1 Chronicles 2:55

“And the families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez, etc.] A city in Judah, the founder of which, perhaps, was Jabez, mentioned in (<130409>1 Chronicles 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…”

“the families of the scribes--either civil or ecclesiastical officers of the Kenite origin, who are here classed with the tribe of Judah, not as being descended from it, but as dwelling within its territory, and in a measure incorporated with its people. Jabez--a place in Judah (Ch1 4:9). Kenites that came of Hemath--who settled in Judah, and were thus distinguished from another division of the Kenite clan which dwelt in Manasseh (Jdg 4:11). Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 3”

“Kenites - It is remarkable that Kenites - people of a race quite distinct from the Israelites Genesis 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 Exodus 18:10-19; Numbers 10:29-32; 1 Samuel 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. return to 'Top of Page' Footnotes: Copyright Statement These files are public domain. Bibliographical Information Barnes, Albert. "Commentary on 1 Chronicles…”

“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. Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 3”

“the scribes: Ezr 7:6; Jer 8:8 Jabez: Ch1 4:9, Ch1 4:10 Kenites: Jdg 1:16, Jdg 4:11; Sa1 15:6 Rechab: Kg2 10:15; Jer 35:2-8, Jer 35:19 Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 3”