“Charmi, the great-grandson of Juda, by Zara and Zamri, Josue vii. 1. — Junius takes him to be the same with Calubi, (chap. ii.) 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. (Du Hamel)”

“The sons of Judah: Pharez,.... The posterity of Judah in the line of Pharez, for he only is mentioned: Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal. Hezron was the son of Pharez, and Carmi is supposed to be Chelubai, or Caleb, the son of Hezron; and Hur the son of Caleb; and Shobal was the son of the second Caleb the son of Hur; see Ch1 2:5.”

“And these were of the father of Etam,.... Or of the prince of Etam: or, as the Targum, these are princes that dwelt in Etam, a place not far from Zorah, Jdg 15:8 and is mentioned with Bethlehem and Tekoa in the tribe of Judah, Ch2 11:6, namely, which follow: Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash; these were the sons of the governor of Etam: and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi; who, perhaps, was a person of great note in those days, though now unknown; indeed, a Jewish chronologer (w) tells us, that the mother of Samson was Hazalelponith, of the tribe of Judah. (w) Juchasin, fol. 10. 2.”

“And Penuel the father of Gedor,.... The prince of that place, according to some, and the same with Hareph, Ch1 2:51, and Ezer the father of Hushah: thought to be the same with Shuah, Ch1 4:11, these are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah: Caleb's wife, Ch1 2:19 the Targum adds, the same with Miriam; and so other Jewish writers (x) say, Miriam had two names, and one was Ephratah; though Josephus makes (y) Hur to be her husband, and not her son, as here: who was the father of Bethlehem; of the inhabitants of that city, at least part of them, or prince of that place, as his grandson Salma also was, Ch1 2:51. (x) Shemot Rabba, sect. 1. fol. 90. 4. Yalkut in 1 Chron. ii. 19. (y) Antiqu. l. 3. c. 2.”

“And Coz,.... Another son of Helah, and brother of the before mentioned: begat Anub, and Zobebah; of whom we nowhere else read: and the families of Aharhel, the son of Harum; these were of the posterity of Coz; the Targum is, "and the family of Aharhel, this is Hur, the firstborn of Miriam;''which is not at all probable.”

“OF JABEZ, AND HIS PRAYER. (Ch1 4:9-20) Jabez--was, as many think, the son of Coz, or Kenaz, and is here eulogized for his sincere and fervent piety, as well, perhaps, as for some public and patriotic works which he performed. The Jewish writers affirm that he was an eminent doctor in the law, whose reputation drew so many scribes around him that a town was called by his name (Ch1 2:55); and to the piety of his character this passage bears ample testimony. The memory of the critical circumstances which marked his birth was perpetuated in his name (compare Gen 35:15); and yet, in the development of his high talents or distinguished worth in later life, his mother must have found a satisfaction and delight that amply compensated for all her early trials. His prayer which is here recorded, and which, like Jacob's, is in the form of a vow (Gen 28:20), seems to have been uttered when he was entering on an important or critical service, for the successful execution of which he placed confidence neither on his own nor his people's prowess, but looked anxiously for the aid and blessing of God. The enterprise was in all probability the expulsion of the Canaanites from the territory he occupied; and as this was a war of extermination, which God Himself had commanded, His blessing could be the more reasonably asked and expected in preserving them from all the evils to which the undertaking might expose him. In these words, "that it may not grieve me," and which might be more literally rendered, "that I may have no more sorrow," there is an allusion to the meaning of his name, Jabez, signifying "grief"; and the import of this petition is, Let me not experience the grief which my name implies, and which my sins may well produce.”

“And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren,.... The Targum adds,"and wiser in the law than his brethren;''or he might be a man of great wealth and riches, or of great strength and courage, all which make a man honourable; or he may be so called, because a praying man, as follows, a man of devotion and religion, a man of God, see Sa1 9:6, but who he was is not easy to say, probably a son or brother of Harum, or however that belonged to one of the families of Aharhel, mentioned in the preceding verse; for that he was Othniel, as say the Targumist and other Jewish writers (z), is not probable, and besides is after spoken of distinct from him, Ch1 4:13. and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, because I bare him with sorrow; either with sorrow for her husband, being dead, or by reason of very sharp pains she endured at the birth of him; he was another Benoni. (z) T. Bab. Temurah, fol. 16. 1.”

“And Jabez called on the God of Israel,.... Or prayed to him, as the Targum; though some understand it as a vow, promising what he would do if God would do thus and thus for him; the Syriac and Arabic versions read in the third person, taking it to be what others, his parents and friends, wished for him: let him bless thee,.... but they are doubtless his own words, and a supplication of his to the Lord: saying, oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed; the Targum adds, with children; but he no doubt prayed for greater blessings than any outward or temporal ones are, even spiritual blessings, covenant blessings, the sure mercies of David, which are solid, substantial, durable, and irreversible: and enlarge my coast; the Targum is,"multiply my borders with disciples.''It may be understood of an enlargement of the borders of his country, by expelling the Canaanites that might dwell in it, and of an increase of his worldly substance for good ends and purposes; or rather of a spiritual enlargement by deliverance from spiritual enemies, and of grace as to exercise; and particularly of spiritual light and knowledge, and of the affections and desires of the soul after divine things, see Psa 4:1. and that thine hand might be with me; the Targum adds, in business, prospering and succeeding him; the sense may be, that his hand of providence might be with him to protect him, of grace and love to comfort and help him in every time of need, of wisdom to direct him, and of power to keep him: and that thou wouldest keep me from evil; from the evil of affliction, and especially from the evil of sin, and from the evil one, Satan, and from all evil men and evil company; the Targum is,"and make me companions such as I am:''that it may not grieve me; alluding to his name Jabez, which he had from the sorrow and grief of his mother; and nothing is more grieving to a good man than the evil of sin, so contrary to the nature and will of God, being committed against a God of infinite love, grace, and mercy, whereby the name, ways, and truths of Christ are dishonoured, and the Spirit of God grieved, and saints are bereaved of much comfort; and therefore desire to be kept from it, knowing they cannot keep themselves, but the Lord can and will, at least from the tyranny of it, and destruction by it: the Targum is,"lest the evil figment (or corruption of nature) should move or provoke me:" and God granted him that which he requested; as he does whatever is asked in faith, according to his will, and will make for his glory, and the good of his people; see Jo1 5:14.”

“And Chelub the brother of Shuah begat Mehir,.... If Shuah is the same with Hushah, Ch1 4:4, then Chelub was the son of Ezer: which was the father of Eshton; not the prince of a place called Eshton, as Vatablus; for it is the name of a man, the son of Mehir, and who in the next verse is said to beget sons.”

“And Eshton begat Bethrapha,.... Or the family of Rapha: and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Irnahash; or the city of Nahash; Tehinnah seems to have been the prince or governor of a city, so called: these are the men of Rechah; these sons of Eshton dwelt in a place called Rechah; the Targum, without any reason, says, these are the men of the great sanhedrim.”

“Joab, the father of the valley of Carashim--literally, "the father of the inhabitants of the valley"--"the valley of craftsmen," as the word denotes. They dwelt together, according to a custom which, independently of any law, extensively prevails in Eastern countries for persons of the same trade to inhabit the same street or the same quarter, and to follow the same occupation from father to son, through many generations. Their occupation was probably that of carpenters, and the valley where they lived seems to have been in the neighborhood of Jerusalem (Neh 11:35).”

“And Meonothai,.... Another son of Othniel: begat Ophrah; and Seraiah, the brother of Othniel, begat Joab; not David's general, but another of the same name, who lived long before him, see Ch1 2:54. the father of the valley of Charashim: of the inhabitants of the valley, or the prince of them, called the valley of craftsmen, Neh 11:35 the reason of which is here given: for they were craftsmen; that dwelt in it, carpenters and smiths, both which the word signifies, men that wrought in stone, wood, and iron.”

“And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh,.... Jephunneh is not the same with Hezron, as the Targum, but another son of Kenaz, hence called the Kenezite, Jos 14:6 and brother of Othniel; and Caleb his son is the same that was sent one of the spies of the land of Canaan by Moses, see Num 13:6. his sons were Iru, Elah, and Naam; of whom we nowhere else read: and the sons of Elah, even Kenaz; another Kenaz, or rather it should be read Uknaz; so Jarchi and Kimchi.”

“And the sons of Ezra,.... Who was perhaps the son of Asareel, last mentioned: Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon; only one of them, Mered, is after mentioned: and she bare Miriam; which is not the name of a woman, but of a man, as Kimchi observes; and, according to him, his mother was the wife of Mered, which he gathers from the next verse; though she seems to be the wife of Ezra, who bare him other sons: and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa; a prince of a city in the tribe of Judah, so called, Jos 15:50.”

“Jehudijah--"the Jewess," to distinguish her from his other wife, who was an Egyptian. This passage records a very interesting fact--the marriage of an Egyptian princess to a descendant of Caleb. The marriage must have taken place in the wilderness. The barriers of a different national language and national religion kept the Hebrews separate from the Egyptians; but they did not wholly prevent intimacies, and even occasional intermarriages between private individuals of the two nations. Before such unions, however, could be sanctioned, the Egyptian party must have renounced idolatry, and this daughter of Pharaoh, as appears from her name, had become a convert to the worship of the God of Israel.”

“And his wife Jehudijah,.... Another wife of Ezra; or, according to Kimchi, of Mered; a Jewess, as the word is by some rendered, to distinguish her from another wife, an Egyptian, in the latter part of the verse: bare Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah; who were princes, as Jarchi seems rightly to observe; of several cities of these names in the tribe of Judah, as of Gedor, see Jos 15:58, of Socoh, Jos 15:35, of Zanoah, Jos 15:34, the Targum interprets the names of all these men of Moses, whom Pharaoh's daughter brought up; and so other Jewish writers (a), into which mistake they were led by what follows: and these are the sons of Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh, which Mered took; that is, to wife; this Mered was one of the sons of Ezra, Ch1 4:17 the Targum, and other Jewish writers (b), say this was Caleb, called Mered, because he rebelled against the counsel of the spies; but this contradicts their other notion of Jehudijah, or Bithiah, Pharaoh's daughter, whom he married, the one who brought up Moses, since Moses was elder than Caleb; but Bithiah, whom Mered married, was not a daughter of Pharaoh king of Egypt, but of an Israelite of this name; her sons are supposed to be those in the latter part of Ch1 4:17. (a) T. Bab. Megillah, fol. 13. 1. Vajikra Rabba, sect. 1. fol. 146. 3. (b) T. Bab. Sanhedrin, fol. 19. 2. & Megillah, fol. 13. 1.”

“And the sons of his wife Hodiah,.... Another wife of Mered. Hillerus (c) takes her to be the same with Jehudijah, Ch1 4:18, though some (d) take Hodiah to be the name of a man, and read the words, "and the sons of the wife of Hodiah"; which wife of Hodiah was the sister of Naham; or rather Achotnaham, we render the sister of Naham, is the name of the first son of Hodiah, as some think (e): the father of Keilah the Garmite; prince of the city of Keilah, in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:44 who sprung from the family of Garmi: and Eshtemoa the Maachathite; the father or prince of the inhabitants of Eshtemoa, another city in the same tribe, see Ch1 4:17 who sprung from Maachah, see Ch1 2:48. (c) Onomastic. Sacr. p. 836. (d) Michaelis in loc. (e) Beckii Not. in Targ. 1 Chron. iv. 19.”

“And the sons of Shimon,.... Perhaps another son of Mered by his last wife, or the same with Shammai, Ch1 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.”

“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 xv. 9. (Calmet) — The first-born of Sela was called Her, after his unfortunate uncle, Genesis xxxviii. 7. (Haydock) — 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-Ashbáah, ” (Haydock) which is, perhaps, the same with Beersabee, “the well of swearing,” Genesis xxi. 31. (Calmet) — Oath. The Latin word juramenti, might be retained here, as well as Calor, chap. ii. 55. See 2 Kings xxi. 19. Septuagint read, “Esoba,” as the proper name of a place. (Haydock)”

“POSTERITY OF SHELAH. (Ch1 4:21-23) Laadah . . . the father . . . of the house of them that wrought fine linen--Here, again, is another incidental evidence that in very early times certain trades were followed by particular families among the Hebrews, apparently in hereditary succession. Their knowledge of the art of linen manufacture had been, most probably, acquired in Egypt, where the duty of bringing up families to the occupations of their forefathers was a compulsory obligation, whereas in Israel, as in many parts of Asia to this day, it was optional, though common.”

“The sons of Shelah, the son of Judah, were,.... The genealogy of the posterity of Judah, in the lines of Pharez and Zerah, being given, and very largely in that of the former, because of the honour of David, and his kingdom, which sprang from thence, as Jarchi observes, and also the King Messiah, the writer returns to give an account of his posterity by Shelah, a son he had by the daughter of Shuah, Gen 38:2 and the only one that had children: which were as follow: Er the father of Lecah: prince of a city of this name in the tribe of Judah; Shelah gave him the name of Er, in memory of his brother, Gen 38:3, and Laadah the father of Mareshah; prince of a city of this name in the same tribe, Jos 15:44. and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea; which last clause explains what house these families were of, which sprang from Shelah, and were employed in making fine linen; the Targum adds, for the garments of kings and priests, or for the curtains of the tabernacle, as Jarchi; for not with the Egyptians and Greeks only fine linen was made, but among the Hebrews, as Pausanias (f) testifies. (f) Eliac. 1. sive, l. 5. p. 294.”

“He, that made, &c. viz., 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. (Haydock) — 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 (Haydock) 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. (St. Jerome, Trad., &c.) — 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, ver. 4., and chap. ii. 54. (Calmet) — Lahem, &c. 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 Protestants, (Haydock) &c. “And Jasubi Lehem.” (Vatable) (Menochius) — It is not easy to decide, when the Hebrew words should be translated. — Old. Hebrew, “and ancient words;” (Haydock) records, shewing where these families resided, (Calmet) unless this be also the name (Haydock) of a place. (Septuagint)”

“had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubi-lehem--"And these are ancient things" seems a strange rendering of a proper name; and, besides, it conveys a meaning that has no bearing on the record. The following improved translation has been suggested: "Sojourned in Moab, but returned to Beth-lehem and Adaberim-athekim. These and the inhabitants of Netaim and Gedera were potters employed by the king in his own work." Gedera or Gederoth, and Netaim, belonged to the tribe of Judah, and lay on the southeast border of the Philistines' territory (Jos 15:36; Ch2 28:18).”

“And Jokim,.... The Vulgate Latin version is: and he that made the sun to stand: as if Joshua was meant; and in the Talmud it is (g) said Jokim, this is Joshua, who confirmed the oath to the Gibeonites; and the Targum here is, "and the prophets of the scribes that sprang from the posterity of Joshua;''but Joshua was of the tribe of Ephraim, and not of Judah; though some interpret it of Elimelech, as Lyra observes (h), of whom the fable is, that the sun stood still at his prayers, as it did in Joshua's time, to convert the men of Bethlehem; but Jokim is no doubt the proper name of some famous man or family that descended from Shelah: and the men of Chozeba: which signifies a lie; and the Targum interprets it of the Gibeonites, who lied to Joshua; but those were Canaanites, and not of the posterity of Shelah, and tribe of Judah; Chezib, or Achzib, a city in the tribe of Judah, very probably is meant, as Kimchi, the very place where Shelah was born, Gen 38:5 and where dwelt some of his posterity: and Joash and Saraph, who had the dominion in Moab; some render the word, "which married in Moab"; and so the Targum interprets it of Mahlon and Chilion, who took wives of the daughters of Moab; but rather it is to be understood of some who were governors in Moab in the times of David, when Moab was subdued by him, Sa2 8:2 or however were such, who, at one time or another, made war with Moab, and overcame them: and Jashubilehem: which the Targumist understands of Boaz, prince of the wise men of the school of Bethlehem, and the Talmudists (i) of Ruth, that dwelt in Bethlehem; and may be interpreted of some of the inhabitants of that place which sprang from Shelah; or rather is the name of a single man, famous in his time, though not now known: and these are ancient things; an account of persons that lived in ancient times, and which the writer of this book gives not on his own knowledge, but by tradition, or rather by inspiration. (g) T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 91. 2. (h) So Heb. in Hieron. Trad. Heb. in Paralip. fol. 81. M. (i) Ut supra. (T. Bab. Bava Bathra, fol. 91. 2.)”

“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; (Haydock) 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.” (Haydock) — The correct Roman edition of the Vulgate 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. (Haydock) — “With the king they were powerful in his kingdom, and dwelt there.” (Septuagint) (Haydock) — The Vulgate often gives the meaning of proper names. (Du Hamel)”

“These were the potters,.... Or are the potters; the posterity of those men, who were so famous in their day, are now of mean employments: some of them made earthen pots; and some of them dwelt among plants and hedges; or were employed in planting gardens and orchards, and making fences for them; or, as others think, "dwelt in Netaim and Gadara", cities in the tribe of Judah: there they dwelt with the king for his work; to make pots, plant gardens, and set hedges for him; either for the king of Judah, or it may be for the king of Babylon, where they were carried captive, and now chose to remain, doing those servile works for the king, without the city, in the fields.”

“OF SIMEON. (1Ch. 4:24-43) The sons of Simeon--They are classed along with those of Judah, as their possession was partly taken out of the extensive territory of the latter (Jos 19:1). The difference in several particulars of the genealogy given here from that given in other passages is occasioned by some of the persons mentioned having more than one name [compare Gen 46:10; Exo 6:15; Num 26:12].”

“The sons of Simeon,.... The account of whom, next to the tribe of Judah, is given before Reuben, because its inheritance lay in the tribe of Judah, Jos 19:1 his sons were Nemuel, the same with Jemuel, Gen 46:10. and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul; who, in the place referred to, is said to be the son of a Canaanitish woman; and Jarib and Zerah are the same with Jachin and Zohar there: and Obed is here omitted, it may be because he died without issue; see Num 26:12.”

“Shallum his son,.... The son of Shaul, and Mibsam was the son of Shallum, and Mishma the son of Mibsam. Shallum his son,.... The son of Shaul, and Mibsam was the son of Shallum, and Mishma the son of Mibsam. 1 Chronicles 4:26 ch1 4:26 ch1 4:26 ch1 4:26And the sons of Mishma,.... These were Hamuel, Zacchur, and Shimei.”

“And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters,.... None of which are mentioned by name: but his brethren had not many children: Hamuel and Zacchur: neither did all their family multiply like to the children of Judah: to show the fruitfulness and great increase of which tribe, the genealogical account of it, in this and the two preceding chapters, is given.”

“And they dwelt at Beersheba,.... posterity of Simeon; and this and the other places of their habitation are mentioned in the same order, and with very little variation of names to the end of Ch1 4:31, as in Jos 19:2 and here, at Ch1 4:31 it is added: these were their cities unto the reign of David; when, according to Kimchi, and other Jewish writers, he expelled them from thence, and restored them to the tribe of Judah.”

“And their villages were Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities. There are but four mentioned in Jos 19:7 one might be added since, or new built, namely, Tochen; these, according to Kimchi, were all that remained for them to dwell in, in the times of David; and therefore they were obliged to seek out for new settlements for themselves and flocks, as in Ch1 4:39, &c. , &c. 1 Chronicles 4:33 ch1 4:33 ch1 4:33 ch1 4:33And all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal,.... The same with Baalathbeer, Jos 19:8. these were their habitations, and their genealogy; as before described, until the times of David.”

“David, who had Siceleg given to him, 1 Kings xxvii. 6. (Haydock) — After the schism, Juda straitened the tribe of Simeon; so that it was forced to seek for other habitations in Gador, under Ezechias, ver. 39., &c. (Calmet) — It could no longer reside among those of the tribe of Juda, (Du Hamel) and acknowledge another king. (Haydock)”

“These were their cities unto the reign of David--In consequence of the sloth or cowardice of the Simeonites, some of the cities within their allotted territory were only nominally theirs. They were never taken from the Philistines until David's time, when, the Simeonites having forfeited all claim to them, he assigned them to his own tribe of Judah (Sa1 27:6).”

“And Meshobab, and Jamlech,.... These, with those that follow to the end of Ch1 4:37 were famous men in the tribe of Simeon, of rank and dignity, and eminent for courage and valour, as the latter part of the chapter testifies, though they are nowhere else taken notice of. Jamlech, as Fabritius (k) observes, is not very different from Jamblichus, the name of a famous Platonic philosopher. (k) Bibliothec. Gr. l. 4. c. 28. p. 294.”

“And they went to the entrance of Gedor,.... There was a city of this name in the tribe of Judah, Ch1 4:18 but this seems to be further off, and perhaps is the same with Gedaris, mentioned by Strabo (l) along with Azotus and Askelon, cities that belonged to the Philistines; since it was inhabited by the posterity of Ham, of whom the Philistines were, as in the following verse: even unto the east side of the valley; which was near to Gedor, and a suitable place: to seek pasture for their flocks; their sheep and goats. (l) Geograph. l. 16. p. 522.”

“increased greatly, and they went to the entrance of Gedor--Simeon having only a part of the land of Judah, they were forced to seek accommodation elsewhere; but their establishment in the new and fertile pastures of Gederah was soon broken up; for, being attacked by a band of nomad plunderers, they were driven from place to place till some of them effected by force a settlement on Mount Seir. Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 5”

“And they found fat pasture and good,.... In or near the valley of Gedor: and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; there was room enough for them and their flocks, and they had no enemies on either side to disturb them: for they of Ham had dwelt there of old; either the Canaanites who descended from Canaan the son of Ham, and had never been expelled from thence; or the Philistines, who were a colony of the Egyptians, the posterity of Ham; and these inhabitants being of this cursed race, the Simeonites scrupled not to dispossess them.”

“And these written by name,.... Before in Ch1 4:34, came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah; as Dr. Lightfoot (m) thinks, not within the first fourteen years of his reign, when the Syrian army was abroad, and none dost peep out, but in his last fifteen years, when the army was destroyed and gone: and smote their tents; the tents of those who dwelt there for the sake of feeding their flocks, and whose pasturage the Simeonites wanted: and the habitations that were found there; or the Meunaim or Maonites, which the Septuagint Version here calls Mineans, a people sometimes mentioned along with the Philistines, and others: see Jdg 10:11. and destroyed them utterly unto this day: to the writing of this book; they had not then recovered their possessions: and dwelt in their room, because there was pasture there for their flocks; which was the thing they were in search of. (m) Works, vol. 1. p. 111.”

“And some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men went to Mount Seir,.... In the land of Edom: having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi; these four captains are said, by the ancient Rabbins, to be of the tribe of Manasseh, as Kimchi observes; see Ch1 5:24 but as the five hundred they were at the head of were of the sons of Simeon, the captains, no doubt, were of the same race.”

“And they smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped,.... That escaped the sword of Saul; though, according to the Jews (n), 100,000 of them were slain by him in one day; and of the sword of David, though he is said not to leave man or woman alive, Sa1 27:8. and dwelt there unto this day; in the cities of the Amalekites, even of the posterity of the above; who were some of the remnant of Israel, that were not carried away by the king of Assyria, and who dwelt here after the return of the Jews from the Babylonish captivity, even in the times of Ezra, the writer of this book; see Ch2 34:9. (n) Midrash Esther, fol. 93. 4. Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 5”

“Jesi; perhaps Asaia, by the transposition of one letter; (ver. 36.; Calmet) or these chiefs were remote descendants of Jesi, ver. 20. (Haydock) — 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)”

“Escape the arms of Saul, or of David. (Du Hamel) — 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. (Haydock) Bible Text & Cross-references: Other genealogies of Juda and of Simeon, and their victories. 1 The *sons of Juda: Phares, Hesron, and Charmi, and Hur, and Sobal. 2 And Raia the son of Sobal, beget Jahath, of whom were born Ahumai, and Laad. These are the families of Sarathi. 3 And this is the posterity of Etom: Jezrahel, and Jesema, and Jedebos: and the name of their sister was Asalelphuni. 4 And Phanuel, the father of Gedor, and Ezar, the father of Hosa: these are the sons of Hur, the first-born of Ephrata, the father of Bethlehem. 5 And Assur, the father of Thecua, had two wives, Halaa and Naara: 6 And Naara bore him Oozam, and Hepher, and Themani, and Ahasthari: these are the sons of Naara. 7 And the sons of Halaa: Sereth, Isaar, and Ethnan. 8 And Cos begot Anob, and Soboba, and the kindred of Aharehel, the son of Arum. 9 And Jabes was more honourable than any of his brethren, and his mother called his name Jabes, saying: Because I bore him with sorrow. 10 And Jabes called upon the God of Israel, saying: If blessing thou wilt bless me, and wilt enlarge my borders, and thy hand be with me, and thou save me from being oppressed by evil. And God granted him the things he prayed for. 11 And Caleb, the brother of Sua, beget Mahir, who was the father of Esthon. 12 And Esthon beget Bethrapha, and Phesse, and Tehinna, father of the city of Naas: These are the men of Recha. 13 And the sons of Cenez, were Othoniel, and Saraia. And the sons of Othoniel, Hathath, and Maonathi. 14 Maonathi beget Ophra, and Saraia begot Joab, the father of the valley of Artificers: for artificers were there. 15 And the sons of Caleb, the son of Jephone, were Hir, and Ela, and Naham. And the son of Ela: Cenez. 16 The sons also of Jaleleel, Ziph, and Zipha, Thiria, and Asrael. 17 And the sons of Esra: Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon, and he beget Mariam, and Sammai, and Jesba, the father of Esthamo. 18 And his wife, Judaia, bore Jared, the father of Gedor, and Heber, the father of Socho, and Icuthiel, the father of Zanoe. And these are the sons of Bethia, the daughter of Pharao, whom Mered took to wife. 19 And the sons of his wife Odaia, the sister of Naham, the father of Ceila, were Garmi, and Esthamo, who was of Machathi. 20 The sons also of Simon: Amnon, and Rinna, the son of Hanan, and Thilon. And the sons of Jesi: Zoheth and Benzoheth. 21 The sons of *Sela, the son of Juda: Her, the father of Lecha, and Laada, the father of Maresa, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen in the house of Oath. 22 And He, that made the sun to stand, and the men of Lying, and Secure, and Burning, who were princes in Moab, and who returned into Lahem. Now these are things of old. 23 These are the potters, and they dwelt in Plantations and Hedges, with the king for his works, and they abode there. 24 The sons of *Simeon: Namuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zara, Saul: 25 Sellum his son, Mapsam his son, Masma his son. 26 The sons of Masma: Hamuel his son, Zachur his son, Semei his son. 27 The sons of Semei were sixteen, and six daughters: but his brethren had not many sons, and the whole kindred could not reach to the sum of the children of Juda. 28 And they dwelt in Bersabee, and Molada, and Hasarsuhal, 29 And in Bala, and in Asom, and in Tholad, 30 And in Bathuel, and in Horma, and in Siceleg, 31 And in Bethmarchaboth, and in Hasarsusim, and in Bethberai, and in Saarim. These were their cities unto the reign of David. 32 Their towns also were Etam, and Aen, Remmon, and Thochen, and Asan, five cities. 33 And all their villages round about these cities as far as Baal. This was their habitation and the distribution of their dwellings. 34 And Mosabab, and Jemlech, and Josa, the son of Amasias, 35 And Joel, and Jehu, the son of Josabia, the son of Saraia, the son of Asiel, 36 And Elioenai, and Jacoba, and Isuhaia, and Isaia, and Adiel, and Ismiel, and Banaia; 37 Ziza also, the son of Sephei, the son of Allon, the son of Idaia, the son of Semri, the son of Samaia. 38 These were named princes in their kindreds, and in the houses of their families were multiplied exceedingly. 39 And they went forth to enter into Gador, as far as the east side of the valley, to seek pastures for their flocks. 40 And they found fat pastures, and very good, and a country spacious, and quiet, and fruitful, in which some of the race of Cham had dwelt before. 41 And these, whose names are written above, came in the days of Ezechias, king of Juda: and they beat down their tents, and slew the inhabitants that were found there, and utterly destroyed them unto this day: and they dwelt in their place, because they found there fat pastures. 42 Some also of the children of Simeon, five hundred men, went into Mount Seir, having for their captains, Phaltias and Naaria, and Raphaia, and Oziel, the sons of Jesi: 43 And they slew the remnant of the Amalecites, who had been able to escape, and they dwelt there in their stead unto this day.”