1 The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.
2 And Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat Ahumai, and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites.
3 And these were of the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi:
4 And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem.
5 And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.
6 And Naarah bare him Ahuzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.
7 And the sons of Helah were, Zereth, and Jezoar, and Ethnan.
8 And Coz begat Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.
9 And Jabez was more honorable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.
11 And Chelub the brother of Shuah begat Mehir, which was the father of Eshton.
12 And Eshton begat Bethrapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Irnahash. These are the men of Rechah.
13 And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of Othniel; Hathath.
14 And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen.
15 And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh; Iru, Elah, and Naam: and the sons of Elah, even Kenaz.
16 And the sons of Jehaleleel; Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.
17 And the sons of Ezra were, Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.
18 And his wife Jehudijah bare Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. And these are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, which Mered took.
19 And the sons of his wife Hodiah the sister of Naham, the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite.
20 And the sons of Shimon were, Amnon, and Rinnah, Benhanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were, Zoheth, and Benzoheth.
21 The sons of Shelah the son of Judah were, Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea,
22 And Jokim, and the men of Chozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubilehem. And these are ancient things.
23 These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.
24 The sons of Simeon were, Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul:
25 Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.
26 And the sons of Mishma; Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, Shimei his son.
27 And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters: but his brethren had not many children, neither did all their family multiply, like to the children of Judah.
28 And they dwelt 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 Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusim, and at Bethbirei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities unto the reign of David.
32 And their villages were, Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities:
33 And all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal. These were their habitations, and their genealogy.
34 And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah, the son of Amaziah,
35 And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josibiah, 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;
38 These mentioned by their names were princes in their families: and the house of their fathers increased greatly.
39 And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even unto the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.
40 And they found fat pasture and good, and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for they of Ham had dwelt there of old.
41 And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and smote their tents, and the habitations that were found there, and destroyed them utterly unto this day, and dwelt in their rooms: because there was pasture there for their flocks.
42 And 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 And they smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped, and dwelt there unto this day.
The book of 1 Chronicles is part of the Old Testament and is considered to be a historical book. It is believed to have been written by Ezra, a priest and scribe, and covers the history of the Israelites from the time of Adam to the return from Babylonian exile. Chapter 4 of 1 Chronicles is a continuation of the genealogies of the descendants of Jacob. In this chapter, the focus is on the descendants of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob, and his son Perez. The chapter also provides information about the descendants of Simeon, another son of Jacob, and the cities they inhabited. The themes of this chapter include the importance of lineage and inheritance, the blessings and struggles of God’s people, and the power of prayer.
The first part of chapter 4 lists the descendants of Judah, who was the son of Jacob and Leah. The chapter begins with the genealogy of Judah’s son, Perez, who was born through the relationship between Judah and his daughter-in-law, Tamar. This was considered a scandalous and controversial event, but it was part of God’s plan to continue the lineage of Judah. The descendants of Perez are listed, including Hezron and Ram, who were both rulers in Israel. The genealogy then continues with the descendants of Hezron, including Caleb, who was an important figure in the conquest of Canaan.
One of the notable names listed in this section is Jabez. He was born to a woman named Jabez and was given his name because his mother bore him in pain. Jabez’s name means “pain” or “sorrow,” and he was known for his prayer to God, asking for his territory to be enlarged and for God’s hand to be with him. God granted his request, and he became more honorable than his brothers. This story highlights the power of prayer and the blessings that can come from it.
The genealogy then continues with the descendants of Ram, including Jerahmeel, who was a prominent figure in the tribe of Judah. The chapter also mentions the books of the Chronicles of the kings of Judah, which were likely historical records of the rulers of Judah.
The second part of chapter 4 focuses on the descendants of Simeon, who was the second son of Jacob and Leah. The tribe of Simeon was known for their strength and bravery, and they were given a portion of the land of Canaan to inhabit. The chapter lists the names of the sons of Simeon and the cities they inhabited, including Beersheba, Moladah, and Hazar-shual. These cities were located in the southern part of Judah’s territory, and they were known for their fertile land and agricultural success.
One of the notable names listed in this section is Shimei, who was a descendant of Simeon. He is mentioned in the book of 2 Samuel as the man who cursed King David and threw stones at him as he fled from Absalom. However, in this chapter, Shimei is listed as a man of courage and strength, which shows that even those who have made mistakes in the past can still be remembered for their positive attributes.
The main themes of 1 Chronicles chapter 4 revolve around lineage, inheritance, blessings, struggles, and prayer. The genealogies of Judah and Simeon highlight the importance of lineage and inheritance in the Israelite culture. The descendants of Judah and Simeon were blessed by God, and their names were recorded in the Chronicles of the kings of Judah. This shows that their lineage was significant and had a lasting impact on the history of Israel.
The story of Jabez and his prayer emphasizes the power of prayer and the blessings that can come from it. Jabez’s request for God to enlarge his territory and be with him was granted, and he became more honorable than his brothers. This serves as a reminder that even in the midst of struggles and pain, God is always listening and can bring blessings to those who seek Him.
The mention of Shimei, who was known for his mistakes and rebellion against King David, also highlights the struggles and mistakes that God’s people face. However, in this chapter, Shimei is remembered for his courage and strength, showing that God can redeem and transform even those who have made mistakes in the past.
In conclusion, 1 Chronicles chapter 4 continues the genealogies of the descendants of Jacob and focuses on the tribes of Judah and Simeon. This chapter reinforces the importance of lineage and inheritance, showcases the blessings and struggles of God’s people, and highlights the power of prayer. It serves as a reminder that God is faithful to His promises and can bring blessings and redemption to those who seek Him.
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