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These are the sons of Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun,
Verse 1. Israel, “seeing, or valiant with God,” was before called Jacob, or “a supplanter.” Genesis 35. Worthington.
Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.
Verse 2. Aser. They are not placed in the order of their birth. Bible.
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah, which three were born to him of Shua’s daughter the Canaanitess. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the LORD’s sight; and he killed him.
Verse 3. Her. The crime for which he was punished is not specified in Scripture. Calmet.—The Rabbins say that he was so enamoured of the beauty of his wife, that he treated her in the same manner as Onan did afterwards. Cassian viii. 11.—It is supposed that he was slain by a devil, ( Calmet.) like the ( Tirinus.) impure husbands of Sarai. Tobit 6:14. Bible.
When rendered in ALL CAPITAL LETTERS, “LORD” or “GOD” is the translation of God’s Proper Name (Hebrew “יהוה”, usually pronounced Yahweh).
Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.
The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.
The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara—five of them in all.
Verse 6. Zamri, or Zabdi. Joshua 7:1.—Etham. Similar names occur 3 Kennicott. 4:30. But they seem to have been different persons.
The son of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass in the devoted thing.
The son of Ethan: Azariah.
The sons also of Hezron, who were born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai.
Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;
Verse 10. Ram. He is commonly called Aram. But it is to be observed here, once for all, that it was a common thing among the Hebrews for the same person to have different names: and that it is not impossible among so many proper names, as here occur in the first nine chapters of this book, that the transcribers of the ancient Hebrew copies may have made some slips in the orthography. Challoner.—Juda. Probably the first, appointed by Moses in the desert. Numbers 1:7 and 7:12.
and Nahshon became the father of Salma, and Salma became the father of Boaz,
Verse 11. Salma. Septuagint have “Salmon,” as it is written Ruth 4:20, Matthew 1:4.
and Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse;
and Jesse became the father of his firstborn Eliab, Abinadab the second, Shimea the third,
Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,
Ozem the sixth, and David the seventh;
Verse 15. Seventh. Syriac and Arab. add, “Eliu, (Calmet. 27:18) and the eighth David.” It appears, in effect, the Isai had eight sons, and that David was the youngest. 1 Kennicott. 16:10 and 17:12. The Rabbins suppose that one was only adopted, namely, Jonathan, the son of Samma, noted for his prudence and valour. 2 Kennicott. 13:3 and 21:21. Calmet.—One might die in his youth, and be therefore omitted, ( Tirinus.) as he had done nothing memorable. D.—The Scripture does not always specify the full number. Abul.
and their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three.
Verse 16. Sarvia. The honour shewn to the sisters of David is unusual. The father of the three valiant children of Sarvia is no where specified.
Abigail bore Amasa; and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.
Verse 17. Ismahelite, or more correctly, “Jethra, of Jezrahel;” (2 Kennicott. 17:25) though the Hebrew and Septuagint in that place read “Israelite,” which would be a trifling remark; and it is improbable that Isai would give his daughter to a descendant of Ismahel. Calmet.—The person might, however, have resided among them. D.
Caleb the son of Hezron became the father of children by Azubah his wife, and by Jerioth; and these were her sons: Jesher, Shobab, and Ardon.
Verse 18. Caleb, alias Calubi, verse 9. Challoner. Worthington.—He is different from Caleb, the son of Jephone.—Took, and so forth Hebrew “begot Azuba, Ischa, and Jerioth;” or rather with the Septuagint “took to wife Gazuba and Jerioth.” Calmet.—Syr. and Arab. “Caleb had Jerioth by his wife Azuba.” We know that the latter was his wife, (verse 19.) and this seems to be the true reading. As ath signifies “of or from,” (Noldius) the Hebrew only requires a small correction. As it stands at present, it means, “Caleb begot Azuba, a woman, (or wife) and Jerioth.” Prot. supply, “begat children of Azuba, his wife, and of Jerioth.” Kennicott.—Her sons. The original determines us to read her, instead of “his,” as ejus would as naturally be understood. If Jerioth was not the wife, she seems to have been the daughter of Caleb; as Jaser, and so forth were his sons. Bible.
Azubah died, and Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur.
Hur became the father of Uri, and Uri became the father of Bezalel.
