Wesley Corpus

Chapter IV The prosperity of Shobal, ver. 1 - 4. Of Ashur, ver. 5 - 8. The character and prayer of Jabez, ver. 9, 10. The posterity of Chelah and others, ver. 11 - 20. Of Shelah, ver. 21 - 23. The posterity, cities and victories of Simeon, ver. 24 - 43. The sons - The posterity: for only Pharez was his immediate son. But they are all mentioned here only to shew Shobal's descent from Judah. Honourably - For courage, and for fervent piety. She records this, that it might be a memorandum to herself, to be thankful to God as long as she lived, for bringing her through that sorrow: and a memorandum to him, that she bore him into a vale of tears, in which he might expect few days and full of trouble. And the sorrow in his name might serve to put a seriousness upon his spirit. Called - When he was undertaking some great and dangerous service. Enlarge - Drive out these Canaanites, whom thou hast commanded us to root out. Grieve - That it may not oppress and overcome me: more is understood than is expressed. He useth this expression in allusion to his name, which signifies grief. And God granted, &c. - Prospered him remarkably in his undertakings, in his studies, in his worldly business, and in his conflicts with the Canaanites. Rechab - From these are sprung the present inhabitants of Rechab, a town not elsewhere mentioned. Father - Of the inhabitants of the valley. Shelah - Having treated of the posterity of Judah by Pharez, and by Zara, he now comes to his progeny by Shelah. Had dominion - Which they ruled in the name and for the use of the kings of Judah, to whom Moab was subject from David's time. Ancient things - The sense is those blessed times are long since past. Our ancestors had the dominion over the Heathen, but their degenerate posterity are slaves in Chaldea, were they are employed as potters or gardeners, or in other servile works. There are - He seems to oppose their present servitude to their former glory, and to shew their mean spirits that had rather tarry among the Heathen to do their drudgery, than return to Jerusalem to serve God and enjoy their freedom.