“These are the sons of Israel,.... Or Jacob, the other son of Isaac, who had the name of Israel given him, because of his power with God, Gen 32:28, whose twelve sons are here mentioned by name; the first four according to their birth of Leah, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; then the two sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, Issachar and Zebulun; and between Dan and Naphtali, the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, are placed Joseph and Benjamin, the sons of Rachel. , whose twelve sons are here mentioned by name; the first four according to their birth of Leah, Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah; then the two sons of Zilpah, Leah's handmaid, Issachar and Zebulun; and between Dan and Naphtali, the sons of Bilhah, Rachel's handmaid, are placed Joseph and Benjamin, the sons of Rachel. 1 Chronicles 2:3 ch1 2:3 ch1 2:3 ch1 2:3The sons of Judah,.... The genealogy begins with him, though the fourth son of Jacob; because, as Kimchi says, this book treats chiefly of the kings of Judah; but rather not only because Jesse and David sprang from him, but also the King Messiah: Er, and Onan, and Shelah, which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess; see Gen 38:2, and Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the Lord; because he did that which was evil: and he slew him; he died by the immediate hand of God, and so his brother Onan, being wicked also, Gen 38:7.”

“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, Tobias vi. 14. (Haydock)”

“And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah,.... Through incest; they were twins, Gen 38:27 all the sons of Judah were five; who are before mentioned by name. all the sons of Judah were five; who are before mentioned by name. 1 Chronicles 2:5 ch1 2:5 ch1 2:5 ch1 2:5The sons of Pharez,.... One of the above twins, born to Judah: Hezron and Hamul; see Gen 46:12.”

“And the sons of Zerah,.... The other twin of Judah: Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all; the Targum calls them governors, and adds, on whom the spirit of prophecy dwelt; and in the Jewish chronology (n) they are said to prophesy in Egypt; and the four last are supposed to be the same with those in Kg1 4:31. See Gill on Kg1 4:31. (n) Seder Olam Rabba, c. 20. p. 52.”

“And the sons of Carmi,.... The Targum adds, this is Zimri; but in Jos 7:1 Carmi is said to be the son of Zabdi, who seems to be the same with Zimri; and some supply the word here, and read (o) the sons of Zimri, Carmi, Achar, who was the grandson of Zimri; his proper name was Achan, Jos 7:1, but called Achar here by way of reproach, as Jarchi and others observe; being, as it follows: the troubler of Israel, as Achar signifies: "who transgressed in the thing accursed"; devoted to the Lord, by taking it away for his own use, see Jos 6:17, hence the valley in which he was put to death was called Achor, Jos 6:26. (o) So Junius & Tremellius, & Piscator.”

“Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara--These five are here stated to be the sons of Zerah, that is, of Ezra, whence they were called Ezrahites (Kg1 4:31). In that passage they are called "the sons of Mahol," which, however, is to be taken not as a proper name, but appellatively for "sons of music, dancing," &c. The traditional fame of their great sagacity and acquirements had descended to the time of Solomon and formed a standard of comparison for showing the superior wisdom of that monarch. Jewish writers say that they were looked up to as prophets by their countrymen during the abode in Egypt.”

“And the sons of Ethan; Azariah. Including his posterity, see Gen 46:23, the posterity of the other three sons of Zerah are not mentioned, either because the writer could not find the genealogy of them, as Kimchi; or rather, as he thinks, he cuts short the genealogy of Zerah, because the kingdom did not proceed from him, and returns to the genealogy of Hezron, from whence it did, or perhaps they had no children. , the posterity of the other three sons of Zerah are not mentioned, either because the writer could not find the genealogy of them, as Kimchi; or rather, as he thinks, he cuts short the genealogy of Zerah, because the kingdom did not proceed from him, and returns to the genealogy of Hezron, from whence it did, or perhaps they had no children. 1 Chronicles 2:9 ch1 2:9 ch1 2:9 ch1 2:9The sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him,.... The Targum adds, in Timnath; but most likely in Egypt: Jerahmeel, and Ram, and Chelubai; afterwards called Caleb.”

