Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of 1 Chronicles 2:55
And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, [and] Suchathites. These [are] the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.
55. at Jabez ] Jabez occurs as the name of a man of the tribe of Judah in 1Ch 4:9.
the Kenites that came ] Render, the Kenites who came in, i.e. attached themselves to Israel.
of Hemath ] Render, who were of Hammath.
the house of Rechab ] The Rechabites (2Ki 10:15; Jer 35:2 ff.) are here traced to a non-Israelite source. On the incorporation of non-Israelites into Israel see Hastings’ Dictionary of the Bible, ii. 508 a.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Kenites – It is remarkable that Kenites – people of a race quite distinct from the Israelites Gen 15:19 – should be attached to, and, as it were, included in the descendants of Judah. It seems, however, that the friendly feeling between the two tribes – based on the conduct of the Kenites at the time of the Exodus Exo 18:10-19; Num 10:29-32; 1Sa 15:6 – led to their intermixture and almost amalgamation with the Israelites, Kenite families not only dwelling among them but being actually regarded as of one blood with them.
Fuente: Albert Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
1Ch 2:55
And the families of the Scribes which dwelt at Jabez
Scribes
I.
A noble calling. To study and expound sacred books, inform society, and spread the will of God.
II. A family calling. The families of the scribes. mere ditary pursuits in all communities.
III. A needful calling. A literary profession useful to society. A learned ministry the want of the times. (James Wolfendale.)
Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell
Verse 55. The families] “The families of the Rechabites, the sons of Eliezer the son of Misco, the disciple of Jabez; he was Othniel, the son of Kenaz. And he was called Jabez, because in his council he instituted a school of disciples; they were called Tirathim, because in their hymns their voice was like trumpets; and Shimathim, because in hearing they lifted up their faces, i.e., in prayer; and Suchathim, because they were overshadowed by the Spirit of prophecy. These Salmaei were the children of Zipporah, who were numbered among the Levites who came from the stock of Moses, the master of Israel, whose righteousness profited them more than chariots and horses.” – T. See on 1Ch 4:9-10.
Is the above explanation of Tirathites, Shimeathites, and Suchathites, the Targumist refers to the import of the Hebrew roots, whence these names are derived. See 1Ch 4:10. In this chapter many names of cities are given as the names of men.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The scribes; either civil, who were public notaries, who wrote and signed legal instruments; or ecclesiastical. And these were either Levites, or Simeonites, or rather Kenites, and are here mentioned not as if they were of the tribe of Judah, but because they dwelt among them, and probably were allied to them by marriages, and so in a manner incorporated with them.
Which dwelt, or rather, dwelt; Heb. were dwellers. For the other translation, which dwelt, may seem to insinuate that these were descendants of Judah, which they were not; but this translation only signifies their cohabitation with them, for which cause they are here named with them.
At Jabez; a place in Judah, so named probably from that famous Jabez of that tribe, 1Ch 4:9.
The Kenites that came of Hemath; who dwelt in Judah, Jdg 1:16. Thus they are distinguished from the other branch of the Kenites, who dwelt in the tribe of Manasseh, Jdg 4:11.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
55. the families of thescribeseither civil or ecclesiastical officers of the Keniteorigin, who are here classed with the tribe of Judah, not as beingdescended from it, but as dwelling within its territory, and in ameasure incorporated with its people.
Jabeza place in Judah(1Ch 4:9).
Kenites that came ofHemathwho settled in Judah, and were thus distinguished fromanother division of the Kenite clan which dwelt in Manasseh (Jud4:11).
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez,…. A city in Judah, the founder of which, perhaps, was Jabez, mentioned in 1Ch 4:9 in which learned men dwelt:
the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, and Suchathites; who sprung from men whose names were Tira, Shimea, and Sucha; and if they were not the posterity of Salma, yet dwelt among his, and so are reckoned with them; perhaps the latter might have their name from dwelling in tents; the former clause may be rendered, “that dwelt with Jabez”, who was their master, and they his scholars; in the Vulgate Latin version the words are rendered as appellatives, “singing and resounding, and dwelling in tents”: Conrad Pellican, on the place, goes a middle way, and interprets these families as dwelling with Jabez their master, and they his scholars, and that they were called by their progenitors Tirathites, because learned and ingenious, and praecentors of the divine oracles; Shimeathites, because they diligently hearkened to the sacred songs, and the doctrines of the law of God; and Suchathites, because they dwelt not in cities, but in tents, despisers of all worldly things, that they might freely attend to learn:
these are the Kenites; that is, the Suchathites are the Kenites, who, it is well known, dwelt in tents, and not in cities; though Jarchi takes these Kenites to be the inhabitants of Cain, a city in the tribe of Judah, Jos 15:57 but they seem rather to be the Kenites that sprung from Jethro, here made mention of, because some of them dwelt in the tribe of Judah, and among the posterity of Salma, see Jud 1:16
that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab; the prince of that family, and who from Rechab were called Rechabites, Jer 35:2.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
REFLECTIONS
READER! in the quick succession of persons and families, as recorded in this Chapter, how feelingly are we taught the littleness, and even nothingness, of human nature. So that at every verse we are prompted, in the language of the Prophet, to exclaim, Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? But oh! how precious amidst all this is it, to behold Jesus, who is the same yesterday, and today, and forever.
But again, how is the mind humbled in the consideration, that though the several generations this Chapter records lived but as it were a day, yet in that day how numerous their transgressions? Though this stock of Judah was at length to produce the holy seed, and in the intermediate state was to possess, in several branches of them, both royal and priestly honours; yet we find they all partook of the same common stock of a fallen nature, of whom it is with truth said, there is none holy, no not one. And wherefore were they preserved, why are their names recorded with such precision and exactness? Was it not, blessed Jesus, because they all pointed to thee, ministered to thee, and in thee fulfilled the purposes of their generation? Did not the Lord Jehovah, concerning everyone of them, say, Destroy it not, for a blessing is in it. There is life in the root; salvation in the stock; even Jesus folded up in the seed, in whom all the family should be blessed? Oh, grace! oh, mercy! oh, wisdom! How unsearchable are thy judgments, O Lord; and thy ways past finding out.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
1Ch 2:55 And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, [and] Suchathites. These [are] the Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.
Ver. 55. And the families of the scribes. ] These were public notaries: or, as some think, Text men, who took the literal interpretation, as distinct from Wise, that is, teachers of traditions, and from Disputers, that is, teachers of allegories and mysteries. See 1Co 1:20 Jer 8:9 Ezr 7:6 . The first were the best of the three, and of these were the Rechabites, who being Shuchathites, that is, dwellers in tents, might dwell where they pleased: and now dwelt at Jabez, a place which seemeth to have taken its name from that good Jabez of Judah, who prayed so hard, 1Ch 4:10 having, haply, the help of these holy Kenites, the posterity of Jethro. See Jdg 1:16 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Jabez. Supposed to have been founded by Jabez. See below on 1Ch 4:9.
Kenites. These were the posterity of Jethro and Hobab. See Jdg 1:16; and compare 1Sa 15:6; 1Sa 27:10. They became an ascetic people, and, by being mentioned here in connection with “scribes, “may have been teachers. This perhaps accounts for Jehu’s action in 2Ki 10:15, 2Ki 10:16.
Rechab. Compare Jer 35.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the scribes: Ezr 7:6, Jer 8:8
Jabez: 1Ch 4:9, 1Ch 4:10
Kenites: Jdg 1:16, Jdg 4:11, 1Sa 15:6
Rechab: 2Ki 10:15, Jer 35:2-8, Jer 35:19
Reciprocal: Jer 35:6 – Jonadab
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1Ch 2:55. The families of the scribes Either civil, who were public notaries, that wrote and signed legal instruments; or ecclesiastical. And these were either Levites or Simeonites, or rather Kenites, and are here mentioned not as if they were of the tribe of Judah, but because they dwelt among them, and probably were allied to them by marriages, and so in a manner incorporated with them.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
2:55 And the families of the {o} scribes which dwelt at Jabez; the Tirathites, the Shimeathites, [and] Suchathites. These [are] the {p} Kenites that came of Hemath, the father of the house of Rechab.
(o) Who were men learned and expert in the law.
(p) Read Num 10:29, Jud 1:16.