1 Chronicles 4:43

And they smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped,.... That escaped the sword of Saul; though, according to the Jews (n), 100,000 of them were slain by him in one day; and of the sword of

And they smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped, and dwelt there unto this day. Dwelt there unto this day.

The rest of the Amalekites; not destroyed by Saul, or David, or his successors. Unto this day; either, 1. Until the captivity of the ten tribes. But that happening so speedily after this time, this expression may seem to be very improper and insignificant here. Or rather, 2. Until the Babylonish captivity, or the time next after it, when these books were written. For although the main body of that tribe dwelling in Canaan were carried into captivity, yet this small remnant of them having removed their dwellings, and being planted in Mount Seir, which lay southward from Judah, might possibly be continued and preserved in those parts, when their brethren were gone into captivity.

1 Chronicles 4:43 And they smote the rest of the Amalekites that were escaped, and dwelt there unto this day.Ver. 43. And they smote the rest of the Amalekites.] Whose preservation from the sword of Joshua, of Saul, and of David, was but a reservation to this utter destruction, which God had solemnly sworn, with hand laid upon his own throne.

(43) The rest of the Amalekites that were escaped.—Literally, the remnant of the survivors (pelêtâh, an abstract collective word) belonging to Amalek. These Amalekites are usually supposed to have been some who had taken refuge in Seir from Saul and David’s exterminating wars (1 Samuel 14:48; 1 Samuel 15:7; 2 Samuel 8:12. Comp. 1 Chronicles 1:36, where Amalek appears as a partly Edomite stock.)

Verse 43. They smote the rest of the Amalekites] Those who had escaped in the war which Saul made against them, (see 1 Samuel 14:48,) and from David, who had attacked them afterwards, 2 Samuel 8:12. THE expedition of the Simeonites mentioned here, against Gedor and Seir, was in the days of Hezekiah; and, as Calmet conjectures, near about the time of the captivity of the ten tribes, when the remnant of Simeon would feel themselves obliged to retire more southward, into Arabia Petraea, for fear of the Jews. These may be probable conjectures. - See Calmet. There are several things in the account of Jabez that are very instructive: - 1. He appears to have been a child brought into the world with great difficulty, at the risk of his own life and that of his mother. So much seems to be implied in, she bare him with sorrow, i.e., with peculiar sorrow and danger. 2. To perpetuate the merciful interposition of God in her own and her son's behalf, she gave him a name that must have recalled to her and his remembrance the danger to which both their lives were exposed, and from which they could not have been extricated but by the especial help of God. She called his name Jabez, c. 3. He was brought up in the fear of God he was no idolater; he worshipped the God of Israel, and he showed the sincerity of his faith by frequent and earnest prayer. 4. His prayer was at once both enlightened and pious. He had piety towards God, and therefore he trusted in him: he knew that he was the fountain of all good, and therefore he sought all necessaries both for body and soul from him. He prayed to the God of Israel. 5. Both the matter and manner of his prayer were excellent. His heart was deeply impressed with its wants, and therefore he was earnest and fervent; O that thou wouldest bless me indeed; אם ברך תברכני im barech tebarecheni; "O that in blessing thou wouldest bless me!" Let me live under thy benediction! Do thou diligently and frequently bless me! 6. He prays for the things necessary for the body as well as for the soul: And enlarge my coasts - grant me as much territory as may support my family. Let the means of living be adequate to the demands of life; let me have the necessaries, conveniences, and, as far as they may be safely intrusted with me, the comforts of life! O that thou wouldest enlarge my coasts! 7. He is conscious that without the continual support of God he must fail; and therefore he prays to be upheld by his power: That thy hand might be with me! May I ever walk with thee, and ever feel the hand of thy power to support and cover me in all the trials, dangers, and difficulties of life; and the hand of thy providence to supply all my wants in reference to both worlds! 8.

43. the rest of the Amalekites] R.V. the remnant of the Amalekites i.e. the descendants of those who had escaped from Saul (1 Samuel 15). They had apparently found refuge in some part of the Edomite territory, for Mount Seir is a synonym for the land of Edom.

Unto this day - These words are probably taken from the record which the writer of Chronicles had before him, and do not imply that the Simeonites remained undisturbed in their conquests until after the return from the captivity.

43. The Amalekites that were escaped — Supposed to be those who escaped the sword of Saul and David. 1 Samuel 14:48; 2 Samuel 8:12.