“Achar, alias Achan, (Josue vii.; Challoner) which was his real name, as the former was given him (Calmet) in consequence of his having “troubled” Israel. (Du Hamel) — One letter may have been mistaken. (Worthington) — It may seem more probable that Achar, which appears invaribly in the Vatican Septuagint and Syriac, is the proper name. (Kennicott) — Anathema, the thing devoted or accursed, viz., the spoils of Jericho. (Challoner)”

“And Ram begat Amminadab,.... Ram is the same with Aram, Mat 1:3 the genealogy is carried down from him to Jesse in the same order as there, and in Rut 4:19 only here Nahshon the son of Amminadab is called the prince of the children of Judah; which Kimchi and Jarchi say is written for the honour of David, who descended from him; and Salmon his son is here called Salma.”

“And Jesse begat his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third, Nathanael the fourth, Raddai the fifth, Ozem the sixth, David the seventh. But Jesse had eight sons, Sa1 16:10, one of them therefore is not reckoned, either because he was by another woman, and the writer only mentions those that were of the same mother with David; this is the opinion of Aben Ezra and Kimchi; some say he was dead before David came to the kingdom; Kimchi mentions a Midrash, or exposition of theirs, according to which his name was Elihu, and was younger than David, who is mentioned in Ch1 27:18, and Jarchi observes, that the writer, having found the pearl (David), reckons not the eighth son Elihu, though the Syriac and Arabic versions have inserted him in this order, "Elihu the seventh, David the eighth"; some take the eighth to be a grandson of Jesse, Jonathan the son of Shimea, Sa2 21:21 the third son of Jesse, here called Shimma, as he is Shammah, Sa1 16:9. . 1 Chronicles 2:16 ch1 2:16 ch1 2:16 ch1 2:16Whose sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail..... That is, sisters of David: and the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel, three; all valiant men and captains in David's army; their father's name is nowhere mentioned.”

“And Abigail bare Amasa,.... Who was Absalom's general, afterwards reconciled to David, and designed to be made general of his army, but was slain by Joab, see Sa2 17:25, and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite; he is called an Israelite, Sa2 17:25, and so in the Targum here, he being either a proselyte, or else he was an Israelite by birth, but called an Ishmaelite, because he had dwelt among the Ishmaelites some time, as Obededom is called the Gittite for the like reason; so Jarchi and Kimchi interpret it.”

“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 i. 7., and vii. 12.”

“And Caleb the son of Hezron,.... The same that is called Chelubai, Ch1 2:9 but not the same with Caleb the son of Jephunneh, made mention of in the books of Numbers, Joshua, and Judges: he begat children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth; who were both his wives; or it may be rather, since Azubah is so particularly called his wife, Jerioth might be a concubine: or of Azubah he begat Jerioth; so the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Arabic versions; though it seems best with Hillerus (p) to interpret these names of the same person, and render the last clause, "that is, of Jerioth", of her whose name also was Jerioth, Azubah having two names; and the rather, since only the children of one are mentioned, as follows: her sons are these; Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon of whom we read nowhere else; the Targum says, Azubah was so called, because she was barren and despised, which this clause contradicts. (p) Onomastic. Sacr. p. 568.”

“Seventh. Syriac and Arabic add, “Eliu, (chap. xxvii. 18.) and the eighth David.” It appears, in effect, the Isai had eight sons, and that David was the youngest, 1 Kings xvi. 10., and xvii. 12. The Rabbins suppose that one was only adopted, namely, Jonathan, the son of Samma, noted for his prudence and valour, 2 Kings xiii. 3., and xxi. 21. (Calmet) — One might die in his youth, and be therefore omitted, (Tirinus) as he had done nothing memorable. (Du Hamel) — The Scripture does not always specify the full number. (Abulensis)”

“And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezaleel. Who yet is not thought to be the same Bezaleel we read of in Exo 31:2 though the fathers and grandfathers of both have the same names, and were of the same tribe. though the fathers and grandfathers of both have the same names, and were of the same tribe. 1 Chronicles 2:21 ch1 2:21 ch1 2:21 ch1 2:21And afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of Gilead,.... Which Machir was the son of Manasseh, and Gilead was his grandson, Num 26:29 the Targum is,"but he enticed a virgin, the daughter of Machir;''which suggests, that he committed fornication with her, though he afterwards married her; her name is not mentioned; to me it seems to be Abiah, Ch1 2:24 and whom the Targum there calls the daughter of Machir: whom he married when he was sixty years old; the Targum is sixty six; this seems to be his last wife: and she bare him Segub; the same name with the youngest son of Hiel, who rebuilt Jericho, Kg1 16:34.”

