Historical chapter commentary
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.
Verse 2. Sarathi, who peopled Saraa. Calmet.
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.
Verse 7. Ethnan. Some would insert “and Cos,” to connect this with the following.
Verse 8. Cos. Perhaps ( Calmet.) the same with Cenez, verse 13. Tirinus.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Verse 13. Othoniel, first judge. Bible.—He was brother, or rather cousin, of Caleb. See Joshua 15:17.
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.
Verse 15. Caleb, so memorable ( Calmet.) for this fidelity. Numbers 13:30. and 32:12. Bible.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Verse 30. Bathuel appears to be the same with Bethulia. Judith 6:7. Calmet.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Verse 41. Inhabitants. Septuagint “and the Mineans.” Hebrew meyenim, “the inhabitants of Maon,” in Arabia. See Judges 10:11. Syr. and Arab. “the fountains.”
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.
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.
“Jabez” sounds similar to the Hebrew word for “pain”.
The Hebrew word rendered “God” is “אֱלֹהִ֑ים” (Elohim).
Greek and Vulgate add “and Meonothai”