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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [First Chronicles, Chapter IV].</TITLE>
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1>
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1708)
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>F I R S T C H R O N I C L E S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. IV.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter we have,
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I. A further account of the genealogies of the tribe of Judah, the most
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numerous and most famous of all the tribes. The posterity of Shobal
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the son of Hur
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>),
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of Ashur the posthumous son of Hezron (who was mentioned,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+2:24">ii. 24</A>),
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with something particular concerning Jabez
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:5-10">ver. 5-10</A>),
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of Chelub and others
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:11-20">ver. 11-20</A>),
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of Shelah,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:21-23">ver. 21-23</A>.
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II. An account of the posterity and cities of Simeon, their conquest of
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Gedon, and of the Amalekites in Mount Seir,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:24-43">ver. 24-43</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Sons of Judah; The Prayer of Jabez.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1720.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and
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Shobal.
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2 And Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat
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Ahumai, and Lahad. These <I>are</I> the families of the Zorathites.
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3 And these <I>were of</I> the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma,
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and Idbash: and the name of their sister <I>was</I> Hazelel-poni:
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4 And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of
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Hushah. These <I>are</I> the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah,
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the father of Bethlehem.
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5 And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and
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Naarah.
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6 And Naarah bare him Ahuzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and
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Haahashtari. These <I>were</I> the sons of Naarah.
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7 And the sons of Helah <I>were,</I> Zereth, and Jezoar, and Ethnan.
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8 And Coz begat Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel
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the son of Harum.
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9 And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his
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mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with
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sorrow.
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10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou
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wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine
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hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep <I>me</I> from
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evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which
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he requested.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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One reason, no doubt, why Ezra is here most particular in the register
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of the tribe of Judah is because it was that tribe which, with its
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appendages, Simeon, Benjamin, and Levi, made up the kingdom of Judah,
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which not only long survived the other tribes in Canaan, but in process
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of time, now when this was written, returned out of captivity, when the
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generality of the other tribes were lost in the kingdom of Assyria. The
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most remarkable person in this paragraph is Jabez. It is not said whose
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son he was, nor does it appear in what age he lived; but, it should
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seem, he was the founder of one of the families of Aharhel, mentioned
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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Here is,</P>
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<P>
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I. The reason of his name: his mother gave him the name with this
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reason, <I>Because I bore him with sorrow,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>.
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All children are borne with sorrow (for the sentence upon the woman is,
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<I>In sorrow shalt thou bring forth children</I>), but some with much
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more sorrow than others. Usually the sorrow in bearing is afterwards
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forgotten <I>for joy that the child is born;</I> but here it seems it
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was so extraordinary that it was remembered when the child came to be
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circumcised, and care was taken to perpetuate the remembrance of it
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while he lived. Perhaps the mother called Habez, as Rachel called her
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son Benoni, when she was dying of the sorrow. Or, if she recovered it,
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yet thus she recorded it,
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1. That it might be a continual memorandum to herself, to be thankful
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to God as long as she lived for supporting her under and bringing her
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through that sorrow. It may be of use to be often reminded of our
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sorrows, that we may always have such thoughts of things as we had in
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the day of our affliction, and may learn to rejoice with trembling.
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2. That it might likewise be a memorandum to him what this world is
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into which she bore him, a vale of tears, in which he must expect
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<I>few days and full of trouble.</I> The sorrow he carried in his name
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might help to put a seriousness upon his spirit. It might also remind
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him to love and honour his mother, and labour, in every thing, to be a
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comfort to her who brought him into the world with so much sorrow. It
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is piety in children thus to requite their parents,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ti+5:4">1 Tim. v. 4</A>.</P>
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<P>
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II. The eminence of his character: <I>He was more honourable than his
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brethren,</I> qualified above them by the divine grace and dignified
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above them by the divine providence; they did virtuously, but he
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excelled them all. Now the sorrow with which his mother bore him was
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abundantly recompensed. That son which of all her children cost her
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most dear she was most happy in, and was made glad in proportion to the
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affliction,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+90:15">Ps. xc. 15</A>.
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We are not told upon what account he was <I>more honourable than his
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brethren,</I> whether because he raised a greater estate, or was
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preferred to the magistracy, or signalized himself in war; we have most
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reason to think it was upon the account of his learning and piety, not
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only because these, above any thing, put honour upon a man, but because
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we have reason to think that in these Jabez was eminent.
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1. In learning, because we find that <I>the families of the scribes
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dwelt at Jabez</I>
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+2:55"><I>ch.</I> ii. 55</A>),
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a city which, it is likely, took its name from him. The Jews say that
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he was a famous doctor of the law and left many disciples behind him.
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And it should seem, by the mentioning of him so abruptly here, that his
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name was well known when Ezra wrote this.
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2. In piety, because we find here that he was a praying man. His
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inclination to devotion made him truly honourable, and by prayer he
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obtained those blessings from God which added much to his honour. The
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way to be truly great is to be truly good and to pray much.</P>
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<P>
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III. The prayer he made, probably like Solomon's prayer for wisdom,
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just when he was setting out in the world. He set himself to
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acknowledge God in all his ways, put himself under the divine blessing
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and protection, and prospered accordingly. Perhaps these were the heads
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on which he enlarged in his daily prayers; for this purpose it was his
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constant practice to pray alone, and with his family, as Daniel. Some
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think that it was upon some particular occasion, when he was straitened
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and threatened by his enemies, that he prayed this prayer.
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Observe,</P>
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<P>
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1. To whom he prayed, not to any of the gods of the Gentiles; no, he
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<I>called on the God of Israel,</I> the living and true God, who alone
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can hear and answer prayer, and in prayer had an eye to him as the God
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of Israel, a God in covenant with his people, the God with whom Jacob
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wrestled and prevailed and was thence called Israel.</P>
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<P>
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2. What was the nature of his prayer.
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(1.) As the <I>margin</I> reads it, it was a solemn vow--<I>If thou
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wilt bless me indeed, &c.</I> and then the sense is imperfect, but may
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easily be filled up from Jacob's vow, or some such like--<I>then thou
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shalt be my God.</I> He did not express his promise, but left it to be
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understood, either because he was afraid to promise in his own strength
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or because he resolved to devote himself entirely to God. He does, as
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it were, give God a blank paper, let him write what he pleases: "Lord,
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if thou wilt bless me and keep me, do what thou wilt with me, I will be
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at thy command and disposal for ever."
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(2.) As the <I>text</I> reads it, it was the language of a most ardent
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and affectionate desire: <I>O that thou wouldst bless me!</I></P>
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<P>
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3. What was the matter of his prayer. Four things he prayed for:--
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(1.) That God would bless him indeed: "That, <I>blessing, thou wilt
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bless me,</I> bless me greatly with manifold and abundant blessings."
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Perhaps he had an eye to the promise God made to Abraham
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+22:17">Gen. xxii. 17</A>),
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<I>In blessing, I will bless thee.</I> "Let that blessing of Abraham
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come upon me." Spiritual blessings are the best blessings, and those
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are blessed indeed who are blessed with them. God's blessings are real
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things and produce real effects. We can but wish a blessing: he
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commands it. Those whom he blesses are blessed indeed.
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(2.) That he would enlarge his coast, that he would prosper his
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endeavours for the increase of what fell to his lot either by work or
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war. That God would enlarge our hearts, and so enlarge our portion in
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himself and in the heavenly Canaan, ought to be our desire and prayer.
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(3.) That God's hand might be with him. The prayer of Moses for this
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tribe of Judah was, That his own <I>hands might be sufficient for
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him,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=De+33:7">Deut. xxxiii. 7</A>;
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but Jabez expects not that this can be the case, unless he have
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<I>God's</I> hand with him and the presence of his power. God's hand
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with us, to lead us, protect us, strengthen us, and to work all our
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works in us and for us, is indeed a hand sufficient for us,
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all-sufficient.
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(4.) That he would keep him from evil, the evil of sin, the evil of
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trouble, all the evil designs of his enemies, that they might not hurt
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him, nor grieve him, nor make him a <I>Jabez</I> indeed, <I>a man of
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sorrow:</I> in the original there is an allusion to his name. <I>Father
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in heaven, deliver me from evil.</I></P>
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<P>
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4. What was the success of his prayer: <I>God granted him that which he
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requested,</I> prospered him remarkably, and gave him success in his
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undertakings, in his studies, in his worldly business, in his conflicts
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with the Canaanites, and so he became <I>more honourable than his
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brethren.</I> God was of old always ready to hear prayer, and <I>his
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ear is not yet heavy.</I></P>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_19"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_20"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_21"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_22"> </A>
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<A NAME="1Ch4_23"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Genealogies.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1420.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>11 And Chelub the brother of Shuah begat Mehir, which <I>was</I> the
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father of Eshton.
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12 And Eshton begat Beth-rapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the
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father of Irnahash. These <I>are</I> the men of Rechah.
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13 And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of
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Othniel; Hathath.
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14 And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab, the
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father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen.
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15 And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh; Iru, Elah, and
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Naam: and the sons of Elah, even Kenaz.
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16 And the sons of Jehaleleel; Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and
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Asareel.
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17 And the sons of Ezra <I>were,</I> Jether, and Mered, and Epher,
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and Jalon: and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the
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father of Eshtemoa.
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18 And his wife Jehudijah bare Jered the father of Gedor, and
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Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.
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And these <I>are</I> the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh,
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which Mered took.
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19 And the sons of <I>his</I> wife Hodiah the sister of Naham, the
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father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite.
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20 And the sons of Shimon <I>were,</I> Amnon, and Rinnah, Benhanan,
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and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi <I>were,</I> Zoheth, and Benzoheth.
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21 The sons of Shelah the son of Judah <I>were,</I> Er the father of
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Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the
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house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea,
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22 And Jokim, and the men of Chozeba, and Joash, and Saraph,
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who had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubilehem. And <I>these are</I>
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ancient things.
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23 These <I>were</I> the potters, and those that dwelt among plants
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and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We may observe in these verses,
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1. That here is a whole family of craftsmen, handicraft tradesmen, that
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applied themselves to all sorts of manufactures, in which they were
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ingenious and industrious above their neighbours,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
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There was a valley where they lived which was, from them, called <I>the
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valley of craftsmen.</I> Those that are craftsmen are not therefore to
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be looked upon as mean men. These craftsmen, though two of a trade
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often disagree, yet chose to live together, for the improving of arts
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by comparing notes, and that they might support one another's
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reputation.
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2. That one of these married the daughter of Pharaoh
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:18"><I>v.</I> 18</A>),
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which was the common name of the kings of Egypt. If an Israelite in
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Egypt before the bondage began, while Joseph's merits were yet fresh in
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mind, was preferred to be the king's son-in-law, it is not to be
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thought strange: few Israelites could, like Moses, refuse an alliance
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with the court.
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3. That another is said to be the <I>father of the house of those that
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wrought fine linen,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:21"><I>v.</I> 21</A>.
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It is inserted in their genealogy as their honour that they were the
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best weavers in the kingdom, and they brought up their children, from
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one generation to another, to the same business, not aiming to make
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them gentlemen. This Laadah is said to be the <I>father of those that
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wrought fine linen,</I> as before the flood Jubal is said to be <I>the
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father of musicians</I> and Jabal of <I>shepherds,</I> &c. His
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posterity inhabited the city of Mareshah, the manufacture or staple
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commodity of which place was linen-cloth, with which their kings and
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priests were clothed.
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4. That another family had had <I>dominion in Moab,</I> but were now in
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<I>servitude in Babylon,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:22,23"><I>v.</I> 22, 23</A>.
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(1.) It was found among the <I>ancient things</I> that they had the
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<I>dominion in Moab.</I> Probably in David's time, when that country
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was conquered, they transplanted themselves thither, and were put in
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places of power there, which they held for several generations; but
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this was a great while ago, time out of mind.
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(2.) Their posterity were now potters and gardeners, as is supposed in
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Babylon, where they <I>dwelt with the king for his work,</I> got a good
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livelihood by their industry, and therefore cared not for returning
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with their brethren to their own land, after the years of captivity had
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expired. Those that now have dominion know not what their posterity may
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be reduced to, nor what mean employments they may be glad to take up
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with. But those were unworthy the name of <I>Israelites</I> that would
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dwell among <I>plants and hedges</I> rather than be at the pains to
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return to Canaan.</P>
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<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Genealogies.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 715.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>24 The sons of Simeon <I>were,</I> Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah,
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<I>and</I> Shaul:
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25 Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.
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26 And the sons of Mishma; Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son,
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Shimei his son.
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27 And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his
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brethren had not many children, neither did all their family
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multiply, like to the children of Judah.
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28 And they dwelt at Beer-sheba, and Moladah, and Hazar-shual,
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29 And at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,
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30 And at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,
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31 And at Beth-marcaboth, and Hazar-susim, and at Beth-birei, and
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at Shaaraim. These <I>were</I> their cities unto the reign of David.
