Page:The Books of Chronicles (1916).djvu/91

Rh mother called his name Jabez, saying. Because I bare him with sorrow. And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my border, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it be not to my sorrow! And God granted him that which he requested. And Chelub the brother of Shuhah begat Mehir, which was the father of Eshton. And Eshton begat Beth-rapha, and Paseah, and Tehinnah the father of Ir-nahash. These are the men of Recah. And the sons of Kenaz; Othniel, and Seraiah: and the sons of Othniel; Hathath. And Meonothai begat Ophrah: and Seraiah begat Joab the father of Ge-harashim; for they were craftsmen. And the sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh; Iru, Elah, and Naam: and

I bare him with pain. Jabez suggests a somewhat similar word spelt with the same consonants but in a different order, and meaning "he giveth pain." The stylistic similarity between this verse and many passages in Genesis (e.g. Gen. xxx.) cannot fail to be noticed, and it is important to observe that a tradition of this popular character was current in the style of the patriarchal narratives of Genesis in the Chronicler's time. Cp. also vii. 23. The man with the ill-omened name staved off ill-fortune by his prayer which is given in the following verse.

10. that thou wouldest keep me from evil] Lit. that thou wouldest make from evil. The Heb. is therefore strange, though not indefensible. Perhaps some words have fallen out, and it may originally have read somewhat as follows, that thou wouldest make [room (merḥābh) for me, and wouldest redeem (phādithā) me] from evil.

that it be not to my sorrow] or so that no pain befell me.

11—15.; for Chelub (ver. 11) = Caleb (see on ii. 9, 42).

12. These are the men of Recah] Recah is unknown. Perhaps the true reading is that of the LXX. (B), the men of Rechab, i.e. Rechabite families; cp. ii. 55, note.

13. Othniel] Eponym of a Kenizzite clan, closely connected with the Calebites. Cp. note on i. 36, and Judg. i. 13 and iii. 9—11.

14. Meonothai] perhaps a son of Othniel.

Ge-harashim] or, as mg., the valley of craftsmen. It is mentioned Neh. xi. 35 along with Lod (the Lydda of Acts ix. 32) and therefore was probably near Lydda.

15. Caleb the son of Jephunneh] Cp. ii. 42, note.