1 Chronicles 2

1 Chronicles 2:1 1 Chronicles 2:2 . SONS OF ISRAEL.

1 Chronicles 2:3-12 . POSTERITY OF JUDAH.

3. The sons of Judah--His descendants are enumerated first, because the right and privileges of the primogeniture had been transferred to him ( Genesis 49:8 ), and because from his tribe the Messiah was to spring.

6. Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara--These five are here stated to be the sons of Zerah, that is, of Ezra, whence they were called Ezrahites ( 1 Kings 4:31 ). In that passage they are called "the sons of Mahol," which, however, is to be taken not as a proper name, but appellatively for "sons of music, dancing," &c. The traditional fame of their great sagacity and acquirements had descended to the time of Solomon and formed a standard of comparison for showing the superior wisdom of that monarch. Jewish writers say that they were looked up to as prophets by their countrymen during the abode in Egypt.

7. the sons of Carmi--He was the son of Zimri, or Zabdi, as he is called ( Joshua 7:1 ).
Achar--or Achan ( Joshua 7:1 ). This variety in the form of the name is with great propriety used .here, since Achar means "troubler."

1 Chronicles 2:13-17 . CHILDREN OF JESSE.

15. David the seventh--As it appears ( 1 Samuel 16:10 , 17:12 ) that Jesse had eight sons, the presumption is from David being mentioned here as the seventh son of his father, that one of them had died at an early age, without leaving issue.

17. Jether the Ishmaelite--(compare 2 Samuel 17:25 ). In that passage he is called Ithra an Israelite; and there seems no reason why, in the early days of David, anyone should be specially distinguished as an Israelite. The presumption is in favor of the reading followed by the Septuagint, which calls him "Jetra the Jezreelite." The circumstance of his settling in another tribe, or of a woman marrying out of her own tribe, was sufficiently rare and singular to call for the statement that Abigail was married to a man of Jezreel.

1 Chronicles 2:18-55 . POSTERITY OF CALEB.

18. Caleb the son of Hezron--The notices concerning this person appear confused in our version. In 1 Chronicles 2:19 he is said to be the father of Hur, whereas in 1 Chronicles 2:50 he is called "the son of Hur." The words in this latter passage have been transposed in the copying, and should be read thus, "Hur the son of Caleb."
begat children of Azubah his wife, and of Jerioth--The former was his spouse, while Jerioth seems to have been a secondary wife, and the mother of the children whose names are here given. On the death of his principal wife, he married Ephrath, and by her had Hur [ 1 Chronicles 2:19 ].

21. Hezron . . . daughter of Machir the father of Gilead--that is, chief of that town, which with the lands adjacent was no doubt the property of Machir, who was so desirous of a male heir. He was grandson of Joseph. The wife of Machir was of the tribe of Manasseh ( Numbers 26:29 ).