---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible"
author: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown"
languages: [en]
shelf: "Commentaries"
section: 128 of 927
url: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/128/
cite: "Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible, section 128. Scriptura (scriptura.si), https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/128/"
---

# Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

*Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset and David Brown*

The Victorian standard commentary, critical and practical, from Genesis to Revelation.

## 128. 1 Chronicles · 2 of 10

Source: https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/128/ · cite a paragraph as https://scriptura.si/works/jamieson-fausset-brown-commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/128/#p-N

[¶0] Ashur, the father of Tekoa--([2Sa 14:2-4]). He is called the father, either from his being the first founder, or perhaps the ruler, of the city.

[¶1] 34. Sheshan had no sons, but daughters--either he had no sons alive at his death, or his family consisted wholly of daughters, of whom Ahlai ([1Ch 2:31]) was one, she being specially mentioned on account of the domestic relations about to be noted.

[¶2] 35. Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant to wife--The adoption and marriage of a foreign slave in the family where he is serving, is far from being a rare or extraordinary occurrence in Eastern countries. It is thought, however, by some to have been a connection not sanctioned by the law of Moses [Michaelis]. But this is not a well-founded objection, as the history of the Jews furnishes not a few examples of foreign proselytes in the same manner obtaining an inheritance in Israel; and doubtless Jarha had previously embraced the Jewish faith in place of the grovelling idolatries of his native Egypt. In such a case, therefore, there could be no legal difficulty. Being a foreign slave, he had no inheritance in a different tribe to injure by this connection; while his marriage with Sheshan's daughter led to his adoption into the tribe of Judah, as well as his becoming heir of the family property.

[¶3] 42. the sons of Caleb--(compare [1Ch 2:18], 25). The sons here noticed were the fruit of his union with a third wife.

[¶4] 55. the families of the scribes--either civil or ecclesiastical officers of the Kenite origin, who are here classed with the tribe of Judah, not as being descended from it, but as dwelling within its territory, and in a measure incorporated with its people.

[¶5] Jabez--a place in Judah ([1Ch 4:9]).

[¶6] Kenites that came of Hemath--who settled in Judah, and were thus distinguished from another division of the Kenite clan which dwelt in Manasseh ([Jud 4:11]).

### Chapter 3

[¶8] [1Ch 3:1-9]. Sons of David.

[¶9] 1-3. Now these were the sons of David, which were born unto him in Hebron--It is of consequence for the proper understanding of events in the domestic history of David, to bear in mind the place and time of his sons' birth. The oldest son, born after his father's accession to the sovereign authority, is according to Eastern notions, the proper heir to the throne. And hence the natural aspirations of ambition in Ammon, who was long unaware of the alienation of the crown, and could not be easily reconciled to the claims of a younger brother being placed above his own (see on [2Sa 3:1-5]).

[¶10] 5. four, of Bath-shua the daughter of Ammiel--or, "Bath-sheba" ([2Sa 11:3]), and there her father is called "Eliam." Of course Solomon was not her "only son," but he is called so ([Pr 4:3]) from the distinguished affection of which he was the object; and though the oldest, he is named the last of Bath-sheba's children.

[¶11] 6. Elishama and Eliphelet--Two sons of the same name are twice mentioned ([1Ch 3:8]). They were the children of different mothers, and had probably some title or epithet appended by which the one was distinguished from the other. Or, it might be, that the former two were dead, and their names had been given to sons afterwards born to preserve their memories.

[¶12] 8. nine--The number of David's sons born after his removal to Jerusalem, was eleven ([2Sa 5:14]), but only nine are mentioned here: two of them being omitted, either in consequence of their early deaths or because they left no issue.

[¶13] [1Ch 3:10-16]. His Line to Zedekiah.

[¶14] 10. Solomon's son was Rehoboam, &c.--David's line is here drawn down to the captivity, through a succession of good and bad, but still influential and celebrated, monarchs. It has rarely happened that a crown has been transmitted from father to son, in lineal descent, for seventeen reigns. But this was the promised reward of David's piety. There is, indeed, observable some vacillation towards the close of this period--the crown passing from one brother to another, an even from uncle to nephew--a sure sign of disorderly times and a disjointed government.

[¶15] 15. Zedekiah--called the son of Josiah (compare [Jr 1:3]; 37:1), but in [2Ch 36:19] he is described as the brother of Jehoiachin, who was the son of Jehoiakim, and consequently the grandson of Josiah. Words expressive of affinity or relationship are used with great latitude in the Hebrew.

[¶16] Shallum--No king of this name is mentioned in the history of Josiah's sons (2Ki 14:1-29; 23:1-37), but there is a notice of Shallum the son of Josiah ([Jr 22:11]), who reigned in the stead of his father, and who is generally supposed to be Jehoahaz, a younger son, here called the fourth, of Josiah.

[¶17] [1Ch 3:17-24]. Successors of Jeconiah.

[¶18] 17. the sons of Jeconiah; Assir--rather, "Jeconiah the prisoner," or "captive." This record of his condition was added to show that Salathiel was born during the captivity in Babylon (compare [Mt 1:12]). Jeconiah was written childless ([Jr 22:30]), a prediction which (as the words that follow explain) meant that this unfortunate monarch should have no son succeeding him on the throne.

[¶19] 18. Malchiram also--As far as Jeconiah, everything is plain; but there is reason to suspect that the text in the subsequent verses has been dislocated and disarranged. The object of the sacred historian is to trace the royal line through Zerubbabel; yet, according to the present reading, the genealogical stem cannot be drawn from Jeconiah downwards. The following arrangement of the text is given as removing all difficulties [Davidson, Hermeneutics]:--[1Ch 3:17]. And the sons of Jeconiah the the captive, Salathiel (Shealtiel, [Ezr 3:2]; [Ne 12:1]; [Hag 1:12], ; 2:2) his son. [1Ch 3:18]. And the sons of Salathiel; Zerubbabel and Shimei; and the sons of Zerubbabel; Meshullam, Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister. [1Ch 3:19]. And Hashubah, and Ohel, and Berechiah, and Hasadiah, Jushab-hezed. [1Ch 3:20]. And Malchiram, and Rephaiah, and Shenazar, Jecamiah, Hoshama, and Nedabiah. [1Ch 3:21]. The sons of Hananiah; Pelatiah and Jesaiah; the sons of Rephaiah; his son Arnan, his son Obadiah, his son Shecaniah.

### Chapter 4

[¶21] [1Ch 4:1-8]. Posterity of Judah by Caleb the Son of Hur.

[¶22] 1. the sons of Judah--that is, "the descendants," for with the exception of Pharez, none of those here mentioned were his immediate sons. Indeed, the others are mentioned solely to introduce the name of Shobal, whose genealogy the historian intended to trace ([1Ch 2:52]).

[¶23] [1Ch 4:9-20]. Of Jabez, and His Prayer.

[¶24] 9-10. Jabez--was, as many think, the son of Coz, or Kenaz, and is here eulogized for his sincere and fervent piety, as well, perhaps, as for some public and patriotic works which he performed. The Jewish writers affirm that he was an eminent doctor in the law, whose reputation drew so many scribes around him that a town was called by his name ([1Ch 2:55]); and to the piety of his character this passage bears ample testimony. The memory of the critical circumstances which marked his birth was perpetuated in his name (compare [Ge 35:15]); and yet, in the development of his high talents or distinguished worth in later life, his mother must have found a satisfaction and delight that amply compensated for all her early trials. His prayer which is here recorded, and which, like Jacob's, is in the form of a vow ([Ge 28:20]), seems to have been uttered when he was entering on an important or critical service, for the successful execution of which he placed confidence neither on his own nor his people's prowess, but looked anxiously for the aid and blessing of God. The enterprise was in all probability the expulsion of the Canaanites from the territory he occupied; and as this was a war of extermination, which God Himself had commanded, His blessing could be the more reasonably asked and expected in preserving them from all the evils to which the undertaking might expose him. In these words, "that it may not grieve me," and which might be more literally rendered, "that I may have no more sorrow," there is an allusion to the meaning of his name, Jabez, signifying "grief"; and the import of this petition is, Let me not experience the grief which my name implies, and which my sins may well produce.

[¶25] 13. the sons of Kenaz--the grandfather of Caleb, who from that relationship is called a Kenezite ([Nu 32:12]).

[¶26] 14. Joab, the father of the valley of Carashim--literally, "the father of the inhabitants of the valley"--"the valley of craftsmen," as the word denotes. They dwelt together, according to a custom which, independently of any law, extensively prevails in Eastern countries for persons of the same trade to inhabit the same street or the same quarter, and to follow the same occupation from father to son, through many generations. Their occupation was probably that of carpenters, and the valley where they lived seems to have been in the neighborhood of Jerusalem ([Ne 11:35]).

[¶27] 17-18. she bare Miriam--It is difficult, as the verses stand at present, to see who is meant. The following readjustment of the text clears away the obscurity: "These are the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, which Mered took, and she bare Miriam, and his wife Jehudijah bare Jezreel," &c.

