1 Chronicles 4

King James Version

Full text for 1 Chronicles Chapter 4

1¶ The sons of Judah; Pharez, Hezron, and Carmi, and Hur, and Shobal.

2And Reaiah the son of Shobal begat Jahath; and Jahath begat Ahumai, and Lahad. These [are] the families of the Zorathites.

3And these [were of] the father of Etam; Jezreel, and Ishma, and Idbash: and the name of their sister [was] Hazelelponi:

4And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These [are] the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem.

5And Ashur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah.

6And Naarah bare him Ahuzam, and Hepher, and Temeni, and Haahashtari. These [were] the sons of Naarah.

7And the sons of Helah [were], Zereth, and Jezoar, and Ethnan.

8And Coz begat Anub, and Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel the son of Harum.

9And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow.

10And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep [me] from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.

11¶ And Chelub the brother of Shuah begat Mehir, which [was] the father of Eshton.

12And Eshton begat Bethrapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Irnahash. These [are] the men of Rechah.

13And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of Othniel; Hathath.

14And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab, the father of the valley of Charashim; for they were craftsmen.

15And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh; Iru, Elah, and Naam: and the sons of Elah, even Kenaz.

16And the sons of Jehaleleel; Ziph, and Ziphah, Tiria, and Asareel.

17And the sons of Ezra [were], Jether, and Mered, and Epher, and Jalon: and she bare Miriam, and Shammai, and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.

18And his wife Jehudijah bare Jered the father of Gedor, and Heber the father of Socho, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. And these [are] the sons of Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh, which Mered took.

19And the sons of [his] wife Hodiah the sister of Naham, the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maachathite.

20And the sons of Shimon [were], Amnon, and Rinnah, Benhanan, and Tilon. And the sons of Ishi [were], Zoheth, and Benzoheth.

21The sons of Shelah the son of Judah [were], Er the father of Lecah, and Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of them that wrought fine linen, of the house of Ashbea,

22And Jokim, and the men of Chozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had the dominion in Moab, and Jashubilehem. And [these are] ancient things.

23These [were] the potters, and those that dwelt among plants and hedges: there they dwelt with the king for his work.

24¶ The sons of Simeon [were], Nemuel, and Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, [and] Shaul:

25Shallum his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.

26And the sons of Mishma; Hamuel his son, Zacchur his son, Shimei his son.

27And Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brethren had not many children, neither did all their family multiply, like to the children of Judah.

28And they dwelt at Beersheba, and Moladah, and Hazarshual,

29And at Bilhah, and at Ezem, and at Tolad,

30And at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,

31And at Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusim, and at Bethbirei, and at Shaaraim. These [were] their cities unto the reign of David.

32And their villages [were], Etam, and Ain, Rimmon, and Tochen, and Ashan, five cities:

33And all their villages that [were] round about the same cities, unto Baal. These [were] their habitations, and their genealogy.

34And Meshobab, and Jamlech, and Joshah the son of Amaziah,

35And Joel, and Jehu the son of Josibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel,

36And Elioenai, and Jaakobah, and Jeshohaiah, and Asaiah, and Adiel, and Jesimiel, and Benaiah,

37And Ziza the son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah;

38These mentioned by [their] names [were] princes in their families: and the house of their fathers increased greatly.

39And they went to the entrance of Gedor, [even] unto the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks.

40And they found fat pasture and good, and the land [was] wide, and quiet, and peaceable; for [they] of Ham had dwelt there of old.

41And these written by name came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah, and smote their tents, and the habitations that were found there, and destroyed them utterly unto this day, and dwelt in their rooms: because [there was] pasture there for their flocks.

42And [some] of them, [even] of the sons of Simeon, five hundred men, went to mount Seir, having for their captains Pelatiah, and Neariah, and Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi.

43And they smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped, and dwelt there unto this day.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

First Chronicles chapter four primarily details the genealogies of the tribe of Judah, tracing various family lines and their settlements. A notable interlude recounts the prayer of Jabez, who sought divine blessing, enlarged territory, God's hand, and protection from evil, which God granted. The chapter then shifts to the genealogies of the tribe of Simeon, describing their cities and later accounts of their expansion and conquests.

Medium Summary

The fourth chapter of First Chronicles begins by enumerating the descendants of Judah, including the families of Pharez, Hezron, and Hur, and their associated settlements like Bethlehem. It highlights the unique story of Jabez, who was more honourable than his brethren and prayed for God's abundant blessing, an enlargement of his territory, divine presence, and deliverance from sorrowful evil, a request which the Lord granted. The text also mentions various craftsmen among Judah's descendants, such as those who wrought fine linen and potters. Subsequently, the chapter provides the lineage of the tribe of Simeon, listing their principal families and the cities they inhabited until the reign of David. It concludes with an account of Simeon's princes seeking new pastures and their later military actions, conquering Hamites and Amalekites to secure new dwelling places.

Long Summary

First Chronicles chapter four meticulously records the genealogies of the tribe of Judah, commencing with the descendants of Pharez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal, detailing various families such as the Zorathites and those associated with Etam, Gedor, and Bethlehem. A significant narrative interruption focuses on Jabez, described as more honourable than his brethren, whose birth was marked by sorrow. Jabez earnestly called upon the God of Israel, requesting a profound blessing, an expansion of his territorial boundaries, the constant presence of God's hand, and preservation from evil that would cause grief; his petition was divinely granted. The chapter further identifies specific groups within Judah, including craftsmen like those who worked with fine linen, potters, and others who served the king. Following Judah's lineage, the text transitions to the genealogies of the tribe of Simeon, listing their principal sons and their extensive settlements, including Beersheba, Moladah, and Ziklag, which they occupied until the time of King David. The latter part of the chapter recounts how certain princes of Simeon, whose families had greatly increased, sought new pastures in Gedor, finding a land that was wide, quiet, and peaceable. In the days of King Hezekiah, these Simeonites smote the Hamites who had anciently dwelt there, utterly destroying them and settling in their place. Additionally, a contingent of five hundred men from Simeon journeyed to Mount Seir, where they conquered the remaining Amalekites and established their dwelling there.

Core Concepts

  • Genealogical RecordsThe chapter primarily functions as a detailed list of family lineages for the tribes of Judah and Simeon, tracing descendants and their settlements.
  • Prayer of JabezA unique narrative interlude highlights Jabez, who sought and received divine blessing, enlarged territory, God's protection, and deliverance from evil, demonstrating the power of fervent prayer.
  • Tribal Expansion and SettlementThe text illustrates how both Judah and Simeon's families multiplied and sought new lands, leading to the establishment of cities and the acquisition of territory for their growing populations and flocks.
  • Craftsmanship and ProfessionsSpecific mention is made of various occupations within the tribe of Judah, such as those who wrought fine linen and potters, indicating specialized skills and economic activities.
  • Simeonite ConquestsThe chapter records historical actions of the Simeonites, including their military campaigns against the Hamites in Gedor and the Amalekites in Mount Seir, leading to the appropriation of new lands.
  • Divine Granting of RequestsThe narrative of Jabez explicitly states that God granted his specific requests, serving as an example of God's responsiveness to the prayers of His people.