1 Chronicles 4:2-12

2 Shobal’s son Reaiah was the father of Jahath. Jahath was the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites.

3 The descendants of Etam were Jezreel, Ishma, Idbash, their sister Hazzelelponi,

4 Penuel (the father of Gedor), and Ezer (the father of Hushah). These were the descendants of Hur (the firstborn of Ephrathah), the ancestor of Bethlehem.

5 Ashhur (the father of Tekoa) had two wives, named Helah and Naarah.

6 Naarah gave birth to Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari.

7 Helah gave birth to Zereth, Izhar, Ethnan,

8 and Koz, who became the ancestor of Anub, Zobebah, and all the families of Aharhel son of Harum.

9 There was a man named Jabez who was more honorable than any of his brothers. His mother named him Jabez because his birth had been so painful.

10 He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.

11 Kelub (the brother of Shuhah) was the father of Mehir. Mehir was the father of Eshton.

12 Eshton was the father of Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah. Tehinnah was the father of Ir-nahash. These were the descendants of Recah.

1 Chronicles 4:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 4

In this chapter is a further account of the tribe of Judah, and of some principal families in it, 1Ch 4:1-23 and of the tribe of Simeon, their families, cities, and villages, 1Ch 4:24-38 and of the enlargement of their borders, and conquest of the Amalekites, 1Ch 4:39-43.

Footnotes

• [a]. As in Greek version; Hebrew reads father of. The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
• [b]. Or the founder of; also in 4:5, 12, 14, 17, 18, and perhaps other instances where the text reads the father of.
• [c]. As in an alternate reading in the Masoretic Text (see also Latin Vulgate); the other alternate and the Greek version read Zohar.
• [d]. Jabez sounds like a Hebrew word meaning “distress” or “pain.”