Chapter IV.
1–23 (compare ii. 3 ff.)
Genealogies of the Tribes of Judah.
The material contained in these verses gives rise to no little perplexity, not only in itself but also when considered along with the genealogies of Judah in ii. 3 ff. Whether the Chronicler himself could have thrown any light on the points which puzzle us may well be doubted: he was more concerned to preserve all available genealogical matter than to consider or attempt to reconcile conflicting elements. Both the date and relationship of these notices must be confessed to be as yet uncertain, opinion being divided even on the question whether the list represents pre-exilic or post-exilic conditions. Remark that the list is essentially a Calebite one.
¹The sons of Judah; Perez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.
1. As Hezron was the son of Perez (chapter ii. 5) and (if the LXX. be right) Shobal was the son of Hur (ii. 50, note), we have in this verse five, if not six, generations.
Carmi] for the name, compare ii. 7, and v. 3. Here, however, Carmi is certainly an error for Caleb: see ii. 4, 5, 9, 50 and also the structure of the present chapter. Thus in accord with the usual practice of the Chronicler the chief ancestors are first named (verse 1), and then, in reverse order, their descendants—sons of Shobal and Hur (verses 2–10), and sons of Chelub (= Caleb) (verses 11–15).
²And Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat Ahumai and Lahad. These are the families of the Zorathites.
2. Reaiah] Compare note on ii. 52.
the Zorathites] Compare note on ii. 53.
³And these were the sons of the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi: