1Ch 1:43-50 | Clarke | STEP | Verse 43 Before any king reigned over - Israel - See (note), etc., where the same verses occur, as I have supposed borrowed from this place; and see the notes there. Bela the son of Beor - "Balaam the impious son of Beor, the same as Laban the Syrian, who formed a confederacy with the sons of Esau, to destroy Jacob and his children; and he studied to destroy them utterly. Afterwards he reigned in Sodom; and the name of his royal city was Dinhabah, because it was undeservedly given to him."

1 Chronicles 1:43-50

Verse 43

Before any king reigned over - Israel - See Gen 36:31 (note), etc., where the same verses occur, as I have supposed borrowed from this place; and see the notes there.

Bela the son of Beor - "Balaam the impious son of Beor, the same as Laban the Syrian, who formed a confederacy with the sons of Esau, to destroy Jacob and his children; and he studied to destroy them utterly. Afterwards he reigned in Sodom; and the name of his royal city was Dinhabah, because it was undeservedly given to him." - T. Verse 44

Bela was dead - "Being killed by Phineas, in the wilderness." - T.

Jobab the son of Zerah - Supposed by some to be the same as Job, whose book forms a part of the canon of Scripture. But in their names there is no similarity; Job being written איוב aiyob; Jobab, יובב yobab. See the notes on Job, and the parallel place in Genesis. Verse 46

Smote Midian - Nothing is known of this war. Verse 48

By the river - "Shaul of Plathiutha, a great city, built on the banks of the Euphrates." - T. Verse 50

Daughter of Mezahab - This word מי זהב mey zahab, is literally the golden waters; or What is gold? The Targumist paraphrases thus: "Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, was so earnest and diligent in business that she became immensely rich; but when she was converted, she said, What is this silver, and What is this gold? That is, They are of no real worth.