Chapter 4

1, 11 The posterity of Judah by Caleb the son of Hur. 5 Of Ashur the posthumous son of Hezron. 9 Of Jabez, and his prayer. 21 The posterity of Shelah. 24 The posterity and cities of Simeon. 39 Their conquest of Gedor, and of the Amalekites in mount Seir.

1. The sons of Judah. Of the five names here given, only Pharez was a son of Judah (ch. 2:4). The others were evidently heads of various clans, and if so, the term “sons” is employed in this broader sense.

2. Reaiah. Verses 2–4 give the branches and settlements of Hur, the first-born of Ephratah, wife of Caleb (ch. 2:19, 50).

5. Ashur. In vs. 5–7 is given another line of descent from Hezron, through Ashur (ch. 2:24).

8. Coz. Nothing further is known concerning Coz.

9. Jabez. Jabez was also the name of a town of Judah in which certain families of scribes of the lineage of Salma, the son of Hur, lived (ch. 2:50, 54, 55).

More honourable than his brethren. Compare a similar phrase in Gen. 34:19.

10. God granted. Nothing is known of the circumstances by which God granted the earnest petition of Jabez. The important point is that God heard the prayer of faith and poured some great blessing upon His faithful servant.

12. Men of Rechah. Rechah is not otherwise known, but the Vaticanus manuscript and the Lucian recension of the LXX read “Rechab.” In such a case the men of Rechah would be Rechabites. In ch. 2:55 the scribes of Jabez were “of the house of Rechab.” These Rechabites were descendants of Hur through Salma (ch. 2:50–55), and Hur was a son of Caleb (ch. 2:19). In such a case the Chelub of v. 11 is possibly a namesake of Caleb—“Chelubai” of ch. 2:9—the son of Hezron.

13. Sons of Kenaz; Othniel. In vs. 13–15 members of this clan are listed. Kenaz is mentioned in Joshua 15:17 and Judges 1:13; 3:9, 11, where Othniel is given as the son of Kenaz, the brother of Caleb. Among the dukes of Edom another Kenaz is listed (1 Chron. 1:53).

15. Caleb. This seems to be at least the third Caleb mentioned in this genealogy if “Caleb, the son of Hur” is included (see ch. 2:18, 50; see on ch. 2:18).

17. Eshtemoa. This probably refers to the founder of the Judean mountain city of Eshtemoh (Joshua 15:50), now esРSemuЖФ, 8 mi. (12.6 km.) south of Hebron.

18. Socho. This possibly refers to the Judean mountain city of Socoh (Joshua 15:48), near Eshtemoa, which is 9 mi. (14.4 km.) south of Hebron. Socoh is known today as Khirbet Shuweikeh.

Zanoah. Another of the mountain cities of Judah (Joshua 15:56), probably ZaЖnuta, about 2 mi. (3.2 km.) southeast of Beth-shemesh.

19. Keilah. A town in the Shephelah (Joshua 15:44) rescued by David from the Philistines (1 Sam. 23). It is now Khirbet QйЖlaµ, 8 mi. (12.6 km.) northwest of Hebron.

Eshtemoa. Verse 17 states that Ishbah was the father of Eshtemoa. Possibly this Eshtemoa, the Maachathite, is not the same as the former.

The Maachathite. The Maachathites were the people of a small kingdom to the northeast of Palestine (Deut. 3:14; Joshua 12:5; 13:11).

21. The sons of Shelah. Verses 21–23 give a brief account of the families of Shelah.

Mareshah. An important city of Judah (Joshua 15:44), now Tell Sandahannah, 13 mi. northwest of Hebron.

Wrought fine linen. Such occupations in ancient times were commonly confined to hereditary guilds.

22. Chozeba. Some think this was Chezib (Gen. 38:5). The name survives in Khirbet Kuweizibeh, northwest of Hebron; it was more likely nearby Khirbet edРDilb.

Dominion in Moab. This phrase may refer to the subjugation of Moab by two chieftains of Judah. Some suggest that it may refer to intermarriage with Moab, since the verb here translated “had dominion,” baФal, also means “to marry” (see Gen. 20:3; Deut. 21:13; etc.). For the use of the verb in the sense of ruling see Isa. 26:13.

23. Plants and hedges. These words should probably be left untranslated and be rendered Netaim and Gederah. The latter is mentioned as a place name in Joshua 15:36.

With the king. The meaning seems to be that the potteries at Netaim and Gederah were controlled by the king.

24. Sons of Simeon. Compare other lists of Simeon’s sons (Gen. 46:10; Ex. 6:15; Num. 26:12, 13). The genealogies of Simeon follow those of Judah evidently because of the close relationship between the two tribes (see Judges 1:3). Simeon received his inheritance within the limits of Judah (Joshua 19:1, 9).

27. Not many children. That is, the other Simeonite clans (Num. 26:12–14). During the 40 years’ wandering the tribe decreased 60 per cent in population (Num. 1:23; 26:14), with the result that it numbered less than half the average of all the tribes.

28. They dwelt. Verses 28–33 give the dwelling places of the Simeonites. The list parallels that of Joshua 19:2–8. Many of the towns here assigned to Simeon are reckoned with Judah in Joshua 15:26–32, 42.

Beer-sheba. In Joshua’s enumeration Sheba appears after Beersheba, obviously as another designation of the site of Beer-sheba (see on Joshua 19:2).

31. Shaaraim. Or Sharuhen (Joshua 19:6) and Shilhim in Joshua 15:32. Sharuhen is listed by Thutmose III as subjugated by him.

32. Five cities. Why these 5 cities should be listed separately from the former 13 is not clear. The separation is also made in Joshua 19:7, where, however, only 4 villages are given. Perhaps these places remained in the possession of Simeon after the other 13 had been lost.

33. Baal. Or Baalath-beer (Joshua 19:8). Some identify this with Ramah, or Ramoth, of the South (see 1 Sam. 30:27).

34. And Meshobab. Verses 34–43 trace the emigration and conquests of the Simeonites. Verses 34–37 give the names of the 13 princes of Simeon who led out in the expedition made by their tribe in the days of Hezekiah. The number of princes is the same as that of the 13 cities (vs. 28–31).

38. Increased greatly. Because of increase in numbers and probably also pressure from neighbors who had likewise increased, the Simeonite chieftains went forth to seek new settlements.

39. Gedor. This town must have been somewhere in the extreme south of Simeon; its exact location is unknown. The LXX here reads Gerar, the place where Isaac dwelt (Gen. 26:17). It is possibly the Geder of Joshua 12:13.

40. Fat pasture. When Isaac moved to Gerar he found a country that would support his possessions of flocks and herds (Gen. 26:14, 17–20).

They of Ham. Evidently the original Canaanites (see ch. 1:8).

41. The days of Hezekiah. Compare 2 Kings 18:8, where Hezekiah “smote the Philistines, even unto Gaza.” Gerar is thought to have been about 8 mi. (12.6 km.) south of Gaza.

42. Mount Seir. In the territory of Edom to the south and east. The name Mt. Seir is commonly used to designate the land of Edom.

43. Amalekites. These were no doubt Amalekites who had taken refuge in Edom from Saul’s wars of extermination (1 Sam. 14:48; 15:8; cf. 2 Sam. 8:12). Amalek was partly of Edomite ancestry (1 Chron. 1:35, 36).