Verse 20. Bezeleel, the famous artist, (Exodus 31:2. Calmet.) or a different person. D.—The Rabbins, who confound Caleb with the son of Jephone, say that he espoused Ephrata, or Mary, the sister of Moses, when he was ten years old, that Ur and Uri had each a child at eight, and the Bezeleel began to work at the tabernacle before he was nine years old. Lyran.—But this is extravagant, and the Bezeleel here mentioned was of the family of Hesron. Calmet.
Afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead, whom he took as wife when he was sixty years old; and she bore him Segub.
Verse 21. Machir, grandson of Joseph, whose descendants occupied part of Galaad, ( Bible.) of which he is styled the father, or prince. Menochius.—The daughter of Machir was probably an heiress, and Segub dwelt with his mother’s tribe. Calmet.
Segub became the father of Jair, who had twenty-three cities in the land of Gilead.
Geshur and Aram took the towns of Jair from them, with Kenath, and its villages, even sixty cities. All these were the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.
Verse 23. Aram. Prot. add “with the towns of Jair from them,” the former possessors; ( Bible.) or Gessur assisted Aram (Syria) in attacking Israel, 4 Kennicott. 10:32. Calmet.—All these villages. Prot. supply, “belonged to the sons.” Septuagint “were of the sons.” All these were dependencies of Machir, “prince” of Galaad; in which sense father is taken, verse 24. Menochius.—Sons often denote nephews, and so forth Worthington.
After Hezron died in Caleb Ephrathah, Abijah, Hezron’s wife, bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.
Verse 24. Hesron. Perhaps it ought to be Azuba, verse 19. Hebrew “and after Hesron was dead, in Caleb-ephrata, then Abia, the wife of Hesron, bore him a (posthumous) son, Ashur, the father of those who dwelt at Thecua.” He could not reside there himself no more than Caleb did at Bethlehem, which some, without proof, pretend was called Caleb-ephrata. The Septuagint agree with the Vulg. They may signify that Caleb went to the town of Ephrata. But he son of Hebron certainly never resided at Bethlehem. Calmet.
The sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were Ram the firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah.
Verse 25. And, is not in Hebrew Achia, which may also signify “her sister.” Septuagint “brother.” Others take ( Calmet.) Achia to be the first wife of Jerameel. Jan.
Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah. She was the mother of Onam.
The sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel were Maaz, Jamin, and Eker.
The sons of Onam were Shammai and Jada. The sons of Shammai: Nadab and Abishur.
The name of the wife of Abishur was Abihail; and she bore him Ahban and Molid.
The sons of Nadab: Seled and Appaim; but Seled died without children.
The son of Appaim: Ishi. The son of Ishi: Sheshan. The son of Sheshan: Ahlai.
Verse 31. Oholai, a daughter, (verse 34. Tirinus.) unless this son died before his father. Vatab.
The sons of Jada the brother of Shammai: Jether and Jonathan; and Jether died without children.
The sons of Jonathan: Peleth and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel.
Now Sheshan had no sons, but only daughters. Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha.
Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant as wife; and she bore him Attai.
Attai became the father of Nathan, and Nathan became the father of Zabad,
and Zabad became the father of Ephlal, and Ephlal became the father of Obed,
and Obed became the father of Jehu, and Jehu became the father of Azariah,
and Azariah became the father of Helez, and Helez became the father of Eleasah,
and Eleasah became the father of Sismai, and Sismai became the father of Shallum,
and Shallum became the father of Jekamiah, and Jekamiah became the father of Elishama.
The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel were Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph, and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron.
Verse 42. Caleb, or Calubi, verse 9. Ziph, Maresa, and Hebron, are the names of towns, as well as of men. The descendants of Mesa inhabited Ziph, and those of Maresa dwelt at Hebron. The same remark will hold good in other places, where the names of places are put for those who occupied them. Calmet.—And the sons. Hebrew “and of the sons of Maresa.” Vat.—But it may be as well explained in the sense of the Vulg. Septuagint “Marisa, his first-born. He was the father of Ziph, and the sons of Marisa, of the father of Hebron.”—Father. Lit. “of the father,” patris Hebron. Bible.
The sons of Hebron: Korah, Tappuah, Rekem, and Shema.
Shema became the father of Raham, the father of Jorkeam; and Rekem became the father of Shammai.
The son of Shammai was Maon; and Maon was the father of Beth Zur.
Ephah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Haran, Moza, and Gazez; and Haran became the father of Gazez.
The sons of Jahdai: Regem, Jothan, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah, and Shaaph.
Verse 47. Jahaddai. His name occurs not before. Some suppose he was the son of Mosa: perhaps a verse may be lost, as the Syr. and Arab. pass over this and the two following verses.
Maacah, Caleb’s concubine, bore Sheber and Tirhanah.
She bore also Shaaph the father of Madmannah, Sheva the father of Machbena and the father of Gibea; and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah.
Verse 49. Achsa, different from Axa, the grand-daughter of Jephone. Judges 1:12. Bible.—Both had daughters of the same name. D.
These were the sons of Caleb, the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah: Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim,
Verse 50. Caleb, grandson of Calubi. Vatab. and so forth—Sobal, his descendant, was prince of those who established themselves at Cariathiarim. Calmet.—The Alex. Septuagint seems rather to assert that he was son of Hur, as well as those who follow. “The sons of Hur … Sobal … Salomon, father of Baithlammon, father of Bethleem.” But the editions vary. Bible.
Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth Gader.
Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim had sons: Haroeh, half of the Menuhoth.
Verse 52. He that saw, and so forth The Latin interpreter seems to have given us here, instead of the proper names, the meaning of those names in the Hebrew. He has done in like manner, verse 55, ( Challoner.) and in many other places. D.—Hebrew “had sons, haroe cha hamenuchoth, ( Bible.) or Raia, Roeh, (Calmet. 4:2) and Chazi of the canton of Menuchat, near Babaa. Calmet. 8:6 and Judges 20:43. Septuagint mention Manocho. Joshua 15:60.—We may also translate “the father of Cariathiarim, the prince of half Manuchat, had sons who peopled different cities.” It seems too harsh to call a man “half the place of rest,” or “seeing from the moiety of rest,” though the Hebrew has this literal signification. The Septuagint give proper names, ( Calmet.) “Araa, Esei, Ammanith,” (but verse 55, half of Manath) and the Prot. “Haroeh and half of the Manahattites.” Bible.—Sobal left to his descendants half the country which he had quietly occupied.
The families of Kiriath Jearim: the Ithrites, the Puthites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; from them came the Zorathites and the Eshtaolites.
Verse 53. Kindred. Septuagint “Oumasphas.” Bible.—Esthaolites. All these places were in Juda, ( Calmet.) or perhaps ( Bible.) the two last in Dan, ( Menochius.) or occupied by both tribes. Abul. q. 8.
The sons of Salma: Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, and half of the Manahathites, the Zorites.
Verse 54. Salma, or Salmon’s descendants, people Bethlehem, and so forth—Crowns. Valiant heroes who assisted Joab to gain crowns. Worthington.—Hebrew “Hateroth,” the house (Septuagint Alex. of the house of Jobab) of Joab; ( Bible.) perhaps the famous general who had land near Absalom’s, on the frontiers of Ephraim, where Ataroth was situated.—And half. Hebrew “half of the Manahethites.” Prot. ( Bible.) or “of Menuchat, towards Zarai.” The author seems purposely to mention to whom the cities at first belonged, that the right owners might be reinstated in their possessions, at their return from Babylon. Calmet.—This verse may specify six towns, Bethlehem and Netophat, ( Bible.) Beth-Joab, Chatsi, Manachti, and Atsothi.
The families of scribes who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and the Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the house of Rechab.
Verse 55. Scribes, learned in the law. Menochius.—Singing, and so forth The different professions of the Rechabites are here given, instead of proper names, ( Calmet.) which the Vat. Septuagint retains.—Thargathiim and Samathiim, Sochathim.—Hebrew Tirhatim, “porters;” (Chal.) Shimhathim, “the obedient;” Sucathim, “the inhabitants of tents;” Calor, “the heat,” as the Hebrew Chamath (Prot. Hemath) signifies. The Cinites dwelt on the south of Juda, for which reason they are probably here mentioned, though some of them also inhabited Jabes Galaad, while the Rechabites dwelt in tents, ( Bible.) and were perhaps employed as porters in the temple. Calmet. Jeremiah 35:5, 19.