1 Chronicles 4:40

40 They found lush pastures there, and the land was spacious, quiet, and peaceful. Some of Ham’s descendants had been living in that region.

1 Chronicles 4:40 Meaning and Commentary

1 Chronicles 4:40

And they found fat pasture and good
In or near the valley of Gedor:

and the land was wide, and quiet, and peaceable;
there was room enough for them and their flocks, and they had no enemies on either side to disturb them:

for [they] of Ham had dwelt there of old;
either the Canaanites who descended from Canaan the son of Ham, and had never been expelled from thence; or the Philistines, who were a colony of the Egyptians, the posterity of Ham; and these inhabitants being of this cursed race, the Simeonites scrupled not to dispossess them.

1 Chronicles 4:40 In-Context

38 These were the names of some of the leaders of Simeon’s wealthy clans. Their families grew,

39 and they traveled to the region of Gerar, in the east part of the valley, seeking pastureland for their flocks.

40 They found lush pastures there, and the land was spacious, quiet, and peaceful. Some of Ham’s descendants had been living in that region.

41 But during the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah, these leaders of Simeon invaded the region and completely destroyed the homes of the descendants of Ham and of the Meunites. No trace of them remains today. They killed everyone who lived there and took the land for themselves, because they wanted its good pastureland for their flocks.

42 Five hundred of these invaders from the tribe of Simeon went to Mount Seir, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel—all sons of Ishi.