CLARITY EDITION · OLD TESTAMENT
1 Chronicles 4
Chapter 4 of 29
Chapter Overview
What happens in 1 Chronicles 4
This chapter continues the family records of the tribe of Judah and then gives the genealogy of the tribe of Simeon. It includes the famous prayer of Jabez, who asked God for blessing and protection.
Scripture
1 Chronicles 4
More Descendants of Judah
Study note
These verses list additional clans within the tribe of Judah that were not covered in chapter 2. Many of these names are also the names of towns, showing that these ancestors founded or settled in specific places in the land of Judah.
1 Judah's descendants included Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.
2 Shobal's son Reaiah had a son named Jahath. Jahath had two sons, Ahumai and Lahad. These were the family groups of the Zorathites. And Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat Ahumai, and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites.
3 The founder of Etam had sons named Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash. They also had a sister named Hazelelponi. And these were of the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi:
4 Penuel founded the town of Gedor, and Ezer founded the town of Hushah. These men were descendants of Hur, who was the firstborn son of Ephrathah and the founder of Bethlehem. 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 Beth-lehem.
5 Ashur, the founder of Tekoa, had two wives: Helah and Naarah. And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.
6 Naarah gave birth to Ahuzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. And Naarah bare him Ahuzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.
7 Helah's sons were Zereth, Jezoar, and Ethnan. And the sons of Helah were, Zereth, and Jezoar, and Ethnan.
8 Koz had sons named Anub and Zobebah, and he was the ancestor of the family groups of Aharhel son of Harum. And Coz begat Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.
The Prayer of Jabez
Study note
In the middle of long genealogy lists, this short story stands out. Jabez was more honored than his brothers, even though his name sounds like the Hebrew word for 'pain.' He prayed a bold prayer asking God for blessing, more land, protection, and freedom from harm. God answered his prayer. This story shows that anyone can call on God and receive his help.
9 There was a man named Jabez who was more respected than any of his brothers. His mother gave him the name Jabez because she said, 'I was in great pain when he was born.' And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.
10 Jabez called out to the God of Israel with this prayer: 'Please bless me and give me more territory. Stay close to me and protect me from anything that would cause me pain.' And God answered his prayer. 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.
Various Clans of Judah
Study note
These verses list many smaller clans within Judah, including craftsmen, potters, and linen workers. Some of these families had special skills that served the king. The mention of 'ancient things' suggests these records were very old even when Chronicles was written.
11 Chelub, Shuah's brother, had a son named Mehir. Mehir had a son named Eshton. And Chelub the brother of Shuah begat Mehir, which was the father of Eshton.
12 Eshton had sons named Beth-Rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah. Tehinnah started the town of Ir-Nahash. These people were from the town of Recah. And Eshton begat Beth-rapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir-nahash. These are the men of Rechah.
13 Kenaz had two sons: Othniel and Seraiah. Othniel had a son named Hathath. And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of Othniel; Hathath.
14 Meonothai had a son named Ophrah. Seraiah had a son named Joab, who started a settlement called the Valley of Craftsmen, because everyone who lived there was a skilled worker. And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen.
15 Caleb son of Jephunneh had three sons: Iru, Elah, and Naam. Elah had a son named Kenaz. And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh; Iru, Elah, and Naam: and the sons of Elah, even Kenaz.
16 Jehallelel's sons were Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. And the sons of Jehaleleel; Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.
17 Ezrah's sons were Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. Mered's wife had three children: Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah. Ishbah founded the town of Eshtemoa. 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 His wife from the tribe of Judah had Jered (founder of Gedor), Heber (founder of Soco), and Jekuthiel (founder of Zanoah). These children came through Bithiah, a daughter of the king of Egypt, whom Mered had married. 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 Hodiah's wife was the sister of Naham. Her sons founded the town of Keilah (home of the Garmites) and the town of Eshtemoa (home of the Maacathites). And the sons of his wife Hodiah the sister of Naham, the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite.
20 Shimon's sons were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan, and Tilon. Ishi's sons were Zoheth and Ben-Zoheth. And the sons of Shimon were, Amnon, and Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi were, Zoheth, and Ben-zoheth.
21 Shelah was a son of Judah. His descendants included Er (founder of Lecah), Laadah (founder of Mareshah), and the families of linen workers who lived at Beth-Ashbea. 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 Other descendants included Jokim, the people of Cozeba, and Joash and Saraph, who once had authority in Moab and later went back to Bethlehem. These are very old records. And Jokim, and the men of Chozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubi-lehem. And these are ancient things.
23 These were the potters who lived in gardens and among hedges. They stayed there and worked for the king. These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.
The Descendants of Simeon
Study note
The tribe of Simeon lived within the territory of Judah in the southern part of the land. Their family did not grow as large as Judah's. The towns listed here were mostly in the dry southern region called the Negev.
24 Simeon's sons were Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul. The sons of Simeon were, Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul:
25 Shaul's son was Shallum, whose son was Mibsam, whose son was Mishma. Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.
26 Mishma's family line was his son Hammuel. Then came his grandson Zaccur. Then came his great-grandson Shimei. And the sons of Mishma; Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, Shimei his son.
27 Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his brothers did not have as many children. So the tribe of Simeon never grew as large as the tribe of Judah. 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 They settled in Beersheba, Moladah, and Hazar-Shual. And they dwelt at Beer-sheba, and Moladah, and Hazar-shual,
29 They also lived in Bilhah, Ezem, and Tolad. And at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,
30 They also lived in Bethuel, Hormah, and Ziklag. And at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,
31 They also lived in Beth-Marcaboth, Hazar-Susim, Beth-Biri, and Shaaraim. These were their towns up until the time of King David. And at Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susim, and at Beth-birei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities unto the reign of David.
32 Five nearby villages also belonged to them: Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan. And their villages were, Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities:
33 They also had small settlements surrounding these towns, stretching all the way to Baal. These were their homes, and they kept careful records of their families. And all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal. These were their habitations, and their genealogy.
Simeon's Leaders and Expansion
Study note
Some leaders from the tribe of Simeon expanded their territory by moving to areas with good pasture for their flocks. During the time of King Hezekiah, some went to the area around Gedor and Mount Seir, defeating the people who lived there and settling in their place.
34 Their leaders included Meshobab, Jamlech, and Joshah son of Amaziah. And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah,
35 Other leaders were Joel and Jehu. Jehu was the son of Joshibiah, son of Seraiah, son of Asiel. And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,
36 Also Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, and Benaiah. And Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,
37 And Ziza son of Shiphi son of Allon son of Jedaiah son of Shimri son of Shemaiah. And Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah;
38 All these men were leaders of their family groups, and their families became very large. These mentioned by their names were princes in their families: and the house of their fathers increased greatly.
39 They traveled toward the town of Gedor, exploring the east side of the valley, looking for good pasture for their flocks. And they went to the entrance of Gedor, even unto the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.
40 They found rich, green pastureland there. The area was open, peaceful, and quiet. The descendants of Ham had lived there before. 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 During the reign of King Hezekiah of Judah, these leaders went and attacked the tents and shelters of the people living there. They wiped them out completely and took over the land, because it had good pasture for their animals. 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 Five hundred men from the tribe of Simeon went to the hill country of Seir. Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, all sons of Ishi, led them. 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 They killed the last of the Amalekites who had survived there, and they have lived in that area ever since. And they smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped, and dwelt there unto this day.
Key Themes
Themes in 1 Chronicles 4
The power of personal prayerGod blesses those who call on HimExpansion and blessing through faithfulnessOrdinary people accomplishing extraordinary things
Apply This Today
Living 1 Chronicles 4
The prayer of Jabez shows that God responds to sincere, bold prayers. You can ask God to enlarge your influence, protect you from harm, and bless the work of your hands. Don't be afraid to ask God for more — He delights in blessing His children.
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