Judah & Simeon (1 Chronicles 4)

In the genealogies of Judah and Simeon, what’s missing? Were many faithful to God? Were our ancestors? Let’s look at 1 Chronicles 4.

Who were tribal leaders of note in Judah? Was Karmi another name for Chelubai, or Caleb, the man who surveyed the promised land? Did these generations forget God?

The descendants of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Karmi, Hur and Shobal. Reaiah son of Shobal was the father of Jahath, and Jahath the father of Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites. These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma and Idbash. Their sister was named Hazzelelponi. Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These were the descendants of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah and father of Bethlehem. Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah. Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni and Haahashtari. These were the descendants of Naarah. The sons of Helah: Zereth, Zohar, Ethnan, and Koz, who was the father of Anub and Hazzobebah and of the clans of Aharhel son of Harum. (1 Chr 4:1-8 NIV)

What made Jabez an honorable man? Was the fact that he prayed a clue?

Now Jabez was more honorable than his brothers, and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying, “Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain!” So God granted him what he requested. (1 Chr 4:9-10 NKJV)

Does the list continue without mention of a faithful man of God? How would our family history look?

Kelub (the brother of Shuhah) was the father of Mehir. Mehir was the father of Eshton. Eshton was the father of Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah. Tehinnah was the father of Ir-nahash. These were the descendants of Recah. The sons of Kenaz were Othniel and Seraiah. Othniel’s sons were Hathath and Meonothai. Meonothai was the father of Ophrah. Seraiah was the father of Joab, the founder of the Valley of Craftsmen, so called because they were craftsmen. The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh were Iru, Elah, and Naam. The son of Elah was Kenaz. The sons of Jehallelel were Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. The sons of Ezrah were Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. One of Mered’s wives became the mother of Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah (the father of Eshtemoa). He married a woman from Judah, who became the mother of Jered (the father of Gedor), Heber (the father of Soco), and Jekuthiel (the father of Zanoah). Mered also married Bithia, a daughter of Pharaoh, and she bore him children. Hodiah’s wife was the sister of Naham. One of her sons was the father of Keilah the Garmite, and another was the father of Eshtemoa the Maacathite. The sons of Shimon were Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. The descendants of Ishi were Zoheth and Ben-zoheth. (1 Chr 4:11-20 NLT)

Who were the descendants of Shelah, the son of Judah?

The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of those who worked fine linen, of the house of Ashbea; and Jokim, and the men of Cozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who had dominion in Moab, and Jashubilehem. These records are ancient. These were the potters, and the inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah; they lived there with the king for his work. (1 Chr 4:21-23 WEB)

What about a smaller tribe, Simeon, how many descendants came from this man?

Simeon’s family: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul, his son Shallum, his son Mibsam, and his son Mishma. Mishma’s family: his son Hammuel, his son Zaccur, and his son Shimei. Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers didn’t have many children, and none of their clans became as numerous as the Judeans. (1 Chr 4:24-27 CEB)

Where did the descendants of the tribe of Simeon mostly live?

Before David became king, the people of the Simeon tribe lived in the following towns: Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-Shual, Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth-Marcaboth, Hazarsusim, Bethbiri, and Shaaraim. They also lived in the five villages of Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, as well as in the nearby villages as far as the town of Baal. These are the places where Simeon's descendants had settled, according to their own family records. (1 Chr 4:28-33 CEV)

Where else did the members of the tribe of Simeon settle?

Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah the son of Amaziah, Joel, Jehu the son of Joshibiah, son of Seraiah, son of Asiel, Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, Ziza the son of Shiphi, son of Allon, son of Jedaiah, son of Shimri, son of Shemaiah— these mentioned by name were princes in their clans, and their fathers' houses increased greatly. They journeyed to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks, where they found rich, good pasture, and the land was very broad, quiet, and peaceful, for the former inhabitants there belonged to Ham. (1 Chr 4:34-40 ESV)