24 The sons of Simeon were Nemuel and Jamin , Jarib , Zerah , Shaul ; 25 Shallum his son , Mibsam his son , Mishma his son . 26 The sons of Mishma were Hammuel his son , Zaccur his son , Shimei his son . 27 Now Shimei had sixteen e sons and six daughters ; but his brothers did not have many sons , nor did all their family multiply like the sons of Judah . 28 They lived at Beersheba , Moladah and Hazar-shual , 29 at Bilhah , Ezem , Tolad , 30 Bethuel , Hormah , Ziklag , 31 Beth-marcaboth , Hazar-susim , Beth-biri and Shaaraim . These were their cities until the reign of David . 32 Their villages were Etam , Ain , Rimmon , Tochen and Ashan , five cities ; 33 and all their villages that were around the same cities as far as Baal . These were their settlements , and they have their genealogy . 34 Meshobab and Jamlech and Joshah the son of Amaziah , 35 and Joel and Jehu the son of Joshibiah , the son of Seraiah , the son of Asiel , 36 and Elioenai , Jaakobah , Jeshohaiah , Asaiah , Adiel , Jesimiel , Benaiah , 37 Ziza the son of Shiphi , the son of Allon , the son of Jedaiah , the son of Shimri , the son of Shemaiah ; 38 these mentioned by name were leaders in their families ; and their fathers' houses increased greatly . 39 They went to the entrance of Gedor , even to the east side of the valley , to seek pasture for their flocks . 40 They found rich and good pasture , and the land was broad and quiet and peaceful ; for those who lived there formerly were Hamites e . 41 These , recorded by name , came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah , and attacked their tents and the Meunites who were found there , and destroyed them utterly to this day , and lived in their place , because there was pasture there for their flocks . 42 From them, from the sons of Simeon , five hundred men went to Mount Seir , with Pelatiah , Neariah , Rephaiah and Uzziel , the sons of Ishi , as their leaders . 43 They destroyed the remnant of the Amalekites who escaped , and have lived there to this day .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Chronicles 4:24-43
Chapter Contents
Genealogies.
In this chapter we have a further account of Judah, the most numerous and most famous of all the tribes; also an account of Simeon. The most remarkable person in this chapter is Jabez. We are not told upon what account Jabez was more honourable than his brethren; but we find that he was a praying man. The way to be truly great, is to seek to do God's will, and to pray earnestly. Here is the prayer he made. Jabez prayed to the living and true God, who alone can hear and answer prayer; and, in prayer he regarded him as a God in covenant with his people. He does not express his promise, but leaves it to be understood; he was afraid to promise in his own strength, and resolved to devote himself entirely to God. Lord, if thou wilt bless me and keep me, do what thou wilt with me; I will be at thy command and disposal for ever. As the text reads it, this was the language of a most ardent and affectionate desire, Oh that thou wouldest bless me! Four things Jabez prayed for. 1. That God would bless him indeed. Spiritual blessings are the best blessings: God's blessings are real things, and produce real effects. 2. That He would enlarge his coast. That God would enlarge our hearts, and so enlarge our portion in himself, and in the heavenly Canaan, ought to be our desire and prayer. 3. That God's hand might be with him. God's hand with us, to lead us, protect us, strengthen us, and to work all our works in us and for us, is a hand all-sufficient for us. 4. That he would keep him from evil, the evil of sin, the evil of trouble, all the evil designs of his enemies, that they might not hurt, nor make him a Jabez indeed, a man of sorrow. God granted that which he requested. God is ever ready to hear prayer: his ear is not now heavy.