30. The sons of Asher] The names in verses 30, 31 are derived from Genesis xlvi. 17 (compare Numbers xxvi. 44–46). There is no variation in the Hebrew spelling of the names, but Ishvah is missing in Numbers Either Ishvah or Ishvi must be regarded as an error of dittography.
Beriah] Beriah is mentioned above, verse 23, as a clan of Ephraim, and appears also as a family of Benjamin, viii. 13, 16.
³¹And the sons of Beriah; Heber, and Malchiel, who was the father of Birzaith. ³²And Heber begat Japhlet, and Shomer[¹], and Hotham, and Shua their sister. ³³And the sons of Japhlet; Pasach, and Bimhal, and Ashvath. These are the children of Japhlet.
[¹] In verse 34, Shemer.
31. Heber, and Malchiel] The antiquity of these two names seems to be attested by the mention of “Habiri and Malchiel” in the Amarna tablets (circa 1400 B.C.).
Birzaith] probably the name of a place, “The well of the olive-tree.”
³⁴And the sons of Shemer[¹]; Ahi, and Rohgah, Jehubbah, and Aram. ³⁵And the sons[²] of Helem his brother; Zophah, and Imna, and Shelesh, and Amal. ³⁶The sons of Zophah; Suah, and Harnepher, and Shual, and Beri, and Imrah; ³⁷Bezer, and Hod, and Shamma, and Shilshah, and Ithran, and Beera. ³⁸And the sons of Jether; Jephunneh, and Pispah, and Ara. ³⁹And the sons of Ulla; Arah, and Hanniel, and Rizia.
[¹] In verse 32, Shomer.
[²] Hebrew son.
34, 35. Shemer ... Helem] Read perhaps Shomer ... Hotham, to agree with verse 32.