“The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal. Carmi: or, Chelubai Chap.2.9. or Caleb Chap.2.18.”
Charmi, the great-grandson of Juda, by Zara and Zamri, Josue vii. 1. — Junius takes him to be the same with Calubi, (chap. ii.) father of Sobal. This seems to be transcribed from another ancient register of the family of Juda, and designed to shew where the principal men had resided. (Calmet) — Only the chiefs are specified. (Du Hamel)
“And Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat Ahumai, and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites. Reaiah: or, Haroe Chap.2.52.”
Sarathi, who peopled Saraa. (Calmet)
“And these were of the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister was Hazelelponi:”
Posterity. So all the ancient versions seem to have read boni, instead of the present Hebrew abi, which literally means, “and these are the father of Etam.” If words ever wanted sense, they do so here. (Kennicott) — Etham is perhaps the name of a town. (Malvenda)
“And the sons of Helah were, Zereth, and Jezoar , and Ethnan.”
Ethnan. Some would insert “and Cos,” to connect this with the following.
“And Coz begat Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.”
Cos. Perhaps (Calmet) the same with Cenez, ver. 13. (Tirinus)
“And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. Jabez: that is, Sorrowful”
Jabes. That is, sorrowful. (Challoner) — There seems to be something wanting, as we are not informed who were the brethren of Jabes. (Calmet) — This name he received from his mother, while his father Cos, called him Othoniel. (Estius)
“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. Oh: Heb. If thou wilt, etc keep: Heb. do me”
For. To reward his piety and vow. Othoniel obtained Cariath-sepher, and Axa, the daugher of Caleb, Josue xv. 17. (Calmet) — Jabes imitated holy Jacob, (Genesis xxviii.) and both desired temporal blessings, for their advancement in virtue. (Worthington)
“And Chelub the brother of Shuah begat Mehir, which was the father of Eshton.”
Caleb. Hebrew, “Celub,” different both from Calubi and the son of Jephone, ver. 15. (Calmet) — Brother, &c. Septuagint, “father of Ascha,” which would seem to make him the same with the latter.
“And Eshton begat Bethrapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Irnahash. These are the men of Rechah. Irnahash: or, the city of Nahash”
City. Hebrew, “Hir-Nachash.” (Haydock) — The latter term denotes “copper or a serpent.” We know not where this city was situated, no more than Recha. (Calmet)
“And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of Othniel; Hathath. Hathath: or, Hathath, and Meonothai, who begat, etc”
Othoniel, first judge. (Haydock) — He was brother, or rather cousin, of Caleb. See Josue xv. 17.
“And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen. valley: or, inhabitants of the valley Charashim: that is, craftsmen Hathath: or, Hathath, and Meonothai, who begat, etc”
Artificers. Hebrew Charashim, which means various sorts of “workmen,” (Calmet) or “father (prince.; Menochius) of Ge-Harasim, for,” &c. (Calmet) — Under this lord the artificers dwelt who built the temple. (Worthington)
“And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh; Iru, Elah, and Naam: and the sons of Elah, even Kenaz. even Kenaz: or, Uknaz”
Caleb, so memorable (Calmet) for this fidelity, Numbers xii. 30., and xxxii. 12. (Haydock)
“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. Jehudijah: or, the Jewess”
Judaia, a second wife, of his own nation. By the first, from Egypt, Mered had Miriam, &c. Some words seem to be lost, which render it doubtful to whom Judaia was married.
“And the sons of his wife Hodiah the sister of Naham, the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite. Hodiah: or, Jehudijah, mentioned before”
Odaia, perhaps the same with Judaia, (Calmet) as the Septuagint read. — Who was. Hebrew and Septuagint, “Machatha,” (Haydock) a place to the north of Basan, far from the limits of Juda, whence we should, perhaps, read Menuchat, as chap. ii. 52, 54.
“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,”
Her. Hitherto we have seem the possessions of the descendants of Phares. Those of Her inhabited the country rendered famous by the exploits of Samson with the jaw bone, Judges xv. 9. (Calmet) — The first-born of Sela was called Her, after his unfortunate uncle, Genesis xxxviii. 7. (Haydock) — That wrought. Septuagint take it for a proper name, “Ebdath.” Hebrew, Beth-habodath habuts, “the house of the byssus, or fine linen manufacturers in Beth-Ashbáah,” (Haydock) which is, perhaps, the same with Beersabee, “the well of swearing,” Genesis xxi. 31. (Calmet) — Oath. The Latin word juramenti, might be retained here, as well as Calor, chap. ii. 55. See 2 Kings xxi. 19. Septuagint read, “Esoba,” as the proper name of a place. (Haydock)
“And Jokim, and the men of Chozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubilehem. And these are ancient things.”
He, that made, &c. viz., Joazim, the meaning of whose name in Hebrew, is, he that made the sun to stand. In like manner the following names, Lying, (Cozeba) Secure, (Joash) and Burning, (Saraph) are substituted in place of the Hebrew names of the same signification. (Challoner) — The first etymology is not perfectly accurate, as Jokim means simply, “he made to stand;” Jachin, the pillar which Solomon erected, has the same import. (Haydock) — Some injudicious person seems to have placed the sun in the margin, whence it has crept into the text. (Tirinus) — It might be occasioned by the fable of the Rabbins, who assert (Haydock) that Elimelech wrought the like miracle as Josue, to convince the people of Bethlehem of the necessity of being converted; but, finding them incorrigible, denounced a famine, which forced him to retire with his family into the country of Moab. (St. Jerome, Trad., &c.) — Elimelech died in that country; but these four descendants of Sela retired, probably, along with him, and returned afterwards to Lehem, or Bethlehem, as it is customary to omit a part of a word. (Tirinus) — This town was peopled by different branches of Juda’s family, ver. 4., and chap. ii. 54. (Calmet) — Lahem, &c. Septuagint seem to leave the original terms: “he made them return to Abedderim Athoukiim.” — Who returned, is also left as a proper name by the Protestants, (Haydock) &c. “And Jasubi Lehem.” (Vatable) (Menochius) — It is not easy to decide, when the Hebrew words should be translated. — Old. Hebrew, “and ancient words;” (Haydock) records, shewing where these families resided, (Calmet) unless this be also the name (Haydock) of a place. (Septuagint)
“These were the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.”
Potters. Hebrew yotserim, may also designate some family, as it seems improbable that the princes, in Moab, should be reduced to so mean a condition. But we have many examples of such a fall; (Haydock) and it is supposed, that these descendants of Sela were employed by the king of Babylon, at Nethaim and Gadera. (Calmet) — Hedges. These are the proper names of the places where they dwelt. In Hebrew, Netahim and Gedera. (Challoner) — Septuagint, “Ataim and Gadera.” (Haydock) — The correct Roman edition of the Vulgate prints these words, plantationibus et Sepibus, with large letters, to imply as much. (Menochius) — King; David. (Sa) (Menochius) — Many of the tribe of Juda attended David, while he was forced to flee before Saul, and to hide himself in unfrequented places. Some of them might be these Yotserim, or they might follow the profession of potters. (Haydock) — “With the king they were powerful in his kingdom, and dwelt there.” (Septuagint) (Haydock) — The Vulgate often gives the meaning of proper names. (Du Hamel)
“The sons of Simeon were, Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, and Shaul: Nemuel: or, Jemuel Jarib, Zerah: or, Jachin Zohar”
Namuel, or Jamuel, Genesis xlvi. 10. — Jarib; perhaps the same with Sohar, (Menochius) unless the latter be Zara, or Zare, Numbers xxvi. 12. These genealogies seem different; but the same person (Calmet) might have many names. (Du Hamel)
“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. like: Heb. unto”
Juda, probably, not even in the following cities, which they inhabited along with them. This tribe of Simeon was always the weakest, and kept close to Juda. See Numbers xxvi. 14.
“And at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,”
Bathuel appears to be the same with Bethulia, Judith vi. 7. (Calmet)
“And at Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusim, and at Bethbirei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities unto the reign of David. Hazarsusim: or, Hazarsusah”
David, who had Siceleg given to him, 1 Kings xxvii. 6. (Haydock) — After the schism, Juda straitened the tribe of Simeon; so that it was forced to seek for other habitations in Gador, under Ezechias, ver. 39., &c. (Calmet) — It could no longer reside among those of the tribe of Juda, (Du Hamel) and acknowledge another king. (Haydock)
“And all their villages that were round about the same cities, unto Baal. These were their habitations, and their genealogy. Baal: or, Baalathbeer their genealogy: or, as they divided themselves by nations among them”
Baal, or Ballath, Josue xix. 1. — Distribution. Hebrew and Septuagint, “and their genealogy.” (Menochius) — Katalogismos, may as well have the former signification, “their class;” (Haydock) though the sequel seems to determine it in the latter sense. (Du Hamel)
“And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah,”
Mosabab. This and the following princes joined their forces, to conquer fresh territories from Gador, (Haydock) or Gadara, near Joppe, (Strabo xvi.) which had been long in the possession (Haydock) of the Egyptians, (ver. 40.; Calmet) or Philistines. (Malvenda)
“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.”
Cham. It is not certain that the Philistines, who came from the country of the Casluim, were descendants of Mezraim, Genesis x. 14. But it is very clear that the Egyptians sprung from Cham, Psalm lxxvii. 51.
“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.”
Inhabitants. Septuagint, “and the Mineans.” Hebrew meyenim, “the inhabitants of Maon,” in Arabia. See Judges x. 11. Syriac and Arabic, “the fountains.”
“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.”
Jesi; perhaps Asaia, by the transposition of one letter; (ver. 36.; Calmet) or these chiefs were remote descendants of Jesi, ver. 20. (Haydock) — The expedition probably took place about the same time as the preceding, to avoid the attack of the Assyrians, or of Juda, by retiring farther into Arabia. (Calmet)
“And they smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped, and dwelt there unto this day.”
Escape the arms of Saul, or of David. (Du Hamel) — Day. It seems, therefore, that they escaped captivity, having abandoned their own country; or this was taken from a record, which had been made before that event, and is here inserted by Esdras; though, when he wrote, these Simeonites might have experienced the fate of their brethren, who were led captives in the 6th year of Ezechias. (Haydock)