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1 Chronicles4

First Chronicles chapter four primarily details the genealogies of the tribe of Judah, tracing various family lines and their settlements. A notable interlude recounts the prayer of Jabez, who sought divine blessing, enlarged territory, God's hand, and protection from evil, which God granted. The chapter then shifts to the genealogies of the tribe of Simeon, describing their cities and later accounts of their expansion and conquests.

The Descendants of Judah

1
The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal. ​
2
Reaiah the son of Shobal became the father of Jahath; and Jahath became the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites.
3
These were the sons of the father of Etam: Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi;
4
and Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are 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, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.
7
The sons of Helah were Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan.
8
Hakkoz became the father of Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.

The Prayer of Jabez

9
Jabez was more honorable than his brothers: and his mother named him Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him with sorrow.” ​
10
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 evil, that it not be to my sorrow!” God granted him that which 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
The sons of Kenaz: Othniel, and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath.
14
Meonothai became the father of Ophrah: and Seraiah became the father of Joab the father of Ge Harashim; for they were craftsmen. ​
15
The sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam; and the sons of Elah; and Kenaz.
16
The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.
17
The sons of Ezrah: Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon; and she bore Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.
18
His wife Yehudiyah bore Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. These are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took. ​
19
The sons of the wife of Hodiah, the sister of Naham, were the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.
20
The sons of Shimon: Amnon, and Rinnah, Ben Hanan, and Tilon. The sons of Ishi: Zoheth, and Ben Zoheth.

Families of Specialized Craftsmen

21
The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of those who worked fine linen, of the house of Ashbea; ​
22
and Jokim, and the men of Cozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had dominion in Moab, and Jashubilehem. The records are ancient. ​
23
These were the potters, and the inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah: there they lived with the king for his work. ​

The Tribe of Simeon

24
The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul; ​
25
Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.
26
The sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son.
27
Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers didn’t have many children, neither did all their family multiply like the children of Judah. ​

Simeon’s Settlements and Territory

28
They lived at Beersheba, and Moladah, and Hazarshual,
29
and at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,
30
and at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,
31
and at Beth Marcaboth, and Hazar Susim, and at Beth Biri, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities to the reign of David. ​
32
Their villages were Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities;
33
and all their villages that were around the same cities, to Baal. These were their habitations, and they have their genealogy.
34
Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah,
35
and Joel, and Jehu the son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,
36
and Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,
37
and Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah—

Simeon’s Expansion and Conquest

38
these mentioned by name were princes in their families: and their fathers’ houses increased greatly. ​
39
They went to the entrance of Gedor, even to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.
40
They found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for those who lived there before were of Ham. ​
41
These written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and struck their tents, and the Meunim who were found there, and destroyed them utterly to this day, and lived in their place; because there was pasture there for their flocks. ​
42
Some of them, even of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to Mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.
43
They struck the remnant of the Amalekites who escaped, and have lived there to this day. ​

Study Notes for 1 Chronicles 4

Verse 1

This chapter continues the genealogy of Judah, the tribe through which the Davidic dynasty and ultimately the Messiah would come. The Chronicler focuses on various family lines and their geographical settlements.

Verse 4

Hur, the son of Ephratah, is specifically noted as 'the father of Bethlehem,' linking this lineage directly to the significant city of David's origin (cf. 1 Sam 16:1).

Verse 9

The sudden insertion of this brief narrative breaks the genealogical list, highlighting Jabez as an example of faithfulness. His name ('Jabez' sounds like the Hebrew for 'pain' or 'sorrow') contrasts with his later honored status.

Verse 10

Jabez’s profound prayer requests four things: divine blessing, territorial expansion ('enlarge my coast'), God’s presence ('thine hand might be with me'), and deliverance from evil. The immediate answer ('God granted him') serves as a theological statement on the power of devoted prayer.

Verse 14

This verse notes that Joab was the founder of the 'Valley of Charashim' (Valley of Craftsmen), indicating that the Chronicler recorded not just lineage but also the specialized trades and professions associated with certain families.

Verse 18

The mention of Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh, marrying Mered is unusual. This detail may indicate an intermarriage during the time of the Exodus or perhaps a later alliance, suggesting the incorporation of foreign nobility into Judah’s lineage.

Verse 21

The focus shifts to families known for specific industries, such as those who 'wrought fine linen,' an expensive and important trade, likely indicating royal or temple service.

Verse 22

The phrase 'These are ancient things' suggests the Chronicler drew upon older, established records for this section of Judah’s history, including their brief 'dominion in Moab.'

Verse 23

The potters and others mentioned here 'dwelt with the king for his work.' This emphasizes the importance of skilled artisans and their direct service to the crown, perhaps indicating royal patronage during the periods of David or Solomon.

Verse 24

The genealogy abruptly shifts focus from Judah to Simeon, the second tribe listed in this section. Simeon was geographically surrounded by Judah and often struggled for independent identity and territory.

Verse 27

This note explains the limited size of the tribe of Simeon ('had not many children'), which aligns with historical accounts suggesting the tribe was partially absorbed into Judah, fulfilling Jacob’s prophecy (Gen 49:7).

Verse 31

The phrase 'unto the reign of David' provides a historical marker, indicating that Simeon’s independent control of these cities persisted until David’s monarchy consolidated tribal territories.

Verse 38

These men were powerful 'princes' whose success resulted in a large increase of their families, necessitating a search for new grazing lands outside their traditional southern territory.

Verse 40

The description of the newly found land—'fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable'—highlights the provision of God and the reward of obedience, echoing the description of the Promised Land.

Verse 41

The dating of this conquest to the 'days of Hezekiah' places this event centuries after the initial settlement of Canaan, showing that the tribe of Simeon was still active in territorial expansion and military action during the Judean monarchy.

Verse 43

The final destruction of the remnant of the Amalekites fulfills a long-standing divine command (Exod 17:14). This act demonstrates the zeal of Simeon and the Chronicler’s focus on the complete elimination of Israel’s historic enemies.

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