1 Chronicles · Chapter 2

Verse 1. These are the sons of Israel] For this genealogy see the parallel places pointed out in the margin.

V. 3. Judah-Whom he puts first, because the best part of the right of the firstborn, namely, the dominion, was conferred upon him, Genesis 49:8, and because the Messiah was to come out of his loins.

Verse 3. The sons of Judah — He puts Judah first, because the best part of the right of the firstborn, namely, the dominion, was conferred on him, Genesis 49:8; in consequence of which, his tribe obtained a pre-eminence among, and a kind of superiority over the rest, even before the time of David. And from David’s time, it is without doubt, that till the Babylonish captivity a kingly power continued in this tribe; Zerubbabel, also, who was their leader, when they returned to their own land, was of the same tribe. The chief reason, however, why the genealogy of Judah is set down first, is because the Messiah was to descend from him.

V. 6. Dara-If these be the same who are mentioned as the sons of Machol, 1 Kings 4:31, either the same man had two names, Zerah and Machol, as was usual among the Hebrews: or, one of these was their immediate father, and the other their grand-father. These are named, because they were the glory of their father’s house. When the Holy Ghost would magnify the wisdom of Solomon, he saith, he was wiser than these four men. That four brothers should be so eminent, was a rare thing.

Verse 6. Five of them in all.] “These were all chief men; and on them the spirit of prophecy rested.”-T.

Verse 6. And Dara — If these be the same who are mentioned as the sons of Mahol, (1 Kings 4:31,) either the same man had two names, Zerah and Mahol, as was usual among the Hebrews, or one of these was their immediate father, and the other their grandfather. These are named, because they were the glory of their father’s house. When the Holy Ghost would magnify the wisdom of Solomon, he saith, he was wiser than these four men. That four brothers should be so eminent, was a rare thing.

V. 7. Carmi-Who is here mentioned, because he was the son of Zimri, who is also called Zabdi, Joshua 7:1. Achar-Called Achan, Joshua 7:1, and here Achar, with a little variation for greater significancy: for Achar signifies a troubler.

Verse 7. The sons of Carmi — This man is here mentioned, because he was the son of Zimri, who was also called Zabdi, Joshua 7:18. Achar, the troubler of Israel — He who in Joshua 7. is called Achan, is here, by a small variation, elegantly and significantly called Achar, which means troubler: because he had brought Israel into great danger and distress, by the sin he committed.

Verses 9, 10. And Ram — Who is mentioned in the genealogy of our Saviour, (Matthew 1:3, 4,) and called Aram. Nashon, prince of the children of Judah — Namely, when, being come out of Egypt, they pitched under their several standards, Numbers 2:3.

Verses 9, 10. And Ram — Who is mentioned in the genealogy of our Saviour, (Matthew 1:3, 4,) and called Aram. Nashon, prince of the children of Judah — Namely, when, being come out of Egypt, they pitched under their several standards, Numbers 2:3.

V. 13. Eliab-Called also Elihu, 1 Chronicles 27:18, unless that was another person, and the word brother be taken more largely for a kinsman, as it is frequently.

Verses 13-15. Eliab — Called also Elihu, 1 Chronicles 27:18, unless that was another son of Jesse, as some think, not mentioned elsewhere; which would make the number to be eight, according to 1 Samuel 16:10; 17:12. Or that Elihu, although there called the brother of David, might perhaps only be his kinsman, according to the usual language of Scripture. David the seventh — David was certainly the youngest son of Jesse, 1 Samuel 16:11. And if, as seems probable, one of them died soon after the time when they were said to he eight, he would of course be reckoned as the seventh.

Verses 13-15. Eliab — Called also Elihu, 1 Chronicles 27:18, unless that was another son of Jesse, as some think, not mentioned elsewhere; which would make the number to be eight, according to 1 Samuel 16:10; 17:12. Or that Elihu, although there called the brother of David, might perhaps only be his kinsman, according to the usual language of Scripture. David the seventh — David was certainly the youngest son of Jesse, 1 Samuel 16:11. And if, as seems probable, one of them died soon after the time when they were said to he eight, he would of course be reckoned as the seventh.

V. 15. Seventh-He had eight sons, 1 Samuel 16:10, but probably one of them died presently after that time.

Verses 13-15. Eliab — Called also Elihu, 1 Chronicles 27:18, unless that was another son of Jesse, as some think, not mentioned elsewhere; which would make the number to be eight, according to 1 Samuel 16:10; 17:12. Or that Elihu, although there called the brother of David, might perhaps only be his kinsman, according to the usual language of Scripture. David the seventh — David was certainly the youngest son of Jesse, 1 Samuel 16:11. And if, as seems probable, one of them died soon after the time when they were said to he eight, he would of course be reckoned as the seventh.

V. 17. Ishmaelite-By birth or habitation, but by profession an Israelite, 2 Samuel 17:25.

Verse 17. Jether the Ishmeelite.] “They called him Jether, because he girded himself with his sword, that he might assist David with the Arabians, when Abner was endeavouring to destroy David and the whole race of Jesse, as being unfit to enter into the congregation of the Lord, on account of Ruth the Moabitess.”-T.

Verses 17, 18. Jether the Ishmaelite — By birth or habitation, but by profession an Israelite, 2 Samuel 17:25. And her sons — The sons of Azubah, who is by way of distinction called his wife, when Jerioth probably was only his concubine, and, it may seem, barren: therefore, upon Azubah’s death he married another wife, verse 19. And those other sons of this Caleb, mentioned verse 42, are his sons by some other wife distinct from all these.

V. 18. Her sons-The sons of Azubah, who is by way of distinction called his wife, when Jerioth probably was only his concubine, and, it may seem, barren: therefore upon Azubah’s death he married another wife. And those other sons of this Caleb mentioned, ver. 42, are his sons by some other wife distinct from all these.

Verse 18. Azubah] “And why was she called Azubah? Because she was barren and despised. But her injury was manifested before the Lord; and she was comforted, and adorned with wisdom; and she span, skilfully, goats’ hair for the court of the tabernacle.”-T.

Verses 17, 18. Jether the Ishmaelite — By birth or habitation, but by profession an Israelite, 2 Samuel 17:25. And her sons — The sons of Azubah, who is by way of distinction called his wife, when Jerioth probably was only his concubine, and, it may seem, barren: therefore, upon Azubah’s death he married another wife, verse 19. And those other sons of this Caleb, mentioned verse 42, are his sons by some other wife distinct from all these.

Verse 20. Uri begat Bezaleel] This was probably the famous artist mentioned Exodus 31:2, &c., where see the notes.

V. 21. Gilead-Of a man so called: a man of noted valour, and the great champion in those parts.

Verse 21. The father of Gilead — It is doubtful whether the word Gilead is here the name of a man, or of the country so called: if it be the latter, the expression means, the prince of Gilead, as the word father often signifies: if the former, the Gilead intended must have been a person of noted valour, probably the great champion in those parts.

V. 23. Sons of Machir-Partly to his own sons, and partly to his son-in-law Jair, who by reason of that dear affection which was betwixt them, and his forsaking his own tribe and kindred to fight for them and to dwell with them, is here reckoned as his own son.

Verse 23. All these belonged to the sons of Machir — Partly to his own sons, and partly to his son-in-law Jair, who by reason of that dear affection which was between them, and his forsaking his own tribe and kindred to fight for them, and to dwell with them, is here reckoned as his own son.

V. 24. Tekoa-A known place whose father he is called, because he was either the progenitor of the people inhabiting there: or, their prince and ruler: or, the builder of the city.

Verse 24. The father of Tekoa — A known place, of which he is termed the father, because he was either the progenitor of the people who inhabited it, or their prince and ruler, or the builder of the city.

V. 31. The sons-An expression often used in prophane authors too, where there is but one son.

Verse 31. The sons of Appaim, Ishi — The plural number is often used, when one son or daughter only is spoken of, for in that one, all the posterity are comprehended. Ahlai — It is plain from verses 34 and 35, that this Ahlai was not a son, but a daughter.

Verse 34. Whose name was Jarha.] “And he gave him his liberty, and gave him Sheshan his daughter to wife.”-T.

Verse 34. But daughters — We read of no more than one daughter that he had: but the writer speaks in the plural number, as before, verse 31. An Egyptian, whose name was Jarha — To whom, as being a proselyte to the Jewish religion, and a faithful servant, his master Sheshan first gave his freedom, and then his daughter in marriage.

V. 35. Jarha-Probably he was not only a proselyte, but an eminent man: else an Israelite would not have given him his only daughter.

Verse 42. Now the sons of Caleb] This was not Caleb the son of Jephunneh, but Caleb the son of Hezron, 1 Chronicles 2:18, 50. But some think that Caleb the son of Hezron was the grandson of Caleb, son of Jephunneh; but this is probably fanciful.

The father of Ziph] “The prince of the Ziphites.”-T.

V. 45. Beth-zur-A place in Judah.

Verse 45. The father of Beth-zur — A place in Judah, (Joshua 15:58,) of which this Maon was the founder. The same is the meaning of the word father in several of the following verses. Madmannah, Machbenah, Gibea, &c, being the names not of persons, but of places.

V. 49. Madmannah-This, and divers other following names are the names of places in Judah.

V. 51. Bethlehem-That is, the inhabitants of Bethlehem.

Verse 52. Shobal-had sons] “Disciples and priests, to whom belonged the half of the oblations.”-T.

Verse 53. The families of Kirjath-jearim] “These were the children of Moses, which Zipporah bare to him, viz., the Jethrites, the Shumathites, and the Mishraites; of these came the disciples of the prophets Zarah and Eshtaol.”-T.

Verse 53. The families of Kirjath-jearim; the Ithrites, &c. — The inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim were divided into several families, as Kimchi interprets it, and these here mentioned were the heads of families, denominated from Ithra or Jether, and Puhah, &c. As from Jimni came the family of the Jimnites, and from Beriah the Beriites, in Numbers 26:44. Of them came the Zareathites, &c. — Zarah and Eshtaul were two cities in the tribe of Judah, which were built by two persons of Kirjath-jearim of this name, who inhabited these places, and left two great families, who were from them called Zareathites and Eshtaulites.

Verse 54. The sons of Salma] “The righteous Bethlehemites, who had a good name, as the Netophathites, who removed the guards which Jeroboam had placed in the way lest the people should carry the first-fruits to Jerusalem: for the sons of Salma carried baskets full of first-fruits privately to Jerusalem; and having cloven wood, they made ladders, and brought them to Jerusalem to be laid up in Beth-mokad for oblations. These came from the lineage of Joab the son of Zeruiah; and some of them were priests; and they divided the residue of the sacrifices with the sons of the prophets who were in Zorah.”-T.

Verse 54. The sons of Salma; Beth-lehem — That is, the inhabitants of Beth-lehem: and so of Ataroth, and the house of Joab, or, as it should rather be rendered, Beth-joab, for the writer is not speaking of a family, but of a place. The people of those towns, and the Manahethites, and the Zorites, were all the descendants of this Salma, the son of Caleb. So that, it appears, he had a very numerous posterity.

V. 55. Scribes-Either civil, who were public notaries, that wrote and signed legal instruments: or ecclesiastical. And these were either Levites, or Simeonites, or rather Kenites, and are here mentioned not as if they were of the tribe of Judah, but because they dwelt among them, and probably were allied to them by marriages, and so in a manner incorporated with them.

Verse 55. The families] “The families of the Rechabites, the sons of Eliezer the son of Misco, the disciple of Jabez; he was Othniel, the son of Kenaz. And he was called Jabez, because in his council he instituted a school of disciples; they were called Tirathim, because in their hymns their voice was like trumpets; and Shimathim, because in hearing they lifted up their faces, i.e., in prayer; and Suchathim, because they were overshadowed by the Spirit of prophecy. These Salmæi were the children of Zipporah, who were numbered among the Levites who came from the stock of Moses, the master of Israel, whose righteousness profited them more than chariots and horses.”-T. See on 1 Chronicles 4:9, 10. Is the above explanation of Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Suchathites, the Targumist refers to the import of the Hebrew roots, whence these names are derived. See 1 Chronicles 4:10. In this chapter many names of cities are given as the names of men.

I CHRONICLES

Verse 55. The families of the scribes — Either civil, who were public notaries, that wrote and signed legal instruments; or ecclesiastical. And these were either Levites or Simeonites, or rather Kenites, and are here mentioned not as if they were of the tribe of Judah, but because they dwelt among them, and probably were allied to them by marriages, and so in a manner incorporated with them.