1 Chronicles 4

Chapters 1–9 of 1 Chronicles set out the genealogies of Israel from Adam to the period after the return from exile. Chapter 4 supplements the genealogy of the descendants of Judah begun in chapter 2 and then turns to the tribe of Simeon.

Outline

• Verses 1–8: Among the descendants of Judah, these verses list the families of the Zorathites; the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem; and the children borne to Ashur, the father of Tekoa, by his two wives, Helah and Naarah.
• Verses 9–10: Jabez was more honorable than his brethren. He asked God for blessing and for enlarged borders, and God granted his request.
• Verses 11–23: These verses list the descendants of Othniel son of Kenaz; the descendants of Caleb son of Jephunneh; the descendants of Mered, who married Bithiah the daughter of Pharaoh; and the descendants of Shelah. Among Shelah's descendants were a family of linen workers and potters who worked for the king.
• Verses 24–33: These verses list the descendants of Simeon. The Simeonites did not multiply as the descendants of Judah did. They lived in Beersheba, Ziklag, and other towns, and these cities belonged to them until the reign of King David.
• Verses 34–43: In the days of Hezekiah, the chiefs of Simeon went to the region of Gedor, struck down the Meunim, and settled in the pastures there. In addition, five hundred men went to Mount Seir and struck down the remnant of the Amalekites.

Key Verse

• 1 Chronicles 4:10: "Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast…" The verse stands out because a brief prayer and its answer appear in the midst of a long genealogy.

People and Places

• Jabez: His mother gave him this name, saying, "Because I bare him with sorrow." In Hebrew, the name "Jabez" and the word meaning "pain" or "sorrow" sound alike, forming a wordplay.
• Othniel: The son of Kenaz, who bears the same name as the first judge in the Book of Judges.
• Caleb: The son of Jephunneh.
• Bithiah: The daughter of Pharaoh whom Mered took as his wife.
• Places: Bethlehem, Beersheba, Ziklag, and Mount Seir are mentioned. "They of Ham" in verse 40 refers to the descendants of Ham.
• The Miriam of verse 17 and the Joab of verse 14 are different individuals who merely share their names with Moses' sister and David's army commander, respectively.

Points for Reflection

• How to read the Prayer of Jabez: After Bruce Wilkinson's book The Prayer of Jabez, published in the United States in 2000, became widely popular, a reading spread in which repeatedly praying this verse would bring blessing. Critics from a number of denominations objected that this approach turns the passage into a formula detached from its context and comes close to prosperity theology. Others, however, read the verse as a model of honest petition brought before God.
• Traditions outside the text: Some Jewish rabbinic traditions identify Jabez with Othniel, but the text itself does not say this.
• Source records: The statement in verse 22 that these things rest on ancient records (KJV: "these are ancient things") shows that the Chronicler made use of earlier sources.

In Korean Churches

1 Chronicles 4:10 is frequently cited in New Year's sermons and New Year's prayer meetings, often together with the phrase "Enlarge my territory." Wilkinson's book was also translated into Korean and widely read.