Charles Ellicott Commentary 1 Chronicles 3:21

"And the sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah, and Jeshaiah; the sons of Rephaiah, the sons of Arnan, the sons of Obadiah, the sons of Shecaniah." — 1 Chronicles 3:21 (ASV)

And the sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah, and Jesaiah. —Hebrew, son; but some manuscripts and all the versions read sons. Pelatiah means Iah is deliverance. Jesaiah is the same name as Isaiah, meaning Iah is salvation.

The sons of Rephaiah. —The ancient versions represent an important variant reading here. The Septuagint has rendered the whole verse this way: And sons of Anania; Phalettia, and Jesias his son, Raphal his son, Orna his son, Abdia his son (Sechenias his son.). The Syriac reads: Sons of Hananiah: Pelatiah and Ushaiah. Arphaia his son, Arnun his son, Ubia his son—namely, Ushaiah’s; and his son, namely, Shechaniah’s Shemaiah, and so on. The difference between “sons” and “his son” in Hebrew writing is simply that between y and w. (See Note on 1 Chronicles 1:0)

This variant reading presents a form of genealogy like that which prevails in 1 Chronicles 3:10–16, and also occurs in 1 Chronicles 3:17, at the beginning of the current section. However, it is probable that this reading is actually an ancient correction of the Hebrew text, which, as it stands, appears to leave undefined the relationship between Hananiah and the four families mentioned in this verse. The truth, however, seems to be that the expression “the sons of Hananiah” includes not only Pelatiah and Jesaiah, but also the four families named after Rephaiah, Arnan, Obadiah, and Shechaniah (compare 1 Chronicles 2:42, and Note). The four founders of these families were perhaps brothers of Pelatiah and Jesaiah, though not necessarily so, as these families may have been subdivisions of those of Pelatiah and Jesaiah.

Rephaiah. — Iah heals (Isaiah 30:26; Exodus 15:26). See Note on 1 Chronicles 3:20.