“Ismahelite, or more correctly, “Jethra, of Jezrahel;” (2 Kings xvii. 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. (Du Hamel)”

“Jether the Ishmaelite--(compare Sa2 17:25). In that passage he is called Ithra an Israelite; and there seems no reason why, in the early days of David, anyone should be specially distinguished as an Israelite. The presumption is in favor of the reading followed by the Septuagint, which calls him "Jetra the Jezreelite." The circumstance of his settling in another tribe, or of a woman marrying out of her own tribe, was sufficiently rare and singular to call for the statement that Abigail was married to a man of Jezreel.”

“And Segub begat Jair, who had twenty three cities in the land of Gilead. Which, according to Kimchi, he inherited in right of his wife, which, he says, he took out of the land of Gilead; but they seem to be rather what he took by force of arms from the former inhabitants; see Num 32:41. . 1 Chronicles 2:23 ch1 2:23 ch1 2:23 ch1 2:23And he took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them,.... Cities or countries which the Geshurites and Aramaeans, or Syrians, before inhabited; and which he took from them, together with other towns, which, being taken by him, were called after his name; the Targum is, the Geshurites and Aramaeans took the villages of Jair from them; that is, from the sons of Jair in later times; see Jos 12:5. with Kenath, and the towns thereof; which Jair took by Nobah his general, and called it after his name, Num 32:42, even sixty cities; see Deu 3:4. all these belonged to the sons of Machir the father of Gilead: being given him by Moses, Num 32:40.”

“Caleb, alias Calubi, ver. 9. (Challoner) (Worthington) — He is different from Caleb, the son of Jephone. — Took, &c. Hebrew, “begot Azuba, Ischa, and Jerioth;” or rather with the Septuagint, “took to wife Gazuba and Jerioth.” (Calmet) — Syriac and Arabic, “Caleb had Jerioth by his wife Azuba.” We know that the latter was his wife, (ver. 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.” Protestants 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, &c., were his sons. (Haydock)”

“POSTERITY OF CALEB. (1Ch. 2:18-55) Caleb the son of Hezron--The notices concerning this person appear confused in our version. In Ch1 2:19 he is said to be the father of Hur, whereas in Ch1 2:50 he is called "the son of Hur." The words in this latter passage have been transposed in the copying, and should be read thus, "Hur the son of Caleb." begat children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth--The former was his spouse, while Jerioth seems to have been a secondary wife, and the mother of the children whose names are here given. On the death of his principal wife, he married Ephrath, and by her had Hur [Ch1 2:19].”

“And after that Hezron was dead in Calebephratah,.... Supposed to be the same with Bethlehem; and was so called, both from Caleb the son of Hezron, and Ephrath his wife, Ch1 2:19, then Abiah, Hezron's wife, bare him Ashur the father of Tekoa; being left with child by him at his death; the whole verse is paraphrased thus in the Targum,"and after Hezron died in the house of Caleb his son in Ephrath, the wife of Hezron the daughter of Machir was left with child, and she bare to him after his death Ashur the prince of the Tekoites;''whose son gave name very probably to the city of Tekoa, Sa2 14:2.”

“And the sons of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron, were Ram the firstborn,.... So called by his father after the name of his brother, see Ch1 2:9. and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, and Ahijah; or "of Ahijah", as some (r) render it, this being the name of his wife, who bare him the sons before named, since mention is made of another wife in the next verse. (r) Junius, Tremellius, Piscator, Michaelis.”

“Bezeleel, the famous artist, (Exodus xxxi. 2.; Calmet) or a different person. (Du Hamel) — 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. (Lyranus) — But this is extravagant, and the Bezeleel here mentioned was of the family of Hesron. (Calmet)”

“Jerahmeel had also another wife, whose name was Atarah,.... Distinct from his wife before named; or "another woman", which is a phrase for an harlot or concubine, Jdg 11:2 which she might be, as Kimchi observes; though the former seems best: she was the mother of Onam; and perhaps was the only son she bore to Jerahmeel, of whose sons see Ch1 2:28.”

