Bible Commentaries

Israel. See notes on Genesis 32:28; Genesis 43:8; Genesis 45:26, Genesis 45:28.

Reuben. For the order of these names see App-45

Judah. Put first because of his being chief. Compare Genesis 38:1-11.

Tamar. Compare Genesis 38:18, Genesis 38:29, Genesis 38:30; and Matthew 1:3.

Pharez., Ruth 4:18.

sons. Put for "son" by Figure of speech Synecdoche (of Genus), App-6.

Achar = Achan. Compare Joshua 7:25.

transgressed. Hebrew. ma"al. App-44.

Ethan. Not the same person as "Ethan the Ezrahite" (1 Kings 4:31), who was probably a Levite (see 1 Chronicles 6:27-29; 1 Chronicles 15:17-19), and not of Judah, as the Heman and Ethan here.

Ram. Christ's genealogy traced through Jerahrneel. Called Aram in Matthew 1:3, Matthew 1:4.

Chelubai = Caleb. Compare verses: 1 Chronicles 2:18, 1 Chronicles 2:42.

Nahshon. He led the van of Israel at the Exodus. Compare Numbers 2:3, Numbers 2:9.

children = sons.

Salma = Salmon, who married Rahab (Ruth 4:21). He led on entry into Canaan. Compare verses: 1 Chronicles 2:50, 1 Chronicles 2:51.

David. The different spelling of many of these names in the Hebrew is due to certain vowels being written out in full ("plene"). Where not written they are called "defective". The fact of this difference in Chronicles shows an independent origin.

the seventh. Jesse begat eight sons (1 Samuel 16:5-11 and 1 Chronicles 17:12-14). Here seven are numbered and named, and David is the seventh and the youngest; the eighth may have died young and left no issue. While it was proper to mention the eight in the history, it is unnecessary to do so in the genealogy.

Zeruiah. Sister of David. Nahash (2 Samuel 17:25) may have been the father of Jesse's wife. Otherwise, she and Abigail were half-sisters.

Jether. Compare 2 Samuel 17:25 (marg). Another name was Ithra.

Caleb the son of Hezron. The ancestor of "Caleb the son of Jephunneh" (Numbers 13:6, Numbers 13:30; Numbers 14:6, Numbers 14:24; Numbers 32:12; Numbers 34:19. Joshua 14:6, Joshua 14:14), who is distinguished from this Caleb in 1 Chronicles 4:15. This shows the present genealogy to be independent.

Ephrath. Called Ephesians 2:50. Compare 1 Chronicles 4:4.

Bezaleel. Gifted for the construction of the Tabernacle (Exodus 31:2; Exodus 35:30; Exodus 36:1, Exodus 36:2; Exodus 37:1). This proves those to be wrong who assume that the Caleb of 1 Chronicles 2:18 is the same as Caleb the son of Jephunneh (Bezaleel's greatgrandfather), thus creating their own difficulty.

Machir. Compare Numbers 32:40. Deuteronomy 3:15.

three and twenty. Increased afterward to thirty (Judges 10:4).

Geshur. North-east of Bashan (Deuteronomy 3:14. Joshua 12:5. 1 Samuel 15:8).

them: the Manassites. Compare Numbers 32:41. Deuteronomy 3:14.

threescore cities. Compare Numbers 32:33. Deuteronomy 3:4.

belonged to. Supply the Figure of speech Ellipsis (App-6) by inserting "took" instead of "belonged to".

dead in Caleb-ephratah. Some wrongly affirm that this grandson of Judah must have died in Egypt. True, Hezron lived in Egypt, but did no one ever leave Egypt? Had he not heard of Abraham's sepulchre and Jacob's funeral? Had he no faith and no thoughts of God's promises? The difficulty is created gratuitously. His death there gave the name to the place, afterward called Beth-lehem.

Jerahmeel. See 1 Samuel 27:10; 1 Samuel 30:29.

and: or, supply "of".

to Jarha. So to make him his heir. The laws of Khammurabi included this, 191. See App-15.

Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel and son of Hezron (1 Chronicles 2:18).

father. Here used in the sense of ruler. Compare 1 Chronicles 2:54; 1 Chronicles 4:4.

Mareshah. The name of a city, also in Judah (Joshua 15:44).

Hebron. The name of a city, also in Judah. (Genesis 13:18; Genesis 23:2, Genesis 23:19), See note on Numbers 13:22. Given to Caleb by Joshua (1 Chronicles 14:13).

Tappuah. Also the name of a city (Joshua 15:34).

Rekem. Also a city, of Benjamin (Joshua 18:27).

Maori. Also the name of a city (Joshua 15:55). Mentioned in connection with David (1 Samuel 23:24).

the daughter of Caleb was Achsa. "Caleb the son of Jephunneh" had a daughter named Achsah, who married Othniel (Joshua 15:16, Joshua 15:17). Judges 1:12, Judges 1:13). Hence the "discrepancy" assumed by some. See note on 1 Chronicles 2:18.

Caleb the son of Hur. The son of the Caleb in 1 Chronicles 2:19, Hur giving him the name of his own father. It is possible that this Caleb (1 Chronicles 2:50) may have been the son of Jephunneh (Numbers 13:6), Jephunneh being the surname of the Hur of Exodus 17:10; Exodus 24:14; Exodus 31:2; Exodus 35:30.

Kirjath-jearim. An old Gibeonite city (Joshua 9:17; Joshua 15:60), where the Ark tarried long, and whence it was brought to Zion by David (1 Samuel 6:21. 1 Samuel 7:2. 2 Samuel 6:2. 1 Chronicles 13:5-6.

Salma. A family name, repeated in Ruth 4:20 and 1 Chronicles 2:11 above.

half. For the other half see 1 Chronicles 2:54.

Zareathites . . . Eshtaulites = of Zerah . . . of Esh-taol, two cities of Judah (Joshua 15:33. Judges 13:25; Judges 16:31).

Jabez. Supposed to have been founded by Jabez. See below on 1 Chronicles 4:9.

Kenites. These were the posterity of Jethro and Hobab. See Judges 1:16; and compare 1 Samuel 15:6; 1 Samuel 27:10. They became an ascetic people, and, by being mentioned here in connection with "scribes, "may have been teachers. This perhaps accounts for Jehu's action in 2 Kings 10:15, 2 Kings 10:16.

Rechab. Compare Jer 35.