mh_parser/vol_split/13 - 1Chronicles/Chapter 2.xml

<div2 id="iCh.iii" n="iii" next="iCh.iv" prev="iCh.ii" progress="73.45%" title="Chapter II">
<h2 id="iCh.iii-p0.1">F I R S T   C H R O N I C L E
S</h2>
<h3 id="iCh.iii-p0.2">CHAP. II.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="iCh.iii-p1">We have now come to what was principally intended,
the register of the children of Israel, that distinguished people,
that were to "dwell alone, and not be reckoned among the nations."
Here we have, I. The names of the twelve sons of Israel, <scripRef id="iCh.iii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.1-1Chr.2.2" parsed="|1Chr|2|1|2|2" passage="1Ch 2:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>. II. An account of the
tribe of Judah, which has the precedency, not so much for the sake
of David as for the sake of the Son of David, our Lord, who sprang
out of Judah, <scripRef id="iCh.iii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.7.14" parsed="|Heb|7|14|0|0" passage="Heb 7:14">Heb. vii. 14</scripRef>.
1. The first descendants from Judah, down to Jesse, <scripRef id="iCh.iii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.3-1Chr.2.12" parsed="|1Chr|2|3|2|12" passage="1Ch 2:3-12">ver. 3-12</scripRef>. 2. The children of
Jesse, <scripRef id="iCh.iii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.13-1Chr.2.17" parsed="|1Chr|2|13|2|17" passage="1Ch 2:13-17">ver. 13-17</scripRef>. 3.
The posterity of Hezron, not only through Ram, from whom David
came, but through Caleb (<scripRef id="iCh.iii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.18-1Chr.2.20" parsed="|1Chr|2|18|2|20" passage="1Ch 2:18-20">ver.
18-20</scripRef>), Segub (<scripRef id="iCh.iii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.21-1Chr.2.24" parsed="|1Chr|2|21|2|24" passage="1Ch 2:21-24">ver.
21-24</scripRef>), Jerahmeel (<scripRef id="iCh.iii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.25-1Chr.2.33" parsed="|1Chr|2|25|2|33" passage="1Ch 2:25-33">v.
25-33</scripRef>, and so to <scripRef id="iCh.iii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.34-1Chr.2.41" parsed="|1Chr|2|34|2|41" passage="1Ch 2:34-41">v.
41</scripRef>), and more by Caleb (<scripRef id="iCh.iii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.42-1Chr.2.49" parsed="|1Chr|2|42|2|49" passage="1Ch 2:42-49">ver. 42-49</scripRef>), with the family of Caleb the
son of Hur, <scripRef id="iCh.iii-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.50-1Chr.2.55" parsed="|1Chr|2|50|2|55" passage="1Ch 2:50-55">ver. 50-55</scripRef>.
The best exposition we can have of this and the following chapters,
and which will give the clearest view of them, is found in those
genealogical tables which were published with some of the first
impressions of the last English Bible about 100 years ago, and
continued for some time; and it is a pity but they were revived in
some of our later editions, for they are of great use to those who
diligently search the scriptures. They are said to be drawn up by
that great master in scripture-learning, Mr. Hugh Broughton. We
meet with them sometimes in old Bibles.</p>
<scripCom id="iCh.iii-p0.1_1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2" parsed="|1Chr|2|0|0|0" passage="1Ch 2" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="iCh.iii-p0.2_1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.1-1Chr.2.17" parsed="|1Chr|2|1|2|17" passage="1Ch 2:1-17" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Chr.2.1-1Chr.2.17">
<h4 id="iCh.iii-p1.13">Genealogies. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.iii-p1.14">b. c.</span> 1751.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iCh.iii-p2">1 These <i>are</i> the sons of Israel; Reuben,
Simeon, Levi, and Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun,   2 Dan,
Joseph, and Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad, and Asher.   3 The sons
of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: <i>which</i> three were born
unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the
firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the <span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.iii-p2.1">Lord</span>; and he slew him.   4 And Tamar his
daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah
<i>were</i> five.   5 The sons of Pharez; Hezron, and Hamul.
  6 And the sons of Zerah; Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and
Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all.   7 And the sons of
Carmi; Achar, the troubler of Israel, who transgressed in the thing
accursed.   8 And the sons of Ethan; <scripRef id="iCh.iii-p2.2" osisRef="Bible:PrAzar.1.9" parsed="|PrAzar|1|9|0|0" passage="Azariah. 9">Azariah.   9</scripRef> The
sons also of Hezron, that were born unto him; Jerahmeel, and Ram,
and Chelubai.   10 And Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab
begat Nahshon, prince of the children of Judah;   11 And
Nahshon begat Salma, and Salma begat Boaz,   12 And Boaz begat
Obed, and Obed begat Jesse,   13 And Jesse begat his firstborn
Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimma the third,   14
Nethaneel the fourth, Raddai the fifth,   15 Ozem the sixth,
David the seventh:   16 Whose sisters <i>were</i> Zeruiah, and
Abigail. And the sons of Zeruiah; Abishai, and Joab, and Asahel,
three.   17 And Abigail bare Amasa: and the father of Amasa
<i>was</i> Jether the Ishmeelite.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.iii-p3">Here is, I. The family of Jacob. His twelve
sons are here named, that illustrious number so often celebrated
almost throughout the whole Bible, from the first to the last book
of it. At every turn we meet with the twelve tribes that descended
from these twelve patriarchs. The personal character of several of
them was none of the best (the first four were much blemished), and
yet the covenant was entailed on their seed; for it was of grace,
free grace, that it was said, <i>Jacob have I loved—not of works,
lest any man should boast.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.iii-p4">II. The family of Judah. That tribe was
most praised, most increased, and most dignified, of any of the
tribes, and therefore the genealogy of it is the first and largest
of them all. In the account here given of the first branches of
that illustrious tree, of which Christ was to be the top branch, we
meet, 1. With some that were very bad. Here is Er, Judah's eldest
son, that was <i>evil in the sight of the Lord,</i> and was cut
off, in the beginning of his days, by a stroke of divine vengeance:
The <i>Lord slew him,</i> <scripRef id="iCh.iii-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.3" parsed="|1Chr|2|3|0|0" passage="1Ch 2:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>. His next brother, Onan, was no better, and fared no
better. Here is Tamar, with whom Judah, her father-in-law,
committed incest, <scripRef id="iCh.iii-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.4" parsed="|1Chr|2|4|0|0" passage="1Ch 2:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>. And here is Achan, called <i>Achar—a troubler,</i>
that troubled Israel by taking of the accursed thing, <scripRef id="iCh.iii-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.7" parsed="|1Chr|2|7|0|0" passage="1Ch 2:7"><i>v.</i> 7</scripRef>. Note, The best and most
honourable families may have those belonging to them that are
blemishes. 2. With some that were very wise and good, as Heman and
Ethan, Calcol and Dara, who were not perhaps the immediate sons of
Zerah, but descendants from him, and are named because they were
the glory of their father's house; for, when the Holy Ghost would
magnify the wisdom of Solomon, he declares him wiser than these
four men, who, though the sons of Mahol, are called Ezrahites, from
Zerah, <scripRef id="iCh.iii-p4.4" osisRef="Bible:1Kgs.4.31" parsed="|1Kgs|4|31|0|0" passage="1Ki 4:31">1 Kings iv. 31</scripRef>. That
four brothers should be eminent for wisdom and grace was a rare
thing. 3. With some that were very great, as Nahshon, who was
prince of the tribe of Judah when the camp of Israel was formed in
the wilderness, and so led the van in that glorious march, and
Salman, or Salmon, who was in that post of honour when they entered
into Canaan, <scripRef id="iCh.iii-p4.5" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.10-1Chr.2.11" parsed="|1Chr|2|10|2|11" passage="1Ch 2:10,11"><i>v.</i> 10,
11</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.iii-p5">III. The family of Jesse, of which a
particularly account is kept for the sake of David, and the Son of
David, who is <i>a rod out of the stem of Jesse,</i> <scripRef id="iCh.iii-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Isa.11.1" parsed="|Isa|11|1|0|0" passage="Isa 11:1">Isa. xi. 1</scripRef>. Hence it appears that
David was a seventh son, and that his three great commanders, Joab,
Abishai, and Asahel, were the sons of one of his sisters, and Amasa
of another. Three of the four went down slain to the pit, though
they were the terror of the mighty.</p>
</div><scripCom id="iCh.iii-p0.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.18-1Chr.2.55" parsed="|1Chr|2|18|2|55" passage="1Ch 2:18-55" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:1Chr.2.18-1Chr.2.55">
<h4 id="iCh.iii-p5.3">Genealogies. (<span class="smallcaps" id="iCh.iii-p5.4">b. c.</span> 1450.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="iCh.iii-p6">18 And Caleb the son of Hezron begat
<i>children</i> of Azubah <i>his</i> wife, and of Jerioth: her sons
<i>are</i> these; Jesher, and Shobab, and Ardon.   19 And when
Azubah was dead, Caleb took unto him Ephrath, which bare him Hur.
  20 And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezaleel.   21 And
afterward Hezron went in to the daughter of Machir the father of
Gilead, whom he married when he <i>was</i> threescore years old;
and she bare him Segub.   22 And Segub begat Jair, who had
three and twenty cities in the land of Gilead.   23 And he
took Geshur, and Aram, with the towns of Jair, from them, with
Kenath, and the towns thereof, <i>even</i> threescore cities. All
these <i>belonged to</i> the sons of Machir the father of Gilead.
  24 And after that Hezron was dead in Calebephratah, then
Abiah Hezron's wife bare him Ashur the father of Tekoa.   25
And the sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were, Ram the
firstborn, and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, <i>and</i> Ahijah.  
26 Jerahmeel had also another wife, whose name <i>was</i> Atarah;
she <i>was</i> the mother of Onam.   27 And the sons of Ram
the firstborn of Jerahmeel were, Maaz, and Jamin, and Eker.  
28 And the sons of Onam were, Shammai, and Jada. And the sons of
Shammai; Nadab, and Abishur.   29 And the name of the wife of
Abishur <i>was</i> Abihail, and she bare him Ahban, and Molid.
  30 And the sons of Nadab; Seled, and Appaim: but Seled died
without children.   31 And the sons of Appaim; Ishi. And the
sons of Ishi; Sheshan. And the children of Sheshan; Ahlai.  
32 And the sons of Jada the brother of Shammai; Jether, and
Jonathan: and Jether died without children.   33 And the sons
of Jonathan; Peleth, and Zaza. These were the sons of Jerahmeel.
  34 Now Sheshan had no sons, but daughters. And Sheshan had a
servant, an Egyptian, whose name <i>was</i> Jarha.   35 And
Sheshan gave his daughter to Jarha his servant to wife; and she
bare him Attai.   36 And Attai begat Nathan, and Nathan begat
Zabad,   37 And Zabad begat Ephlal, and Ephlal begat Obed,
  38 And Obed begat Jehu, and Jehu begat Azariah,   39
And Azariah begat Helez, and Helez begat Eleasah,   40 And
Eleasah begat Sisamai, and Sisamai begat Shallum,   41 And
Shallum begat Jekamiah, and Jekamiah begat Elishama.   42 Now
the sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel <i>were,</i> Mesha his
firstborn, which was the father of Ziph; and the sons of Mareshah
the father of Hebron.   43 And the sons of Hebron; Korah, and
Tappuah, and Rekem, and Shema.   44 And Shema begat Raham, the
father of Jorkoam: and Rekem begat Shammai.   45 And the son
of Shammai <i>was</i> Maon: and Maon <i>was</i> the father of
Bethzur.   46 And Ephah, Caleb's concubine, bare Haran, and
Moza, and Gazez: and Haran begat Gazez.   47 And the sons of
Jahdai; Regem, and Jotham, and Geshan, and Pelet, and Ephah, and
Shaaph.   48 Maachah, Caleb's concubine, bare Sheber, and
Tirhanah.   49 She bare also Shaaph the father of Madmannah,
Sheva the father of Machbenah, and the father of Gibea: and the
daughter of Caleb <i>was</i> Achsah.   50 These were the sons
of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the
father of Kirjath-jearim,   51 Salma the father of Bethlehem,
Hareph the father of Bethgader.   52 And Shobal the father of
Kirjath-jearim had sons; Haroeh, <i>and</i> half of the
Manahethites.   53 And the families of Kirjath-jearim; the
Ithrites, and the Puhites, and the Shumathites, and the Mishraites;
of them came the Zareathites, and the Eshtaulites.   54 The
sons of Salma; Bethlehem, and the Netophathites, Ataroth, the house
of Joab, and half of the Manahethites, the Zorites.   55 And
the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites,
the Shimeathites, <i>and</i> Suchathites. These <i>are</i> the
Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.</p>
<p class="indent" id="iCh.iii-p7">The persons mentioned in the former
paragraph are most of them such as we read of, and most of them
such as we read much of, in other scriptures; but very few of those
to whom this paragraph relates are mentioned any where else. It
should seem, the tribe of Judah were more full and exact in their
genealogies than any other of the tribes, in which we must
acknowledge a special providence, for the clearing of the genealogy
of Christ. 1. Here we find Bezaleel, who was head-workman in
building the tabernacle, <scripRef id="iCh.iii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.31.2" parsed="|Exod|31|2|0|0" passage="Ex 31:2">Exod. xxxi.
2</scripRef>. 2. Hezron, who was the son of Pharez (<scripRef id="iCh.iii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.5" parsed="|1Chr|2|5|0|0" passage="1Ch 2:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>), was the father of all
this progeny, his sons, Caleb and Jerahmeel, being very fruitful,
and he himself likewise, even in his old age, for he left his wife
pregnant when he died, <scripRef id="iCh.iii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.24" parsed="|1Chr|2|24|0|0" passage="1Ch 2:24"><i>v.</i>
24</scripRef>. This Hezron was one of the seventy that went down
with Jacob into Egypt, <scripRef id="iCh.iii-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.46.12" parsed="|Gen|46|12|0|0" passage="Ge 46:12">Gen. xlvi.
