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The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.
Verse 1. Charmi, the great-grandson of Juda, by Zara and Zamri. Joshua 7:1.—Junius takes him to be the same with Calubi, (Calmet. 2) father of Sobal. This seems to be transcribed from another ancient register of the family of Juda, and designed to shew where the principal men had resided. Calmet.—Only the chiefs are specified. D.
Reaiah the son of Shobal became the father of Jahath; and Jahath became the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites.
Verse 2. Sarathi, who peopled Saraa. Calmet.
These were the sons of the father of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash. The name of their sister was Hazzelelponi.
Verse 3. Posterity. So all the ancient versions seem to have read boni, instead of the present Hebrew abi, which literally means, “and these are the father of Etam.” If words ever wanted sense, they do so here. Kennicott.—Etham is perhaps the name of a town. Malv.
Penuel was the father of Gedor and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem.
Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.
Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.
The sons of Helah were Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan.
Verse 7. Ethnan. Some would insert “and Cos,” to connect this with the following.
Hakkoz became the father of Anub, Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.
Verse 8. Cos. Perhaps ( Calmet.) the same with Cenez, verse 13. Tirinus.
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother named him Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him with sorrow.”
Verse 9. Jabes. That is, sorrowful. Challoner.—There seems to be something wanting, as we are not informed who were the brethren of Jabes. Calmet.—This name he received from his mother, while his father Cos, called him Othoniel. E.
“Jabez” sounds similar to the Hebrew word for “pain”.
Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me indeed, and enlarge my border! May your hand be with me, and may you keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” God granted him that which he requested.
Verse 10. For. To reward his piety and vow. Othoniel obtained Cariath-sepher, and Axa, the daugher of Caleb. Joshua 15:17. Calmet.—Jabes imitated holy Jacob, (Genesis 28) and both desired temporal blessings, for their advancement in virtue. Worthington.
The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
Chelub the brother of Shuhah became the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.
Verse 11. Caleb. Hebrew “Celub,” different bother from Calubi and the son of Jephone, verse 15. Calmet.—Brother, and so forth Septuagint “father of Ascha,” which would seem to make him the same with the latter.
Eshton became the father of Beth Rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir Nahash. These are the men of Recah.
Verse 12. City. Hebrew “Hir-Nachash.” Bible.—The latter term denotes “copper of a serpent.” We know not where this city was situated, no more than Recha. Calmet.
The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath.
Verse 13. Othoniel, first judge. Bible.—He was brother, or rather cousin, of Caleb. See Joshua 15:17.
Greek and Vulgate add “and Meonothai”
Meonothai became the father of Ophrah: and Seraiah became the father of Joab the father of Ge Harashim, for they were craftsmen.
Verse 14. Artificers. Hebrew Charashim, which means various sorts of “workmen,” ( Calmet.) or “father (prince. Menochius.) of Ge-Harasim, for,” and so forth Calmet.—Under this lord the artificers dwelt who built the temple. Worthington.
The sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam. The son of Elah: Kenaz.
Verse 15. Caleb, so memorable ( Calmet.) for this fidelity. Numbers 13:30. and 32:12. Bible.
The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.
The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon; and Mered’s wife bore Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.
His wife the Jewess bore Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. These are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took.
Verse 18. Judaia, a second wife, of his own nation. By the first, from Egypt, Mered had Miriam, and so forth Some words seem to be lost, which render it doubtful to whom Judaia was married.
The sons of the wife of Hodiah, the sister of Naham, were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.
Verse 19. Odaia, perhaps the same with Judaia, ( Calmet.) as the Septuagint read.—Who was. Hebrew and Septuagint “Machatha,” ( Bible.) a place to the north of Basan, far from the limits of Juda, whence we should, perhaps, read Menuchat, as Calmet. 2:52, 54.
The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben Hanan, and Tilon. The sons of Ishi: Zoheth, and Ben Zoheth.
The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of those who worked fine linen, of the house of Ashbea;
Verse 21. Her. Hitherto we have seem the possessions of the descendants of Phares. Those of Her inhabited the country rendered famous by the exploits of Samson with the jaw bone. Judges 15:9. Calmet.—The first-born of Sela was called Her, after his unfortunate uncle. Genesis 38:7. Bible.—That wrought. Septuagint take it for a proper name, “Ebdath.” Hebrew Beth-habodath habuts, “the house of the byssus, or fine linen manufacturers in Beth-Ashbaah,” ( Bible.) which is, perhaps, the same with Beersabee, “the well of swearing.” Genesis 21:31. Calmet.—Oath. The Latin word juramenti, might be retained here, as well as Calor. Calmet. 2:55. See 2 Kennicott. 21:19. Septuagint read, “Esoba,” as the proper name of a place. Bible.
and Jokim, and the men of Cozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had dominion in Moab, and Jashubilehem. These records are ancient.
Verse 22. He, that made, and so forth that is Joazim, the meaning of whose name in Hebrew, is, he that made the sun to stand. In like manner the following names, Lying, (Cozeba) Secure, (Joash) and Burning, (Saraph) are substituted in place of the Hebrew names of the same signification. Challoner.—The first etymology is not perfectly accurate, as Jokim means simply, “he made to stand;” Jachin, the pillar which Solomon erected, has the same import. Bible.—Some injudicious person seems to have placed the sun in the margin, whence it has crept into the text. Tirinus.—It might be occasioned by the fable of the Rabbins, who assert ( Bible.) that Elimelech wrought the like miracle as Josue, to convince the people of Bethlehem of the necessity of being converted; but, finding them incorrigible, denounced a famine, which forced him to retire with his family into the country of Moab. Saint Jerome Trad. and so forth—Elimelech died in that country; but these four descendants of Sela retired, probably, along with him, and returned afterwards to Lehem, or Bethlehem, as it is customary to omit a part of a word. Tirinus.—This town was peopled by different branches of Juda’s family, verse 4, and Calmet. 2:54. Calmet.—Lahem, and so forth Septuagint seem to leave the original terms: “he made them return to Abedderim Athoukiim.”—Who returned, is also left as a proper name by the Prot. ( Bible.) and so forth “And Jasubi Lehem.” Vat. Menochius.—It is not easy to decide, when the Hebrew words should be translated.—Old. Hebrew “and ancient words;” ( Bible.) records, shewing where these families resided, ( Calmet.) unless this be also the name ( Bible.) of a place. Sept.
These were the potters, and the inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah; they lived there with the king for his work.
Verse 23. Potters. Hebrew yotserim, may also designate some family, as it seems improbable that the princes, in Moab, should be reduced to so mean a condition. But we have many examples of such a fall; ( Bible.) and it is supposed, that these descendants of Sela were employed by the king of Babylon, at Nethaim and Gadera. Calmet.—Hedges. These are the proper names of the places where they dwelt. In Hebrew, Netahim and Gedera. Challoner.—Septuagint “Ataim and Gadera.” Bible.—The correct Roman edition of the Vulg. prints these words, plantationibus et Sepibus, with large letters, to imply as much. Menochius.—King; David. Sa. Menochius.—Many of the tribe of Juda attended David, while he was forced to flee before Saul, and to hide himself in unfrequented places. Some of them might be these Yotserim, or they might follow the profession of potters. Bible.—“With the king they were powerful in his kingdom, and dwelt there.” Septuagint Bible.—The Vulg. often give the meaning of proper names. D.
The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul;
Verse 24. Namuel, or Jamuel. Genesis 46:10.—Jarib; perhaps the same with Sohar, ( Menochius.) unless the latter be Zara, or Zare. Numbers 26:12. These genealogies seem different; but the same person ( Calmet.) might have many names. D.
Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, and Mishma his son.
The sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son.
Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers didn’t have many children, and all their family didn’t multiply like the children of Judah.
Verse 27. Juda, probably, not even in the following cities, which they inhabited along with them. This tribe of Simeon was always the weakest, and kept close to Juda. See Numbers 26:14.
They lived at Beersheba, Moladah, Hazarshual,
at Bilhah, at Ezem, at Tolad,
at Bethuel, at Hormah, at Ziklag,
Verse 30. Bathuel appears to be the same with Bethulia. Judith 6:7. Calmet.
at Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susim, at Beth Biri, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities until David’s reign.
Verse 31. David, who had Siceleg given to him, 1 Kennicott. 27:6. Bible.—After the schism, Juda straitened the tribe of Simeon; so that it was forced to seek for other habitations in Gador, under Ezechias, verse 39, and so forth Calmet.—It could no longer reside among those of the tribe of Juda, ( D.) and acknowledge another king. Bible.
Their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, five cities;
and all their villages that were around the same cities, as far as Baal. These were their settlements, and they kept their genealogy.
Verse 33. Baal, or Ballath. Joshua 19:1.—Distribution. Hebrew and Septuagint “and their genealogy.” Menochius.—Καταλογισμος, may as well have the former signification, “their class;” ( Bible.) though the sequel seems to determine it in the latter sense. D.
Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah the son of Amaziah,
Verse 34. Mosabab. This and the following princes joined their forces, to conquer fresh territories from Gador, ( Bible.) or Gadara, near Joppe, (Strabo xvi.) which had been long in the possession ( Bible.) of the Egyptians, (verse 40. Calmet.) or Philistines. Malvenda.
Joel, Jehu the son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,
Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah,
and Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah—
these mentioned by name were princes in their families. Their fathers’ houses increased greatly.
They went to the entrance of Gedor, even to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.
They found rich, good pasture, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceful, for those who lived there before were descended from Ham.
Verse 40. Cham. It is not certain that the Philistines, who came from the country of the Casluim, were descendants of Mezraim. Genesis 10:14. But it is very clear that the Egyptians sprung from Cham. Psalms 77:51.
These written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and struck their tents and the Meunim who were found there; and they destroyed them utterly to this day, and lived in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks.
Verse 41. Inhabitants. Septuagint “and the Mineans.” Hebrew meyenim, “the inhabitants of Maon,” in Arabia. See Judges 10:11. Syr. and Arab. “the fountains.”
Some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to Mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.
Verse 42. Jesi; perhaps Asaia, by the transposition of one letter; (verse 36. Calmet.) or these chiefs were remote descendants of Jesi, verse 20. Bible.—The expedition probably took place about the same time as the preceding, to avoid the attack of the Assyrians, or of Juda, by retiring farther into Arabia. Calmet.
They struck the remnant of the Amalekites who escaped, and have lived there to this day.
Verse 43. Escape the arms of Saul, or of David. D.—Day. It seems, therefore, that they escaped captivity, having abandoned their own country; or this was taken from a record, which had been made before that event, and is here inserted by Esdras; though, when he wrote, these Simeonites might have experienced the fate of their brethren, who were led captives in the 6th year of Ezechias. Bible.