41 The sons of Judah were Perez , Hezron , Carmi , Hur and Shobal . 2 Reaiah the son of Shobal became the father of Jahath , and Jahath became the father of Ahumai and Lahad . These were the families of the Zorathites . 3 These were the sons of Etam : Jezreel , Ishma and Idbash ; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi . 4 Penuel was the father of Gedor , and Ezer the father of Hushah . These were the sons of Hur , the firstborn of Ephrathah , the father of Bethlehem . 5 Ashhur , the father of Tekoa , had two wives , Helah and Naarah . 6 Naarah bore him Ahuzzam , Hepher , Temeni and Haahashtari . These were the sons of Naarah . 7 The sons of Helah were Zereth , Izhar and Ethnan . 8 Koz became the father of Anub and Zobebah , and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum . 9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers , and his mother named e him Jabez saying , "Because I bore him with pain ." 10 Now Jabez called on the God of Israel , saying , "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my border , and that Your hand might be with me, and that You would keep me from harm that it may not pain me!" And God granted him what he requested .
11 Chelub the brother of Shuhah became the father of Mehir , who was the father of Eshton . 12 Eshton became the father of Beth-rapha and Paseah , and Tehinnah the father of Ir-nahash . These are the men of Recah . 13 Now the sons of Kenaz were Othniel and Seraiah . And the sons of Othniel were Hathath and Meonothai . 14 Meonothai became the father of Ophrah , and Seraiah became the father of Joab the father of Ge-harashim e , for they were craftsmen . 15 The sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh were Iru , Elah and Naam ; and the son of Elah was Kenaz . 16 The sons of Jehallelel were Ziph and Ziphah , Tiria and Asarel . 17 The sons of Ezrah were Jether , Mered , Epher and Jalon . (And these are the sons of Bithia the daughter of Pharaoh , whom Mered took ) and she conceived and bore Miriam , Shammai and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa . 18 His Jewish wife bore Jered the father of Gedor , and Heber the father of Soco , and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah . 19 The sons of the wife of Hodiah , the sister of Naham , were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite . 20 The sons of Shimon were Amnon and Rinnah , Benhanan and Tilon . And the sons of Ishi were Zoheth and Ben-zoheth . 21 The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were Er the father of Lecah and Laadah the father of Mareshah , and the families of the house of the linen workers at Beth-ashbea e ;
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 4:1-21
Chapter Contents
Genealogies.
In this chapter we have a further account of Judah, the most numerous and most famous of all the tribes; also an account of Simeon. The most remarkable person in this chapter is Jabez. We are not told upon what account Jabez was more honourable than his brethren; but we find that he was a praying man. The way to be truly great, is to seek to do God's will, and to pray earnestly. Here is the prayer he made. Jabez prayed to the living and true God, who alone can hear and answer prayer; and, in prayer he regarded him as a God in covenant with his people. He does not express his promise, but leaves it to be understood; he was afraid to promise in his own strength, and resolved to devote himself entirely to God. Lord, if thou wilt bless me and keep me, do what thou wilt with me; I will be at thy command and disposal for ever. As the text reads it, this was the language of a most ardent and affectionate desire, Oh that thou wouldest bless me! Four things Jabez prayed for. 1. That God would bless him indeed. Spiritual blessings are the best blessings: God's blessings are real things, and produce real effects. 2. That He would enlarge his coast. That God would enlarge our hearts, and so enlarge our portion in himself, and in the heavenly Canaan, ought to be our desire and prayer. 3. That God's hand might be with him. God's hand with us, to lead us, protect us, strengthen us, and to work all our works in us and for us, is a hand all-sufficient for us. 4. That he would keep him from evil, the evil of sin, the evil of trouble, all the evil designs of his enemies, that they might not hurt, nor make him a Jabez indeed, a man of sorrow. God granted that which he requested. God is ever ready to hear prayer: his ear is not now heavy.