yet their posterity were such base and low spirited persons that they had rather be potters, gardeners, etc. than that, returning to their own land, they would have kept their ancient and fatherly freedom, as is related in verse 23.
23These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and 36hedges: there they dwelt 37with the king 38for his work.
36 Or, fences, gardens.
37 Some understand here the king of the Moabites, from verse 22. Others the king of Babylon, in this sense, that the posterity of Shelah had rather remained in Babylon and to be servants there, than to return home to their own country, and there to enjoy their ancient liberty, From this they conclude that this book was written by Ezra, after the Babylonian captivity. Others understand here by the word king, the king of Judah, unto whom Shelah’s posterity performed that service, keeping and taking care of the gardens and plantations of the kings of Judah.
38 Namely, in the planting of, and looking to his gardens.
24¶The sons of Simeon were, 39Nemuel, and Jamin, 40Jarib, 41Zerah, and Shaul:
39 Other, Jemuel.
40 Other, Jachin.
41 Other, Zohar. See of these three Gen. 46:10.
25Shallum his son, 42Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.
42 See Gen. 25:13.
26And the sons of Mishma; Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, Shimei his son.
27And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brethren had not many children, 43neither did all their family multiply, like to the children of Judah.
43 Hebr. not increased unto the children of Judah.
28And 44they dwelt at Beer-sheba, and Moladah, and Hazar-shual,
44 See Joshua 19:2, where these cities are also mentioned, though with some alteration in their names.
29And at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,
30And at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,
31And at Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susim, and at Beth-birei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities 45unto the reign of David.
45 Other, as long as David reigned. Understand this as such: namely, as long as David and his posterity reigned, and the kingdom of Judah yet stood, namely, unto the Babylonian captivity; but when that was destroyed, then the posterity of Simeon (who dwelt in the tribe of Judah) was likewise destroyed and cast out of their dwellings.
32And their villages were, Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five 46cities:
46 Namely, without walls. Otherwise what goes before may be thus taken: And besides their villages were Etam and, etc. five cities.
33And all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal. These were their habitations, and their genealogy.
34And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah,
35And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,
36And Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,
37And Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah;
3847These 48mentioned by their names were princes in their families: and the 49house of their fathers increased greatly.
47 Namely, who are named from verse 34 unto this place.
48 That is, they came to be renowned men.
49 That is, they were greatly increased or multiplied.
39¶And they went to the entrance of 50Gedor, even unto the east side 51of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.
50 Other, Gederah or Gederothaim, Joshua 15:36.
51 Understand here that valley which reached from Ephes-Dammim unto Ekron, as appears from 1 Sam. 17:1, 52.
40And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was 52wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for 53they of Ham had dwelt there of old.
52 Hebr. wide in hands.
53 This is here added to show that the Israelites had just cause to take these cities, and to drive out thence the ancient inhabitants, namely, because the posterity of cursed Ham had taken them into their possession. See of Ham Gen. 9:25.
41And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and smote their tents, and the habitations 54that were found there, and 55destroyed them utterly 56unto this day, and dwelt in their rooms: because there was pasture there for their flocks.
54 Namely, the tents of Ham’s posterity, and understand here the inhabitants of the tents and dwellings.
55 That is, they utterly destroyed them, as what was banished of God.
56 Namely, in which this was written; understand: unto the time of Ezra, who wrote this book, about which time the kingdom of David and of his posterity had come to an end. See the annotation on verse 31.
42And some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.
43And they smote 57the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped, and dwelt there unto this day.
57 Namely, those who were left and made an escape, when Saul destroyed the Amalekites, 1 Sam. 14:28, and who also escaped David’s hands afterward, 2 Sam. 8:12.