24 Sons of Simeon: Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul; 25 Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son. 26 And sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zacchur his son, Shimei his son. 27 And to Shimei 'are' sixteen sons and six daughters, and to his brethren there are not many sons, and none of their families have multiplied as much as the sons of Judah. 28 And they dwell in Beer-Sheba, and Moladah, and Hazar-Shaul, 29 and in Bilhah, and in Ezem, and in Tolad, 30 and in Bethuel, and in Hormah, and in Ziklag, 31 and in Beth-Marcaboth, and in Hazar-Susim, and in Beth-Birei, and in Shaarim; these 'are' their cities till the reigning of David. 32 And their villages 'are' Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities, 33 and all their villages that 'are' round about these cities unto Baal; these 'are' their dwellings, and they have their genealogy: 34 even Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah son of Amaziah, 35 and Joel, and Jehu son of Josibiah, son of Seraiah, son of Asiel, 36 and Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah, 37 and Ziza son of Shiphi, son of Allon, son of Jedaiah, son of Shimri, son of Shemaiah. 38 These who are coming in by name 'are' princes in their families, and the house of their fathers have broken forth into a multitude; 39 and they go to the entrance of Gedor, unto the east of the valley, to seek pasture for their flock, 40 and they find pasture, fat and good, and the land broad of sides, and quiet, and safe, for of Ham are those dwelling there before. 41 And these who are written by name come in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and smite their tents, and the habitations that have been found there, and devote them to destruction unto this day, and dwell in their stead, because pasture for their flock 'is' there. 42 And of them, of the sons of Simeon, there have gone to mount Seir, five hundred men, and Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, sons of Ishi, at their head, 43 and they smite the remnant of those escaped of Amalek, and dwell there unto 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.