These were the sons of Caleb the son of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah; Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim,

1 CHRONICLES 2:50KJV
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1 Chronicles 2:50 (KJV)

What does 1 Chronicles 2:50 mean?

1 Chronicles 2:50 lists some of the descendants of Caleb, specifically naming Shobal as the father of Kirjathjearim. The verse is part of a genealogy that traces the family lines of important figures in Israel’s history.

This verse appears in a section where the writer is carefully recording the lineage of Judah’s descendants. The focus is on Caleb, called the son of Hur and the firstborn of Ephratah, and his son Shobal, who is linked to the town of Kirjathjearim. The purpose is to show the ancestry and connections of families and towns in ancient Israel.

The Hebrew behind 1 Chronicles 2:50

  • כָּלֵב (Kaleb): This is the name Caleb, an important figure in Judah’s tribe. Naming him as the son of חוּר (Hur) and the firstborn of אֶפְרָתָה (Ephratah) connects him to well-known ancestors and locations.
  • שׁוֹבָל (Shoval): Shobal is named as a son of Caleb and is identified as the father (אָב, av) of קִרְיַת יְעָרִים (Kirjathjearim), a significant town. This ties a person to a place, showing how family lines helped establish settlements.
  • בֵּן (ben): This word means "son," and its repeated use in the genealogy emphasizes family relationships and inheritance.

Why 1 Chronicles 2:50 matters

  • This verse helps clarify the connections between people and places in Israel’s early history, showing how towns like Kirjathjearim were linked to specific families.
  • It emphasizes the importance of genealogies in the Bible, which were used to establish identity, inheritance, and tribal territory.
  • By tracing Caleb’s line, the verse connects to earlier stories about Caleb’s faithfulness and his role in Israel’s journey to the Promised Land, giving more context to his descendants’ significance.

Where else these words appear

“Ephratah” Hebrew H672 · used in 9 verses

  • Genesis 35:16 And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour.
  • Genesis 48:7 And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.
  • 1 Chronicles 4:4 And Penuel the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These are the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephratah, the father of Bethlehem.

“Shobal” Hebrew H7732 · used in 9 verses

  • Genesis 36:20 These are the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah,
  • Genesis 36:29 These are the dukes that came of the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke Zibeon, duke Anah,
  • 1 Chronicles 2:52 And Shobal the father of Kirjathjearim had sons; Haroeh, and half of the Manahethites.

“Hur” Hebrew H2354 · used in 15 verses

  • Exodus 17:10 So Joshua did as Moses had said to him, and fought with Amalek: and Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
  • Exodus 35:30 And Moses said unto the children of Israel, See, the LORD hath called by name Bezaleel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah;
  • 1 Chronicles 2:20 And Hur begat Uri, and Uri begat Bezaleel.

“Kirjathjearim” Hebrew H7157 · used in 19 verses

  • Joshua 9:17 And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.
  • Judges 18:12 And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.
  • 1 Chronicles 13:5 So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim.