41 Sons of Judah: Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal. 2 And Reaiah son of Shobal begat Jahath, and Jahath begat Ahumai and Lahad; these 'are' families of the Zorathite. 3 And these 'are' of the father of Etam: Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister 'is' Hazzelelponi, 4 and Penuel 'is' father of Gedor, and Ezer father of Hushah. These 'are' sons of Hur, first-born of Ephratah, father of Beth-Lehem. 5 And to Ashhur father of Tekoa were two wives, Helah and Naarah; 6 and Naarah beareth to him Ahuzzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari: these 'are' sons of Naarah. 7 And sons of Helah: Zereth, and Zohar, and Ethnan. 8 And Coz begat Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel son of Harum. 9 And Jabez is honoured above his brethren, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, 'Because I have brought forth with grief.' 10 And Jabez calleth to the God of Israel, saying, 'If blessing Thou dost bless me, then Thou hast made great my border, and Thy hand hath been with me, and Thou hast kept 'me' from evil—not to grieve me;' and God bringeth in that which he asked.
11 And Chelub brother of Shuah begat Mehir; he 'is' father of Eshton. 12 And Eshton begat Beth-Rapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah father of Ir-Nahash; these 'are' men of Rechah. 13 And sons of Kenaz: Othniel, and Seraiah; and sons of Othniel: Hathath. 14 And Meonothai begat Ophrah, and Seraiah begat Joab father of the valley of artificers, for they were artificers. 15 And sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam; and sons of Elah, even Kenaz. 16 And sons of Jehaleleel: Ziph and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel. 17 And sons of Ezra 'are' Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and she beareth Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah father of Eshtemoa. 18 And his wife Jehudijah bare Jered father of Gedor, and Heber father of Socho, and Jekuthiel father of Zanoah. And these 'are' sons of Bithiah daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took, 19 and sons of the wife of Hodiah sister of Nahom: Abi-Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite. 20 And sons of Shimon 'are' Amnon, and Rinnah, Ben-Hanon, and Tilon; and sons of Ishi: Zoheth, and Ben-Zoheth. 21 Sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er father of Lecah, and Laadah father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of the service of fine linen, of the house of Ashbea;
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.