Start Time:	08:53 AM
End Time:	10:07 AM
Date:	July 28, 2014

 

TITLE: Other Clans of Judah

Scripture: 1 Chronicles 4:1 – 43

God’s Message / God’s Commands / God’s Promises:

→ Other Clans of Judah

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^[a] 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^[b] 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. Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez,^[c]saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request. Kelub, Shuhah’s brother, was the father of Mehir, who was the father of Eshton. Eshton was the father of Beth Rapha, Paseah and Tehinnah the father of Ir Nahash.^[d] These were the men of Rekah.  The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah. The sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai.^[e] Meonothai was the father of Ophrah. Seraiah was the father of Joab, the father of Ge Harashim.^[f] It was called this because its people were skilled workers. The sons of Caleb son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah and Naam. The son of Elah: Kenaz.  The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria and Asarel.  The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher and Jalon. One of Mered’s wives gave birth to Miriam, Shammai and Ishbah the father of Eshtemoa.  (His wife from the tribe of Judah gave birth to Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soko, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.) These were the children of Pharaoh’s daughter Bithiah, whom Mered had married. The sons of Hodiah’s wife, the sister of Naham: the father of Keilah the Garmite, and Eshtemoa the Maakathite.  The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-Hanan and Tilon. The descendants of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-Zoheth.  The sons of Shelah son of Judah: Er the father of Lekah, Laadah the father of Mareshah and the clans of the linen workers at Beth Ashbea,  Jokim, the men of Kozeba, and Joash and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and Jashubi Lehem. (These records are from ancient times.)  They were the potters who lived at Netaim and Gederah; they stayed there and worked for the king.

NOTES:

Among the other clans of Judah, there were a few clans that were given emphasis but the most is Jabez.  It was said that he was more honorable than his brothers, not because he was successful or he had wealth or he was popular, or he was skillful, in fact, his name declared his fate.  He was born in pain and his life speaks pain before he could even experienced joy.  But Jabez became honorable because he did not just settle for what was predicted to by his name or his mother.  Jabez, accepted his fate but decided to plead before God to reverse it.  Now Jabez knew his fate is out of his control.  Jabez knew there was no way to reverse it unless God Himself does so.  And so Jabez came to the only Person he knew can make things new.  He prayed to God, recognizing God as the only Powerful Being who can change things for his life and so he prayed and prayed and God answered because Jabez believed and his life then became a testimony for people around the globe at all times glorify God!  Hallelujah!  Also take note of the other clans given emphasis, joab as the skilled workers, Laadah the father of Mareshah and the clans of the linen workers, and Saraph who ruled Moab and Jashubi Lehem and the potters who stayed and worked for the king.  These clans were specifically mentioned and given descriptions for a purpose.

→ Simeon

The descendants of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah and Shaul; Shallum was Shaul’s son, Mibsam his son and Mishma his son.  The descendants of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zakkur his son and Shimei his son.  Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters, but his brothers did not have many children; so their entire clan did not become as numerous as the people of Judah. They lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar Shual, Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,  Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri and Shaaraim. These were their towns until the reign of David. Their surrounding villages were Etam, Ain,Rimmon, Token and Ashan—five towns— and all the villages around these towns as far as Baalath.^[g] These were their settlements. And they kept a genealogical record.  Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amaziah,  Joel, Jehu son of Joshibiah, the son of Seraiah, the son of Asiel, also Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, and Ziza son of Shiphi, the son of Allon, the son of Jedaiah, the son of Shimri, the son of Shemaiah.  The men listed above by name were leaders of their clans. Their families increased greatly, and they went to the outskirts of Gedor to the east of the valley in search of pasture for their flocks. They found rich, good pasture, and the land was spacious, peaceful and quiet. Some Hamites had lived there formerly.  The men whose names were listed came in the days of Hezekiah king of Judah. They attacked the Hamites in their dwellings and also the Meunites who were there and completely destroyed^[h] them, as is evident to this day. Then they settled in their place, because there was pasture for their flocks.  And five hundred of these Simeonites, led by Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi, invaded the hill country of Seir.  They killed the remaining Amalekites who had escaped, and they have lived there to this day.

NOTES:

Ø  The passage above shows the descendants of Simeon.  They are not a big clan but note that despite of their numbers, the Lord blessed and increased their families.  Record showed that they found rich, good pasture, and the land was spacious, peaceful and quiet.  So despite of their small clan, God never gave them small blessings.  Clearly, God showed His equality in this passage again.  God treated everyone equal even those who are less in numbers.  In fact, God gave them more than what they deserve.  They received a spacious land, peaceful and quiet.  It has rich and good pasture.  So God blessings does not based on our own productivity or our ability to increase and grow in numbers.  God blessed us the same way He would blessed His every children!  Thank You Lord!

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, Amazing Lord and King!  Thank You because everything You spoke of have meaning and deeper purpose.  Many times, we do not know but we can be assured that when You spoke of it, then it has a greater meaning and plan.  Lord help us to be like Jabez who accepted his fate but did not settle.  Instead he came to the only Person who can change things, You.  So Lord, help us to accept our fate and not deny it but give us the courage and heart like Jabez, who had the patience to plead to You and to recognize that his fate is not final until You said it so.  Help me to have the same character and behavior Lord – that I will always look up to You because miracles are your normal actions and whatever is impossible to me, is definitely 100% more possible to You.  Help me Lord to never consider my productivity in how You planned and prepare things for me, because You are a just God and You do consider my pleas but You always based everything in Your spoken word.  Give me an open heart to understand and knowledge to know what to do and obedience to Your will always.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen!