1 Chronicles 2:6

“And the sons of Zerah, etc.] 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 f13 they are said to prophesy in Egypt; and the four last are supposed to be the same with those in (<110431>1 Kings 4:31). ((See Gill on “<110431>1 Kings 4:31”)).”

“Zimri, and Ethan, and Heman, and Calcol, and Dara--These five are here stated to be the sons of Zerah, that is, of Ezra, whence they were called Ezrahites (Kg1 4:31). In that passage they are called "the sons of Mahol," which, however, is to be taken not as a proper name, but appellatively for "sons of music, dancing," &c. The traditional fame of their great sagacity and acquirements had descended to the time of Solomon and formed a standard of comparison for showing the superior wisdom of that monarch. Jewish writers say that they were looked up to as prophets by their countrymen during the abode in Egypt.”

“The sons of Zerah - Here, for the first time, the writer of Chronicles draws from sources not otherwise known to us, recording facts not mentioned in the earlier Scriptures. Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara, sons of Zerah, are only known to us from this passage, since there are no sufficient grounds for identifying them with the “sons of Mahol” (marginal reference). return to 'Top of Page'”

“Dara - If these be the same who are mentioned as the sons of Machol, Kg1 4:31, either the same man had two names, Zerah and Machol, as was usual among the Hebrews: or, one of these was their immediate father, and the other their grand - father. These are named, because they were the glory of their father's house. When the Holy Ghost would magnify the wisdom of Solomon, he saith, he was wiser than these four men. That four brothers should be so eminent, was a rare thing. 1 Chronicles 2:7”

“2:6-8 For the genealogy of Zerah, cp. Josh 7:1, 17; 1 Kgs 4:31 (Mahol might be another name for Zerah).”

“Zimri: i.e. snug; my song; my field, \[Strong's H2174\]. Ch1 2:6, Ch1 8:36, Ch1 9:42; Num 25:14; Kg1 16:9, Kg1 16:10, Kg1 16:12, Kg1 16:15, Kg1 16:16, Kg1 16:18, Kg1 16:20; Kg2 9:31; Jer 25:25 Zimri Personal Characteristics References 1. Captain of Elah king of Israel, whom he slew and succeeded, bc 930 Kg1 16:9, Kg1 16:10 2\. Captain of the Simeonites Num 25:14 3\. Descendant of Judah by Tamar Ch1 2:4 4\. Of the stock of Saul Ch1 8:36, Ch1 9:42 5\. A son of Zerah, the son of Judah, called Zabdi, which is apparently here called זמרי \[Strong's H2174\], Zimri, in consequence of a ב, baith, being mistaken for a מ, mem, and a ד, daleth, for a ר, raish. Ch1 2:6, Jos 7:1, Jos 7:17, Jos 7:18 6\. A…”

“Sons and descendants of Zerah. - In Ch1 2:6, five names are grouped together as בּנים of Zerah, which are found nowhere else so united. The first, Zimri, may be strictly a son; but זמרי may perhaps be a mistake for זבדּי, for Achan, who is in Ch1 2:7 the son of Carmi, is in Jos 7:1 called the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah. But זבדּי (Josh.) may also be an error for זמרי, or he may have been a son of Zimri, since in genealogical lists an intermediate member of the family is often passed over. Nothing certain can, however, be ascertained; both names are found elsewhere, but of persons belonging to other tribes: Zimri as prince of the Simeonites, Num 25:14; as Benjamite, Ch1…”