We know the names of the two towns where the king’s potters lived. Which king did they serve? The Chronicler never says. After tracing David’s royal line, he turns to the rest of Judah’s family. We meet a woman named Hazzelelponi alongside her three brothers, craftsmen whose trade gave a valley its name, and families who worked with linen. Along the way, the genealogy pauses for a prayer. Jabez, whose name reminded his mother of the pain of his birth, asks the God of Israel for a wider border and protection from harm. Why did God’s people, coming home from exile, need to hear this part of their family history?
The Rev. Roger Mullet, instructor of theology at Concordia University, Chicago in River Forest, Illinois, joins the Rev. Dr. Phil Booe to study 1 Chronicles 4:1–23.
When everything familiar has fallen apart, where do you begin again? For God’s people returning from exile, that question reaches into their homes, their worship, and even their very identity. First Chronicles answers with generations of names and a history that reminds a battered people whose they are. This study will explore Israel’s family tree, Saul’s tragic fall, David’s reign, and preparations for the temple. Why does worship stand at the center of Israel’s life? How can a holy God dwell among sinful people? And how does God fulfill His promise to establish David’s throne forever? Through familiar accounts and often-overlooked details, 1 Chronicles bears witness to God’s faithfulness despite His people’s failures and points to Jesus Christ, the Son of David, whose kingdom has no end and whose sacrifice brings sinners into God’s presence.
Thy Strong Word, hosted by Rev. Dr. Phil Booe, pastor of St. John Lutheran Church of Luverne, MN, reveals the light of our salvation in Christ through study of God’s Word, breaking our darkness with His redeeming light. Each weekday, two pastors fix our eyes on Jesus by considering Holy Scripture, verse by verse, in order to be strengthened in the Word and be equipped to faithfully serve in our daily vocations. Submit comments or questions to: thystrongword@kfuo.org.
Thy Strong Word is graciously underwritten by the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. Through the mission gifts of people like you, LHF translates, publishes, distributes and introduces books that are Bible-based, Christ-centered and Reformation-driven. Learn more at lhfmissions.org.
1 Chronicles 4:1-23
Descendants of Judah
[1] The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal. [2] Reaiah the son of Shobal fathered Jahath, and Jahath fathered Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites. [3] These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi, [4] and Penuel fathered Gedor, and Ezer fathered Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem. [5] Ashhur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives, Helah and Naarah; [6] Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah. [7] The sons of Helah: Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan. [8] Koz fathered Anub, Zobebah, and the clans of Aharhel, the son of Harum. [9] Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain.” [10] Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked. [11] Chelub, the brother of Shuhah, fathered Mehir, who fathered Eshton. [12] Eshton fathered Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah, the father of Ir-nahash. These are the men of Recah. [13] The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah; and the sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai. [14] Meonothai fathered Ophrah; and Seraiah fathered Joab, the father of Ge-harashim, so-called because they were craftsmen. [15] The sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam; and the son of Elah: Kenaz. [16] The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel. [17] The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. These are the sons of Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered married; and she conceived and bore Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, the father of Eshtemoa. [18] And his Judahite wife bore Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah. [19] The sons of the wife of Hodiah, the sister of Naham, were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite. [20] The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. The sons of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-zoheth. [21] The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the clans of the house of linen workers at Beth-ashbea; [22] and Jokim, and the men of Cozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and returned to Lehem (now the records are ancient). [23] These were the potters who were inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah. They lived there in the king’s service.
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