“Jair, who had three and twenty cities in the land of Gilead--As the son of Segub and the grandson of Hezron, he was of the tribe of Judah; but from his maternal descent he is called (Num 32:41; Deu 3:14) "the son of Manasseh." This designation implies that his inheritance lay in that tribe in right of his grandmother; in other words, his maternal and adopting great-grandfather was Machir the son of Manasseh. Jair, inheriting his property, was his lineal representative; and accordingly this is expressly stated to be the case; for the village group of "Havoth-Jair" was awarded to him in that tribe, in consequence of his valiant and patriotic exploits. This arrangement, however, took place previous to the law (Num 36:1-13), by which it was enacted that heiresses were to marry in their own tribe. But this instance of Jair shows that in the case of a man obtaining an inheritance in another tribe it required him to become thoroughly incorporated with it as a representative of the family through which the inheritance was received. He had been adopted into Manasseh, and it would never have been imagined that he was other than "a son of Manasseh" naturally, had not this passage given information supplementary to that of the passage in Numbers.”

“Aram. Protestants add “with the towns of Jair from them,” the former possessors; (Haydock) or Gessur assisted Aram (Syria) in attacking Israel, 4 Kings x. 32. (Calmet) — All these villages. Protestants 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, ver. 24. (Menochius) — Sons often denote nephews, &c. (Worthington)”

“he took--rather "he had taken." This statement is accounting for his acquisition of so large a territory; he got it by right of conquest from the former possessors. Kenath--This place, along with its group of surrounding villages, was gained by Nobah, one of Jair's officers sent by him to capture it (Num 32:1-2). All these belonged to the sons of Machir--In their number Jair is included as having completely identified himself by his marriage and residence in Gilead with the tribe of Manasseh.”

“Hesron. Perhaps it ought to be Azuba, ver. 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 Vulgate. They may signify that Caleb went to the town of Ephrata. But the son of Hebron[Hesron?] certainly never resided at Bethlehem. (Calmet)”

“Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters,.... And but one of that sort, whose name was Ahlai, Ch1 2:31 the plural being put here for the singular; or, if that is the name of a son, as some think, he died in his father's lifetime, and left no issue; so that there only remained daughters, and it seems but one by the next verse: and Sheshan had a servant, an Egyptian, whose name was Jarha; one born in his house, and brought up by him, and a proselyte, such an one as Eliezer in Abraham's family.”

“And Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant to wife,.... Having first given him his freedom, as the Targum premises; this daughter seems to be Ahlai, Ch1 2:31 which receives confirmation from Zabad, one of the descendants of this man, Ch1 2:36, being said to be the son of Ahlai, Ch1 11:41, that is, great-grandson: and she bare him Attai; the genealogy of whose descendants is given to the end of Ch1 2:41, of whom no mention is made elsewhere, but of Zabad, as before observed; and, according to the Jews, it is given for the sake of Ishmael, the son of Nethaniah the son of Elishama, the last person mentioned in this genealogy; which Ishmael slew Gedaliah governor of Jerusalem, and is said to be of the seed royal, Jer 41:1.”

“Now the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel,.... Called Chelubai, Ch1 2:9 and is the same Caleb spoken of in Ch1 2:18 and his sons next reckoned were by a third wife, Azubah, Ephrath being dead, Ch1 2:19 and these sons were Mesha his firstborn, which was the father of Ziph; who gave name to the city of Ziph; there were two of this name in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:24 or this is the title of Mesha, governor of the city of Ziph; so the Targum calls him, prince of the Ziphites: and the sons of Mareshah the father of Hebron; according to Kimchi and Ben Melech, the words are to be supplied thus, "and the sons of Ziph were Mareshah the father of Hebron"; which, though sometimes the name of a city in the tribe of Judah, is here the name of a man, from whom, perhaps, the city had its name, since Hebron is said to have sons in the next verse; Jarchi makes Mesha to be the prince of Ziph, and prince of the children of Mareshah, and prince of Hebron.”

“And the sons of Hebron: Korah, and Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema. One of these, Tappuah, is the name of a city in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:34 and there is also Bethtappuah in the same tribe, Ch1 2:53 which one, or both, might have their name from this man; and Shema also, Ch1 2:26. . 1 Chronicles 2:44 ch1 2:44 ch1 2:44 ch1 2:44And Shema begat Raham, the father of Jorkoam,.... Which Hillerus (s) takes to be the name of a city in the tribe of Judah; and Jarchi's note is, that wherever the word "father" is here used, it is to be understood of the prince of a city that follows: and Rekem begat Shammai; there is a descendant of Jerahmeel, the brother of Caleb, of this name, Ch1 2:28. (s) Onomast. Sacr. p. 329.”

“And Ephah Caleb's concubine bare Haran, and Moza, and Gazez,.... An half-wife, or secondary wife; for though this man seems not to have had more wives than one at a time, yet he had concubines with them; we read of another after this, if not a third: and Haran begat Gazez; whom he so named after his brother.”

“And the sons of Jahdai,.... Who is not mentioned by this name before; perhaps the same with Moza, who might have two names, though, according to Hillerus (t), he was the son of Moza; some take it to be the name of another of Caleb's concubines, by whom he had the six following sons: Regem, and Jotham, and Geshan, and Pelet, and Ephah, and Shaaph; one of these, Pelet perhaps, gave name to Bethpalet in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:27. (t) Onomast. Sacr. p. 841.”

“Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant to wife--The adoption and marriage of a foreign slave in the family where he is serving, is far from being a rare or extraordinary occurrence in Eastern countries. It is thought, however, by some to have been a connection not sanctioned by the law of Moses [MICHAELIS]. But this is not a well-founded objection, as the history of the Jews furnishes not a few examples of foreign proselytes in the same manner obtaining an inheritance in Israel; and doubtless Jarha had previously embraced the Jewish faith in place of the grovelling idolatries of his native Egypt. In such a case, therefore, there could be no legal difficulty. Being a foreign slave, he had no inheritance in a different tribe to injure by this connection; while his marriage with Sheshan's daughter led to his adoption into the tribe of Judah, as well as his becoming heir of the family property.”

“Caleb, or Calubi, ver. 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.” (Vatable) — But it may be as well explained in the sense of the Vulgate. Septuagint, “Marisa, his first-born. He was the father of Ziph, and the sons of Marisa, of the father of Hebron.” — Father. Literally, “of the father,” patris Hebron. (Haydock)”

“She bare also Shaaph the father of Madmannah,.... Prince of a place so called, in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:31. Sheva the father of Machbenah, and the father of Gibeah; prince of two cities of those names in the same tribe; of the latter see Jos 15:57, and the daughter of Caleb was Achsah; Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, had a daughter of this name, but neither he nor she are here meant, Jos 15:16 but by whom Caleb, the son of Hezron, had this daughter, is not said; perhaps by Maachah his concubine last mentioned.”

“These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah,.... This is another Caleb, the grandson of Caleb the son of Hezron, called after his name; he was the son of Hur, the firstborn of his wife Ephratah, Ch1 2:19. Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim: of the inhabitants of that place; they sprung from him; or, as the Targum, he was prince of Kirjathjearim, a city in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:60.”

“Salma the father of Bethlehem,.... Or prince of Bethlehem, as the Targum; not the same as in Ch1 2:11 he was the son of Nahshon, this of the younger Caleb: Hareph, the father of Bethgader; prince of a place of that name called Gedor, Ch1 4:4, and where this man's name is Penuel; Gedor was in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:58.”

“And Shobal, the father of Kirjathjearim had sons,.... Which shows that Kirjathjearim is not the name of a man, or of any of Shobal's sons, who are next mentioned, but of a place of which he was prince: the first is Haroeh, who is called Reaiah, Ch1 4:2 a word of the same signification: and half of the Manahethites; which Kimchi takes to be the proper name of a man called Chatzihamanaheth, another son of Shobal's; but Jarchi interprets it of the name of a place or province called Manahath, Ch1 8:6 over half of which Haroeh was governor.”

“And the families of Kirjathjearim,.... That dwelt there, of which Shobal was prince, and who sprung from him, are as follow: the Ithrite, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; who had their names from Jether, Putha, Shumath, and Mishra, descendants of Shobal: of them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites; that is, from the Mishraites sprung the inhabitants of Zeroth and Eshtaol, places in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:33.”

“The sons of Salma,.... Another son of the younger Caleb, Ch1 2:50 whose sons were Bethlehem, the inhabitants of the place, at least many of them, of which he was prince, Ch1 2:51 and the Netophathite; the inhabitants of Netophah, a place in the tribe of Judah, mentioned along with Bethlehem, Neh 7:26 these sprung from Salma: Ataroth, the house of Joab; Ataroth seems to be the name of a place in the tribe of Judah, where the family of Joab lived, the inhabitants of which were the descendants of Salma: and half of the Manahethites; the other half of the inhabitants of Manahath, see Ch1 2:52, the Zorites; part also of them, called Zareathites, Ch1 2:53.”

“And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez,.... A city in Judah, the founder of which, perhaps, was Jabez, mentioned in Ch1 4:9 in which learned men dwelt: the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites; who sprung from men whose names were Tira, Shimea, and Sucha; and if they were not the posterity of Salma, yet dwelt among his, and so are reckoned with them; perhaps the latter might have their name from dwelling in tents; the former clause may be rendered, "that dwelt with Jabez", who was their master, and they his scholars; in the Vulgate Latin version the words are rendered as appellatives, "singing and resounding, and dwelling in tents": Conrad Pellican, on the place, goes a middle way, and interprets these families as dwelling with Jabez their master, and they his scholars, and that they were called by their progenitors Tirathites, because learned and ingenious, and praecentors of the divine oracles; Shimeathites, because they diligently hearkened to the sacred songs, and the doctrines of the law of God; and Suchathites, because they dwelt not in cities, but in tents, despisers of all worldly things, that they might freely attend to learn: these are the Kenites; that is, the Suchathites are the Kenites, who, it is well known, dwelt in tents, and not in cities; though Jarchi takes these Kenites to be the inhabitants of Cain, a city in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:57 but they seem rather to be the Kenites that sprung from Jethro, here made mention of, because some of them dwelt in the tribe of Judah, and among the posterity of Salma, see Jdg 1:16. that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab; the prince of that family, and who from Rechab were called Rechabites, Jer 35:2. Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 3”

“Caleb, grandson of Calubi. (Vatable, &c.) — Sobal, his descendant, was prince of those who established themselves at Cariathiarim. (Calmet) — The Alexandrian 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. (Haydock)”

“He that saw, &c. 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, ver. 55., (Challoner) and in many other places. (Du Hamel) — Hebrew, “had sons, haroe cha hamenuchoth, (Haydock) or Raia, Roeh, (chap. iv. 2.) and Chazi of the canton of Menuchat, near Gabaa, chap. viii. 6., and Judges xx. 43. Septuagint mention Manocho, Josue xv. 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 [in] ver. 55, half of Manath) and the Protestants, “Haroeh and half of the Manahattites.” (Haydock) — Sobal left to his descendants half the country which he had quietly occupied.”

“Salma, or Salmon’s descendants, peopled Bethlehem, &c. — Crowns. Valiant heroes who assisted Joab to gain crowns. (Worthington) — Hebrew, “Hateroth,” the house (Alexandrian Septuagint, of the house of Jobab) of Joab; (Haydock) 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.” Protestants (Haydock) 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, (Haydock) Beth-Joab, Chatsi, Manachti, and Atsothi.”

