Ver. 1. Jashub.] Alias Job; (Genesis 46:13) but not Job the patient, as some would have it.
Ver. 2. They were valiant men of might.] And yet this tribe, for the generality, were asinus osseus (Genesis 49:14) dull, and desirous of peace. In the days of David.] See 1 Chronicles 12:32 27:18.
Ver. 3. And the sons of Uzzi,] i.e., The son; for it is likely that Uzzi had more sons, but nothing so famous as was Izrahiah.
Ver. 4. Were bands of soldiers for war.] Though they affected peace, as 1 Chronicles 7:2, yet they were apti et parati ad bellum, ready pressed for war. For they had many wives and sons.] Polygamy passed for current in the Church, because Abraham used it; though directly against the institution, and that plain law, (Leviticus 18:18) neither was it cast out of the Church till the captivity of Babylon.
Ver. 5. Reckoned in all.] Omnes Iscariotae, saith Vatablus.
Ver. 6. The sons of Benjamin.] The genealogies of Dan and Zebulon are left out, for causes unknown; haply, because at their return out of Babylon their genealogies were not found. Dan is also—for their apostasy, likely, and idolatry—not reckoned among the rest that were sealed. (Revelation 7:5-8) That Antichrist should be one of this tribe, is a fiction rightly exploded. We read of Hushim, (1 Chronicles 7:12) the sons of Aher, which signifieth Another—and so some render it—-by Another, understanding Dan, [compare Genesis 46:23] whom the penman of this book held not worth the naming. The Hebrews, when they would show their detestation of any person or thing, they call it acher; a sow they call dabshar acher, that is, another thing; so leaven at the passover, &c. Elias Thisbit.
Ver. 12. Shuppim also, and Huppim.] Alias Shupham and Hupham (Numbers 26:39) The sons of Aher.] See on 1 Chronicles 7:6.
Ver. 13. The sons of Bilhah,] i.e., Her grandsons.
Ver. 14. Whom she bare,] i.e., The wife of Gilead bare.
Ver. 15. And Zelophehad had daughters,] i.e., Daughters only, whose case, brought before the Lord, occasioned those two judicial laws in Numbers 27:1-11 36:2-12.
Ver. 17. Bedan.] Whom some suppose to be the same with Judge Jair, the Gileadite. (Judges 10:3 1 Samuel 12:11)
Ver. 18. And his sister,] i.e., Gilead’s sister.
Ver. 19. Likhi.] Alias Helek, (Numbers 26:30) by transposition of letters.
Ver. 20. And the sons of Ephraim,] The Ephraimites were famous for their wealth, power, and prowess; but withal they are noted for insolent, proud, and quarrelsome. See Judges 8:1 12:1.
Ver. 21. Whom the men of Gath…slew.] And no marvel; because, belike, being weary of the Egyptian servitude, and remembering that Palestina was promised to their forefathers for an inheritance, they would needs take possession thereof before the time, which rash adventure of these sons of Ephraim cost them their lives, and perhaps occasioned that cruel decree of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, against the Israelites. (Exodus 1:9-11) See to this purpose, Psalms 78:9. This happened about the birth of Aaron. It is not safe to break God’s prison.
Ver. 22. And Ephraim their father.] Who must needs be now a very old man. Mourned many days.] His grief was the greater, if they went against the Gittites without his consent, as many young men are headlong and headstrong, &c. And his brethren came to comfort him.] The Benjamites also set upon the men of Gath, and took their city from them. (1 Chronicles 8:13) Atque sic ulti sunt fratres suos Ephraemitas.
Ver. 23. And when he went in to his wife.] A modest expression of the marriage duty. The apostle forbiddeth filthy speaking; (Ephesians 4:25,29 5:4) so doth Cicero, in his “Offices,” inveighing against the Cynics for their obscene language. She conceived, and bare a son.] Of whom came a large offspring. This was a great mercy to the good old man. And he called his name Beriah.] That is, In affliction. Hereby he would immind himself and his posterity of the evil which had befallen his house, that they might hear, and fear, and do no more so. A malo et ululatu. -Lavat. Optimum est aliena frui insania.
Ver. 24. And his daughter was Sherah.] A gallant woman, famous in her generation for beautifying and fortifying of sundry cities. Thus also God made up Ephraim’s loss.
Ver. 30. And Serah their sister.] The Vulgate calleth her Sarah; as likewise that other eminent woman. (1 Chronicles 7:23)
Ver. 35. Helem.] Thought to be the same with Hotham. (1 Chronicles 7:32)
Ver. 38. Jether.] Called Ithran. (1 Chronicles 7:37)
Ver. 40. Chief of the princes.] Duces ducum, to whom the princes were to give an account. See Daniel 6:1,2. Was twenty and six thousand.] So happy was Asher, according to Moses’s blessing left with him. (Deuteronomy 33:24,25)