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32 And their villages <I>were,</I> Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and
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Tochen, and Ashan, five cities:
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33 And all their villages that <I>were</I> round about the same
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cities, unto Baal. These <I>were</I> their habitations, and their
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genealogy.
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34 And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah,
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35 And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah,
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the son of Asiel,
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36 And Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and
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Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,
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37 And Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of
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Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah;
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38 These mentioned by <I>their</I> names <I>were</I> princes in their
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families: and the house of their fathers increased greatly.
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39 And they went to the entrance of Gedor, <I>even</I> unto the east
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side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.
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40 And they found fat pasture and good, and the land <I>was</I>
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wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for <I>they</I> of Ham had dwelt there
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of old.
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41 And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king
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of Judah, and smote their tents, and the habitations that were
|
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found there, and destroyed them utterly unto this day, and dwelt
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in their rooms: because <I>there was</I> pasture there for their
|
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flocks.
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42 And <I>some</I> of them, <I>even</I> of the sons of Simeon, five
|
|
hundred men, went to mount Seir, having for their captains
|
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Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of
|
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Ishi.
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43 And they smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped,
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and dwelt there unto this day.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We have here some of the genealogies of the tribe of Simeon (though it
|
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was not a tribe of great note), especially the princes of that tribe,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>.
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Of this tribe it is said that they <I>increased greatly,</I> but <I>not
|
|
like the children of Judah,</I>
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|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:27"><I>v.</I> 27</A>.
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|
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Those whom God increases ought to be thankful, though they see others
|
|
that are more increased. Here observe,
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|
|
1. The cities allotted them
|
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|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:28"><I>v.</I> 28</A>),
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|
|
of which see
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Jos+19:1-9">Joshua xix. 1</A>,
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&c. When it is said that they were theirs <I>unto the reign of
|
|
David</I>
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|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:31"><I>v.</I> 31</A>)
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|
|
intimation is given that when the ten tribes revolted from the house of
|
|
David many of the Simeonites quitted these cities, because they lay
|
|
within Judah, and seated themselves elsewhere.
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|
|
|
2. The ground they got elsewhere. When those of this tribe that
|
|
revolted from the house of David were carried captive with the rest
|
|
into Assyria those that adhered to Judah were remarkably owned of God
|
|
and prospered in their endeavours to enlarge their coasts. It was in
|
|
the days of Hezekiah that a generation of Simeonites, whose tribe had
|
|
long crouched and truckled, was animated to make these bold efforts.
|
|
|
|
(1.) Some of them attacked a place in Arabia, as it should seem, called
|
|
<I>the entrance of Gedor,</I> inhabited by the posterity of accursed
|
|
Ham
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|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:40"><I>v.</I> 40</A>),
|
|
|
|
made themselves masters of it, and dwelt there. This adds to the glory
|
|
of Hezekiah's pious reign, that, as his kingdom in general prospered,
|
|
so did particular families. It is said that they found fat pastures,
|
|
and yet <I>the land was quiet;</I> even when the kings of Assyria were
|
|
giving disturbance to all their neighbours this land escaped their
|
|
alarms. The inhabitants being shepherds, who molested none, were not
|
|
themselves molested, till the Simeonites came and drove them out and
|
|
succeeded them, not only in the plenty, but in the peace, of their
|
|
land. Those who dwell (as we do) in a fruitful country, and whose land
|
|
is wide, and quiet, and peaceable, have reason to own themselves
|
|
indebted to that God who <I>appoints the bounds of our habitation.</I>
|
|
|
|
(2.) Others of them, to the number of 500, under the command of four
|
|
brethren here named, made a descent upon Mount Seir, and smote the
|
|
remainder of the devoted Amalekites, and took possession of their
|
|
country,
|
|
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:42,43"><I>v.</I> 42, 43</A>.
|
|
|
|
Now the curses on Ham and Amalek had a further accomplishment, when
|
|
they seemed dormant, if not dead; as had also the curse on Simeon, that
|
|
he should be divided and scattered
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:7">Gen. xlix. 7</A>):
|
|
|
|
yet to him it was turned into a blessing, for the families of Simeon,
|
|
which thus transplanted themselves into those distant countries, are
|
|
said to <I>dwell there unto this day</I>
|
|
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ch+4:43"><I>v.</I> 43</A>),
|
|
|
|
by which it should seem they escaped the calamities of the captivity.
|
|
Providence sometimes sends those out of trouble that are designed for
|
|
preservation.</P>
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|
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