[¶28] 21. Laadah ... the father ... of the house of them that wrought fine linen--Here, again, is another incidental evidence that in very early times certain trades were followed by particular families among the Hebrews, apparently in hereditary succession. Their knowledge of the art of linen manufacture had been, most probably, acquired in Egypt, where the duty of bringing up families to the occupations of their forefathers was a compulsory obligation, whereas in Israel, as in many parts of Asia to this day, it was optional, though common.

[¶29] 22-23. had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubi-lehem--"And these are ancient things" seems a strange rendering of a proper name; and, besides, it conveys a meaning that has no bearing on the record. The following improved translation has been suggested: "Sojourned in Moab, but returned to Beth-lehem and Adaberim-athekim. These and the inhabitants of Netaim and Gedera were potters employed by the king in his own work." Gedera or Gederoth, and Netaim, belonged to the tribe of Judah, and lay on the southeast border of the Philistines' territory ([Jos 15:36]; [2Ch 28:18]).

[¶30] [1Ch 4:24-43]. Of Simeon.

[¶31] 24. The sons of Simeon--They are classed along with those of Judah, as their possession was partly taken out of the extensive territory of the latter ([Jos 19:1]). The difference in several particulars of the genealogy given here from that given in other passages is occasioned by some of the persons mentioned having more than one name [compare [Ge 46:10]; [Ex 6:15]; Nu 26:12].

[¶32] 27. his brethren had not many children--(see [Nu 1:22]; 26:14).

[¶33] 31-43. These were their cities unto the reign of David--In consequence of the sloth or cowardice of the Simeonites, some of the cities within their allotted territory were only nominally theirs. They were never taken from the Philistines until David's time, when, the Simeonites having forfeited all claim to them, he assigned them to his own tribe of Judah ([1Sa 27:6]).

### Chapter 5

[¶35] [1Ch 5:1-10]. The Line of Reuben.

[¶36] 1. Now the sons of Reuben--In proceeding to give this genealogy, the sacred historian states, in a parenthesis ([1Ch 5:1], ), the reason why it was not placed first, as Reuben was the oldest son of Jacob. The birthright, which by a foul crime he had forfeited, implied not only dominion, but a double portion ([De 21:17]); and both of these were transferred to Joseph, whose two sons having been adopted as the children of Jacob ([Ge 48:5]), received each an allotted portion, as forming two distinct tribes in Israel. Joseph then was entitled to the precedency; and yet, as his posterity was not mentioned first, the sacred historian judged it necessary to explain that "the genealogy was not to be reckoned after the birthright," but with a reference to a superior honor and privilege that had been conferred on Judah--not the man, but the tribe, whereby it was invested with the pre-eminence over all the other tribes, and out of it was to spring David with his royal lineage, and especially the great Messiah ([He 7:14]). These were the two reasons why, in the order of enumeration, the genealogy of Judah is introduced before that of Reuben.

[¶37] 9. Eastward he inhabited unto the entering in of the wilderness from the river Euphrates--The settlement was on the east of Jordan, and the history of this tribe, which never took any part in the public affairs or movements of the nation, is comprised in "the multiplication of their cattle in the land of Gilead," in their wars with the Bedouin sons of Hagar, and in the simple labors of pastoral life. They had the right of pasture over an extensive mountain range--the great wilderness of Kedemoth ([De 2:26]) and the Euphrates being a security against their enemies.

[¶38] [1Ch 5:11-26]. The Line of Gad.

[¶39] 11-15. the children of Gad dwelt over against them--The genealogy of the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh ([1Ch 5:24]) is given along with that of the Reubenites, as these three were associated in a separate colony.

[¶40] 16. Sharon--The term "Sharon" was applied as descriptive of any place of extraordinary beauty and productiveness. There were three places in Palestine so called. This Sharon lay east of the Jordan.

[¶41] upon their borders--that is, of Gilead and Bashan: Gilead proper, or at least the largest part, belonged to the Reubenites; and Bashan, the greatest portion of it, belonged to the Manassites. The Gadites occupied an intermediate settlement on the land which lay upon their borders.

[¶42] 17. All these were reckoned ... in the days of Jotham--His long reign and freedom from foreign wars as well as intestine troubles were favorable for taking a census of the people.

[¶43] and in the days of Jeroboam--the second of that name.

[¶44] 18-22. Hagarites--or, "Hagarenes," originally synonymous with "Ishmaelites," but afterwards applied to a particular tribe of the Arabs (compare [Psa 83:6]).