“Scribes, learned in the law. (Menochius) — Singing, &c. The different professions of the Rechabites are here given, instead of proper names, (Calmet) which the Vatican Septuagint retains—Thargathiim and Samathiim, Sochathim. — Hebrew Tirhathim, “porters;” (Chaldean) Shimhathim, “the obedient;” Sucathim, “the inhabitants of tents;” Calor, “the heat,” as the Hebrew Chamath (Protestants, 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, (Haydock) and were perhaps employed as porters in the temple. (Calmet) (Jeremias xxxv. 5, 19.) Bible Text & Cross-references: The twelve sons of Israel. The genealogy of Juda, down to David. Other genealogies of the tribe of Juda. 1 And *these are the sons of Israel: Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Juda, Issachar, and Zabulon, 2 Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Nephthali, Gad, and Aser. 3 The sons of *Juda: Her, Onan and Sela. These three were born to him of the Chanaanitess, the daughter of Sue. And Her, the first-born of Juda, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he slew him. 4 *And Thamar, his daughter-in-law, bore him Phares and Zara. So all the sons of Juda were five. 5 And the sons of Phares, were Hesron and Hamul. 6 And the sons also of Zara: Zamri, and Ethan, and Eman, and Chalchal, and Dara, five in all. 7 And the sons of *Charmi: Achar, who troubled Israel, and sinned by the theft of the anathema. 8 The sons of Ethan: Azarias. 9 And the sons of *Hesron that were born to him: Jerameel, and Ram, and Calubi. 10 And Ram beget Aminadab; and Aminadab beget Nahasson, prince of the children of Juda. 11 And Nahasson beget Salma, the father of Booz. 12 And Booz beget Obed, and Obed beget Isai. 13 *And Isai beget Eliab, his first-born, the second Abinadab, the third Simmaa, 14 The fourth, Nathanael, the fifth Raddai, 15 The sixth, Asom, the seventh, David. 16 And their sisters were Sarvia, and Abigail. The sons of Sarvia: Abisai, Joab, and Asael; three. 17 And Abigail bore Amasa, whose father was Jether, the Ismahelite. 18 And Caleb, the son of Hesron, took a wife named Azuba, of whom he had Jerioth: And her sons were, Jaser, and Sobab, and Ardon. 19 And when Azuba was dead, Caleb took to wife Ephrata; who bore him Hur. 20 And Hur beget Uri, and Uri beget Bezeleel. 21 And afterwards Hesron went in to the daughter of Machir, the father of Galaad, and took her to wife, when he was threescore years old: And she bore him Segub. 22 And Segub beget Jair, and he had three and twenty cities in the land of Galaad. 23 And he took Gessur, and Aram, the towns of Jair, and Canath, and the villages thereof, threescore cities. All these are the sons of Machir, father of Galaad. 24 And when Hesron was dead, Caleb went in to Ephrata. Hesron also had to wife Abia, who bore him Ashur, the father of Thecua. 25 And the sons of Jerameel, the first-born of Hesron, were Ram, his first-born, and Buna, and Aram, and Asom, and Achia. 26 And Jerameel married another wife, named Atara, who was the mother of Onam. 27 And the sons of Ram, the first-born of Jerameel, were Moos, Jamin, and Achar. 28 And Onam had sons, Semei, and Jada. And the sons of Semei: Nadab and Abisur. 29 And the name of Abisur’s wife was Abihail, who bore him Ahobban, and Molid. 30 And the sons of Nadab were Saled, and Apphaim. And Saled died without children. 31 But the son of Apphaim was Jesi: and Jesi beget Sesan. And Sesan beget Oholai. 32 And the sons of Jada, the brother of Semei, were Jether, and Jonathan. And Jether also died without children. 33 But Jonathan beget Phaleth, and Ziza. These were the sons of Jerameel. 34 And Sesan had no sons, but daughters: and a servant, an Egyptian, named Jeraa. 35 And he gave him his daughter to wife: and she bore him Ethei. 36 And Ethei begot Nathan, and Nathan beget Zabad. 37 And Zabad beget Ophlal, and Ophlal beget Obed, 38 Obed beget Jehu, Jehu beget Azarias, 39 Azarias beget Helles, and Helles begot Elasa, 40 Elasa beget Sisamoi, Sisamoi beget Sellum, 41 Sellum beget Icamia, and Icamia begot Elisama. 42 Now the sons of Caleb, the brother of Jerameel, were Mesa, his first-born, who was the father of Ziph: and the sons of Maresa, father of Hebron. 43 And the sons of Hebron, Core, and Thaphua, and Recem, and Samma. 44 And Samma beget Raham, the father of Jercaam, and Recem beget Sammai. 45 The son of Sammai, Maon: and Maon, the father of Bethsur. 46 And Epha, the concubine of Caleb, bore Haran, and Mosa, and Gezez. And Haran beget Gezez. 47 And the sons of Jahaddai, Regom, and Joathan, and Gesan, and Phalet, and Epha, and Saaph. 48 And Maacha, the concubine of Caleb, bore Saber, and Tharana. 49 And Saaph, the father of Madmena, beget Sue, the father of Machbena, and the father of Gabaa. And the daughter of Caleb was Achsa. 50 These were the sons of Caleb, the son of Hur, the first-born of Ephrata; Sobal, the father of Cariathiarim, 51 Salma, the father of Bethlehem, Hariph, the father of Bethgader. 52 And Sobal, the father of Cariathiarim had sons: He that saw half of the places of rest. 53 And of the kindred of Cariathiarim, the Jethrites, and Aphuthites, and Semathites, and Maserites. Of them came the Sarites, and Esthaolites. 54 The sons of Salma, Bethlehem, and Netophathi, the Crowns of the house of Joab, and half of the place of rest of Sarai. 55 And the families of the scribes, that dwell in Jabes, singing and making melody, and abiding in tents. These are the Cinites, who came of Calor, (Chamath) father of the house of Rechab.”

“the families of the scribes--either civil or ecclesiastical officers of the Kenite origin, who are here classed with the tribe of Judah, not as being descended from it, but as dwelling within its territory, and in a measure incorporated with its people. Jabez--a place in Judah (Ch1 4:9). Kenites that came of Hemath--who settled in Judah, and were thus distinguished from another division of the Kenite clan which dwelt in Manasseh (Jdg 4:11). Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 3”