12</scripRef>. There his family thus increased, as other oppressed
families there did. We cannot but suppose that he died during the
Israelites' bondage in Egypt; and yet it is here said he died in
Caleb-Ephratah (that is, Bethlehem), in the land of Canaan,
<scripRef id="iCh.iii-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.24" parsed="|1Chr|2|24|0|0" passage="1Ch 2:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>. Perhaps,
though the body of the people continued in Egypt, yet some that
were more active than the rest, at least before their bondage came
to be extreme, visited Canaan sometimes and got footing there,
though afterwards they lost it. The achievements of Jair, here
mentioned (<scripRef id="iCh.iii-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.22-1Chr.2.23" parsed="|1Chr|2|22|2|23" passage="1Ch 2:22,23"><i>v.</i> 22,
23</scripRef>), we had an account of in <scripRef id="iCh.iii-p7.7" osisRef="Bible:Num.32.41" parsed="|Num|32|41|0|0" passage="Nu 32:41">Num. xxxii. 41</scripRef>; and, it is supposed, they
were long after the conquest of Canaan. The Jews say, Hezron
married his third wife when he was sixty years old (<scripRef id="iCh.iii-p7.8" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.21" parsed="|1Chr|2|21|0|0" passage="1Ch 2:21"><i>v.</i> 21</scripRef>), and another afterwards
(<scripRef id="iCh.iii-p7.9" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.24" parsed="|1Chr|2|24|0|0" passage="1Ch 2:24"><i>v.</i> 24</scripRef>), because he
had a great desire of posterity in the family of Pharez, from whom
the Messiah was to descend. 3. Here is mention of one that <i>died
without children</i> (<scripRef id="iCh.iii-p7.10" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.30" parsed="|1Chr|2|30|0|0" passage="1Ch 2:30"><i>v.</i>
30</scripRef>), and another (<scripRef id="iCh.iii-p7.11" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.32" parsed="|1Chr|2|32|0|0" passage="1Ch 2:32"><i>v.</i>
32</scripRef>), and of one that <i>had no sons, but daughters,</i>
<scripRef id="iCh.iii-p7.12" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.34" parsed="|1Chr|2|34|0|0" passage="1Ch 2:34"><i>v.</i> 34</scripRef>. Let those
that are in any of these ways afflicted not think their case new or
singular. Providence orders these affairs of families by an
incontestable sovereignty, as pleaseth him, giving children, or
withholding them, or giving all of one sex. He is not bound to
please us, but we are bound to acquiesce in his good pleasure. To
those that love him he will himself be better than ten sons, and
give them in his house a place and a name better than of sons and
daughters. Let not those therefore that are written childless envy
the families that are built up and replenished. Shall our eye be
evil because God's is good? 4. Here is mention of one who had an
only daughter, and married her to his servant an Egyptian,
<scripRef id="iCh.iii-p7.13" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.34-1Chr.2.35" parsed="|1Chr|2|34|2|35" passage="1Ch 2:34,35"><i>v.</i> 34, 35</scripRef>. If it
be mentioned to his praise, we must suppose that this Egyptian was
proselyted to the Jewish religion and that he was very eminent for
wisdom and virtue, otherwise it would not have become a true-born
Israelite to match a daughter to him, especially an only daughter.
If Egyptians become converts, and servants do worthily, neither
their parentage nor their servitude should be a bar to their
preferment. Such a one this Egyptian servant might be that she who
married him might live as happily with him as if she had married
one of the rulers of her tribe. 5. The pedigree of several of these
terminates, not in a person, but in a place or country, as one is
said to be <i>the father of Kirjath-jearim</i> (<scripRef id="iCh.iii-p7.14" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.50" parsed="|1Chr|2|50|0|0" passage="1Ch 2:50"><i>v.</i> 50</scripRef>), another of Bethlehem
(<scripRef id="iCh.iii-p7.15" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.51" parsed="|1Chr|2|51|0|0" passage="1Ch 2:51"><i>v.</i> 51</scripRef>), which was
afterwards David's city, because these places fell to their lot in
the division of the land. 6. Here are some that are said to be
<i>families of scribes</i> (<scripRef id="iCh.iii-p7.16" osisRef="Bible:1Chr.2.55" parsed="|1Chr|2|55|0|0" passage="1Ch 2:55"><i>v.</i>
55</scripRef>), such as kept up learning in their family,
especially scripture-learning, and taught the people the good
knowledge of God. Among all these great families we are glad to
find some that were <i>families of scribes. Would to God that all
the Lord's people were prophets</i>—all the families of Israel
families of scribes, well instructed to the kingdom of heaven, and
able to bring out of their treasury things new and old!</p>
</div></div2>