1 Crônicas 4
Bob Utley · You Can Understand the Bible
1 Crônicas 4
NJB (LXX versing) Line of Hur, Asher The Family of Judah The Descendants of Judah and Simeon The Descendants of Judah Judah, Shobal 4:1-10 4:1-8 4:1-23 4:1-2 4:1-2 Hur 4:3-4 4:3 4:4a 4:4b Asher 4:5-7 4:5 4:6 4:7 4:8 4:8-10 4:9-10 4:9-10 Caleb Other Family Lists 4:11-12 4:11-12 4:11-12 4:11-12 4:13-23 4:13-23 4:13-14a 4:13-14 4:14b 4:15 4:15 4:16 4:16 4:17-18 4:17-18 4:19 4:19 4:20 4:20a 4:20b The Descendants of Shelah Shelah 4:21-23 4:21-23 Descendants of Simeon The Family of Simeon The Descendants of Simeon Simeon 4:24-33 4:24-27 4:24-33 4:24-27 4:24-27 4:34-43 4:28-43 4:28-33 4:28-40 4:34-43 4:34-38a (34-37) 4:38b-40 4:41-43 4:41 4:42 4:43 Etc.
1 Crônicas 4:1-10
4:1-22 The NASB Study Bible, p. 558, suggests that what seems like a compilation of sources and repetitions is, in reality, a chiastic (see , SPECIAL TOPIC: HEBREW POETRY) purposeful structure. 1 Chr. 2:3 ‒ Shelah 1 Chr. 2:4-8 ‒ Perez 1 Chr. 2:9-3:24 ‒ Hezron 1 Chr. 4:1-20 ‒ Perez 1 Chr. 4:21-23 ‒ Shelah The focus of this Hebrew structure would be the lineage of Hezron. This list of David's descendants is unique to this context. 4:1 This is the second list of Judah's male children. The first list is in 1 Chr. 2:3, where the sons of Judah by a Canaanite woman are named. The sons listed here start with Perez (cf. 1 Chr. 2:4), who was borne by Tamar (cf. Genesis 38). He is the progenitor of David. ▣ "Carmi" This may be the "Chelubai" of 1 Chr. 2:9, a son of Hezron known as "Caleb" (cf. 1 Chr. 2:18, see Jerome Biblical Commentary, p. 407). If this is true then Perez and the other five from Judah may be successive generations, not children (cf. Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 341). There is a man by this name in 1 Chr. 2:7. These names recur in families. 4:3 Why the descendants of Hur are mentioned again is uncertain (cf. 1 Chr. 2:50-55). It seems that the Chronicler combined several genealogical traditions. ▣ "the sons of Etam" The UBS Text Project, p. 396, suggests "the father of Etam," giving it a "C" rating (considerable doubt). Possibly the phrase implies "the founders of Etam" (a UBS suggestion, because "these" (BDB 41) is PLURAL, as in 1 Chr. 4:19; 8:29a. Usually, only sons are listed but often daughters or sisters are named if they were known or honored (cf. 1 Chr. 2:9,19; 3:3,19,27). It is unlikely that the list of children is complete. ANE genealogies regularly skipped children and generations. See NIDOTTE, vol. 4, pp. 654-662. 4:7 "Izhar" For this name (BDB 850) in the MT, the Masoretic scholars suggested a change to "Zohar" (Qere, see ABD, vol. 6, p. 1108). This person is known only here but the name Izhar appears as son of Kohath and grandson of Levi in Exod. 6:18,21; Num. 16:1; 1 Chr. 6:18,21. But this is a different person, different tribe, different father. 4:9 "Jabez" This name (BDB 716) is a word play on "pain" (BDB 780 I, cf. 1 Chr. 4:9,10). In 1 Chr. 2:55 it is the name of a city of scribes. 4:10 This is Jabez's prayer of faith and request for blessings. YHWH heard and answered. These two verses are unusual in that no other place in the genealogies is a person's prayer recorded. This is also one of the few places a value judgment is given to a person. This was a man of faith and YHWH honored that faith.
1 Crônicas 4:11-12
4:12 "the father of Ir-nahash" This probably means "the founder of the city of Nahash" (TEV). "Ir" (BDB 746) means "city." "Nahash" (BDB 638 II) means "serpent" (BDB 638 I). It is found only here as a name for a city. It is used as a name of a person several times (i.e., 1 Sam. 11:1,2; 2 Sam. 17:25,27; 1 Chr. 19:1-2). The Expositor's Bible Commentary, vol. 4, p. 341, thinks the Hebrew root means "copper" (BDB 638), therefore, a city of coppersmiths. This would fit the context of several guilds being mentioned. craftsmen, 1 Chr. 4:14 linen workers, 1 Ch4. 4:21 potters, 1 Chr. 4:23 remember, the guild of scribes in 1 Chr. 2:55
1 Crônicas 4:13-23
4:13 Othniel" This is the first named Judge (cf. Jdgs. 3:9,11). He was the son of Kenaz and younger brother of Caleb (cf. Jos. 15:17). ▣ "Meonothai" The name "Meonothai" (BDB 723) is found at the end of 1 Chr. 4:13 and starts 4:14 in the LXX and Vulgate. The name appears only in this context. 4:14 "craftsmen" In Neh. 11:35 this same term (BDB 360) is translated "the valley of craftsmen." This would have been an ancient guild of artisans. 1 Chronicles 4:21-23 mentions other groups of craftsmen/artisans. The NASB has "Ge-harashim" and "harashim" (i.e., craftsmen"). "Ge" (BDB 161) means "valley." So, the PLURAL NOUN "craftsmen" appears twice. 4:15 "Naam" This name is formed on the Hebrew root "to be pleasing" or "to be agreeable." This same root forms "Naomi" (Ruth 1:2). 4:16-20 It is often confusing in these genealogies because the names listed refer to people refer to clans refer to cities refer to geographical regions These verses are from a pre-exilic list because later Judah does not control all the geographical/city names mentioned. 4:17 "(And these are the sons of Bithia the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered took)" This parenthesis is actually found at the end of 1 Chr. 4:18. It identifies a political marriage. It denotes one of two realities. a strong Judah a weak Egypt the honor Joseph, and thereby his family, had in Egypt before a new Pharaoh 4:22 "who ruled in Moab" Note the following translations. the NJB has "who went to Moab to take wives" (cf. TEV, JPSOA) the NKJV agrees with the NASB the REB has "who fell out with Moab and came back to Bethlehem" JPSOA, following the Aramaic Targums, has "who married into Moab" The Hebrew VERB "ruled" (BDB 127, KB 142, Qal PERFECT) can mean ruled over ‒ Isa. 62:4 marry ‒ Gen. 20:3; Deut. 21:13; 22:22; 24:1; Isa. 54:1,5; 62:5; Mal. 2:11 This phrase may have been included to show that before Ezra 9:1 and Neh. 13:23, marriage to a Moabitess (cf. Ruth) was not a problem. ▣ "and Jashubi-lehem" The NEB and NJB have "before returning to Bethlehem" (cf. TEV). The NRSV has "and returned to Lehem." The UBS Text Project, p. 397, gives this a "C" rating (considerable doubt). ▣ NASB, NKJV, NRSV "(the records are ancient)" "(the traditions are very old)" "(these are old traditions)" The parenthesis denotes an editorial comment. The LXX and Peshitta do not have this phrase. The term "records" (BDB 182) means "words" or "matters." It may be a hint that the information in these genealogies is from numerous oral traditions (cf. 1 Chr. 4:33b). See John H. Walton and D. Brent Sandy, The Lost World of Scripture, which discusses oral cultures. The ADJECTIVE "ancient" (BDB 801) occurs only twice in the OT (cf. Isa. 28:9, where it refers to the weaning of a child).
1 Crônicas 4:24-33
4:24-43 This is the genealogy of the tribe of Simeon (cf. Gen. 46:10; Exod. 6:15; Num. 26:12-13). Simeon was later absorbed into Judah (cf. Jos. 19:1,9; Jdgs. 1:3). Note that there is no tribal blessing in Deuteronomy 33. 4:28-31a These are cities in southern Canaan that are mentioned in Joshua. Beesheba ‒ Jos. 15:28; 19:2 Moladah ‒ Jos. 15:26; 19:2; Neh. 11:26 Hazar-shual ‒ Jos. 15:28; 19:3; Neh. 11:27 Bilhah ‒ Jos. 19:3 ("Balah") Ezrem ‒ only here Tolad ‒ only here Bethuel ‒ only here, but possibly the "Bethul" of Jos. 19:4 the "Bethel" of 1 Sam. 30:27 Hormah ‒ Jos. 12:14; 15:30; 19:4 (changed to "Zephath") Ziklag ‒ Jos. 15:31; 19:5 Beth-marcaboth ‒ Jos. 19:5 Hazar-susim (or "susal") ‒ Jos. 15:28; 19:5 Beth-biri ‒ Jos. 19:6 (Beth-lehaoth) Shaaraim ‒ Jos. 15:36; 1 Sam. 17:52 4:31 "Beth-biri" "Beth" (BDB 108) means house or family. This city may refer to "Beth-ebaoth" in Jos. 19:6. Beth-marcaboth is listed as a city in Jos. 19:5. Two other cities listed in Jos. 19:5 are similar to cities mentioned here. 4:33 "Baal" Joshua 19:8 has "Baalath." Ba'al was the male fertility god of Canaan. SPECIAL TOPIC: FERTILITY WORSHIP OF THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST
1 Crônicas 4:34-43
4:34-38 From 1 Chr. 4:38 we know that this list of names comprised the leaders of family groups/clans (cf. Num. 25:14 for a similar usage). 4:41 "their tents" This refers to the "Hamites" (BDB 325 I). ▣ "Meunites" This tribal group (BDB 589) lived in southern Palestine. The tribe of Simeon (which would later be incorporated into Judah) destroyed those living in their tribal allocation (cf. Jos. 19:1-23). There is disagreement on to whom this name refers. Minaeans of south Arabia Mu'unaya from inscriptions during Tiglath-pileser III's reign citizens of the town of Maon, south of Hebron (see IVP Bible Background Commentary, p. 414) 4:42-43 This describes an early expansion of Simeon's allotted territory to the south, possibly because of overpopulation of the descendants of Simeon.