Albert Barnes Commentary 1 Chronicles 4
Albert Barnes Commentary
1 Chronicles 4
Albert Barnes Commentary
1 Chronicles 4
"And these were [the sons of] the father of Etam: Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi;" — 1 Chronicles 4:3 (ASV)
Read: These are the sons of the father (that is, chief) of Etam (2 Chronicles 11:6), a city of Judah, not far from Bethlehem.
"And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow." — 1 Chronicles 4:9 (ASV)
It is remarkable that Jabez is introduced without description or patronymic, as if he were a well-known personage. We can only suppose that he was known to those for whom Chronicles was written, either by tradition or by writings that have perished. In 1 Chronicles 4:10, Jabez alludes to his name, “sorrowful” (as noted in the margin), by praying: “Grant that the grief implied in my name may not come upon me!”
"And Chelub the brother of Shuhah begat Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. And Eshton begat Beth-rapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir-nahash. These are the men of Recah." — 1 Chronicles 4:11-12 (ASV)
It has been conjectured from the unfamiliar nature of the names in this list that we have here a fragment of a Canaanite record. This record is connected with the family of Shua, whose daughter Judah married (1 Chronicles 2:3; Genesis 38:2), and whose family thereby became related to the tribe of Judah.
"And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab the father of Ge-harashim; for they were craftsmen." — 1 Chronicles 4:14 (ASV)
The words “and Meonothai” should be added to the end of 1 Chronicles 4:13, but they should also be retained at the beginning of 1 Chronicles 4:14. Alternatively, see the marginal note.
"And the sons of Ezrah: Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon; and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa." — 1 Chronicles 4:17 (ASV)
She bore Miriam - Rather, “she conceived.” The mother is not mentioned, and it seems impossible to restore the original text with any certainty.
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