And the sons of Shimon ,.... Perhaps another son of Mered by his last wife, or the same with Shammai, 1 Chronicles 4:17 were Amnon, and Rinnah, Benhanan, and Tilon ; nowhere else mentioned: and the sons of Ishi : who it may be was the brother of Shimon or Tilon: were Zoheth, and Benzoheth ; of whom we know no more than their names. read more
EXPOSITION After the large space given to the "sons of David," of the tribe of Judah, in the previous chapter, this chapter returns for twenty-three verses to group together a few additional ramifications of the same tribe, whose registers were for some reasons, perhaps not very evident, preserved and known. The first verses follow in the direction already indicated in 1 Chronicles 2:1-55 ; near the end of which we were left with Shobal and Haroeh, probably the same with Reaiah (the... read more
The names of this verse obtain no light from other passages. The Septuagint (Alexandrian), in loc ; speaks of "Someion, the father of Jomam," in the former verse which probably stands for this Shimon. Also the Septuagint for Vulgate, instead of counting Ben-hanan as the name of a third son, translate it, as of Rinnah "son of Hanan." Ishi; not to be confused with 1 Chronicles 2:31 , son of Appaim. Our Authorized Version, following the Vulgate, does not translate Ben-zoheth, while the Hebrew... read more
Descendants of Judah and Simeon (2:1-4:43)Having listed the children of Jacob (Israel) starting with the eldest son Reuben, the writer immediately turns his attention to the tribe of Judah, the tribe that produced the dynasty of David (2:1-17). He traces the line of David first, then goes back to deal with a number of other important people in Judah and lists their descendants (18-55). On completing this, he returns to list the family of David (3:1-9), the descendants of David who reigned after... read more
1. The family of Judah 4:1-23Jacob prophesied that his fourth son, Judah, would become the leader of the Israelites. Through him God would provide the greatest promised blessing to come (Genesis 49:8-12). The Davidic dynasty was one branch of Jacob’s descendants, so the writer had special interest in Judah."Many unrelated fragments have been brought together here in the interests of completeness." [Note: Williamson, p. 58.] Jabez’s prayer (1 Chronicles 4:10) shows that prayer and a... read more
B. The House of Israel chs. 4-7The writer’s next concern was to trace the line of people to whom and through whom God promised to bring blessing and salvation. That nation was Israel, the descendants of Jacob. The writer viewed Israel as consisting of 12 tribes, not just the tribes represented by the returnees from Babylonian exile. The nation as a whole would have a future. [Note: See Howard, pp. 253-56, for a discussion of the Chronicler’s concern to demonstrate the unity of all the... read more
Genealogies (continued)This chapter enumerates further descendants of Judah, and the descendants of Simeon.1. Sons] rather, ’descendants.’ Carmi] probably an accidental substitution (from 1 Chronicles 5:3) for Chelubai or Caleb: see 1 Chronicles 2:9, 1 Chronicles 2:18. 2. Reaiah] the Haroeh of 1 Chronicles 2:52, whence the posterity of Shobal is continued.9. And his mother.. sorrow] better,’ though his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow’ (Heb. ozeb). The sorrow... read more
(20) The Sons of Shimon.—Nothing is said elsewhere of them, or of the sons of Ishi. Ishi (1 Chronicles 2:31) is a Jerahmeelite name; but/as throughout tho section (1 Chronicles 4:2-19) we have found indications that the ramifications of the house of Caleb are the principal subject, and as 1 Chronicles 4:20 is appended to the rest, without any opposing remark, it, is highly probable that it also refers to some Calebite clans and towns. read more
The Prayer of Jabez. The Man 1 Chronicles 4:10 Here we have a very short biography of a very notable, character; there is no long preface to it, no long drawn-out description of what sort of man Jabez was, no flowery description of wonderful virtues and attainments, as are many biographies of Christian men which are too much shorn of the infirmities of the creature, and therefore too much dressed with human wisdom to be of very much use, although they seem to be very taking at times. I. His... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 4:11-23
We may observe in these verses, 1. That here is a whole family of craftsmen, handicraft tradesmen, that applied themselves to all sorts of manufactures, in which they were ingenious and industrious above their neighbours, 1 Chron. 4:14. There was a valley where they lived which was, from them, called the valley of craftsmen. Those that are craftsmen are not therefore to be looked upon as mean men. These craftsmen, though two of a trade often disagree, yet chose to live together, for the... read more