Matthew Henry on 1 Chronicles 2:1-17
Here is, I. The family of Jacob. His twelve sons are here named, that illustrious number so often celebrated almost throughout the whole Bible, from the first to the last book of it. At every turn we meet with the twelve tribes that descended from these twelve patriarchs. The personal character of several of them was none of the best (the first four were much blemished), and yet the covenant was entailed on their seed; for it was of grace, free grace, that it was said, Jacob have I loved - not of works, lest any man should boast.
II. The family of Judah. That tribe was most praised, most increased, and most dignified, of any of the tribes, and therefore the genealogy of it is the first and l…
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These are the sons of Israel - For this genealogy see the parallel places at Gen 29:32; Gen 30:5; Gen 35:18, Gen 35:22; Gen 46:8, etc.
John Gill on 1 Chronicles 2:4
And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah,.... Through incest; they were twins, Genesis 38:27 all the sons of Judah were five; who are before mentioned by name.
Keil & Delitzsch on 1 Chronicles 2:4
And the sons of Zerah,.... The other twin of Judah:
Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara: five of them in all; the Targum calls them governors, and adds, on whom the spirit of prophecy dwelt; and in the Jewish chronology (n) they are said to prophesy in Egypt; and the four last are supposed to be the same with those in Kg1 4:31. See Gill on Kg1 4:31.
(n) Seder Olam Rabba, c. 20. p. 52.
Tyndale Open Study Notes on 1 Chronicles 2:4-5
The main ancestral line of David descends from Perez, one of the sons of Tamar, Judah’s widowed daughter-in-law. • Hamul, one of Perez’s sons, is ignored completely; the Chronicler might not have had information about him.
