TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

I - Chapter 4

1The sons of Yehuda: Peretz, Chetzron, Carmi, Chur, and Shobal.

אבְּנֵי יְהוּדָה פֶּרֶץ חֶצְרוֹן וְכַרְמִי וְחוּר וְשׁוֹבָל׃

2Reaiah son of Shobal begot Jahath, and Jahath begot Ahumai and Lahad. These were the families of the Zorathites.

בוּרְאָיָה בֶן־שׁוֹבָל הוֹלִיד אֶת־יַחַת וְיַחַת הֹלִיד אֶת־אֲחוּמַי וְאֶת־לָהַד אֵלֶּה מִשְׁפְּחוֹת הַצָּרְעָתִי׃

3These were [the sons of] the father of Etam: Yizrael, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazlelponi,

גוְאֵלֶּה אֲבִי עֵיטָם יִזְרְעֶאל וְיִשְׁמָא וְיִדְבָּשׁ וְשֵׁם אֲחוֹתָם הַצְלֶלְפּוֹנִי׃

4and Penuel was the father of Gedor, and Ezer the father of Hushah. These were the sons of Chur, the first-born of Efrat, the father of Beit Lechem.

דוּפְנוּאֵל אֲבִי גְדֹר וְעֵזֶר אֲבִי חוּשָׁה אֵלֶּה בְנֵי־חוּר בְּכוֹר אֶפְרָתָה אֲבִי בֵּית לָחֶם׃

5Ashhur the father of Tekoa had two wives, Helah and Naarah;

הוּלְאַשְׁחוּר אֲבִי תְקוֹעַ הָיוּ שְׁתֵּי נָשִׁים חֶלְאָה וְנַעֲרָה׃

6Naarah bore him Ahuzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Ahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.

ווַתֵּלֶד לוֹ נַעֲרָה אֶת־אֲחֻזָּם וְאֶת־חֵפֶר וְאֶת־תֵּימְנִי וְאֶת־הָאֲחַשְׁתָּרִי אֵלֶּה בְּנֵי נַעֲרָה׃

7The sons of Helah: Zereth, Zohar, and Ethnan.

זוּבְנֵי חֶלְאָה צֶרֶת יצחר [וְצֹחַר] וְאֶתְנָן׃

8Koz was the father of Anub, Zobebah, and the families of Aharhel son of Harum.

חוְקוֹץ הוֹלִיד אֶת־עָנוּב וְאֶת־הַצֹּבֵבָה וּמִשְׁפְּחוֹת אֲחַרְחֵל בֶּן־הָרוּם׃

9Jabez was more esteemed than his brothers; and his mother named him Jabez, “Because,” she said, “I bore him in pain.”

טוַיְהִי יַעְבֵּץ נִכְבָּד מֵאֶחָיו וְאִמּוֹ קָרְאָה שְׁמוֹ יַעְבֵּץ לֵאמֹר כִּי יָלַדְתִּי בְּעֹצֶב׃

10Jabez invoked the God of Yisrael, saying, “Oh, bless me, enlarge my territory, stand by me, and make me not suffer pain from misfortune!” And Hashem granted what he asked.

יוַיִּקְרָא יַעְבֵּץ לֵאלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר אִם־בָּרֵךְ תְּבָרֲכֵנִי וְהִרְבִּיתָ אֶת־גְּבוּלִי וְהָיְתָה יָדְךָ עִמִּי וְעָשִׂיתָ מֵּרָעָה לְבִלְתִּי עָצְבִּי וַיָּבֵא אֱלֹהִים אֵת אֲשֶׁר־שָׁאָל׃

11Chelub the brother of Shuhah begot Mehir, who was the father of Eshton.

יאוּכְלוּב אֲחִי־שׁוּחָה הוֹלִיד אֶת־מְחִיר הוּא אֲבִי אֶשְׁתּוֹן׃

12Eshton begot Bethrapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah father of Ir-nahash. These were the men of Recah.

יבוְאֶשְׁתּוֹן הוֹלִיד אֶת־בֵּית רָפָא וְאֶת־פָּסֵחַ וְאֶת־תְּחִנָּה אֲבִי עִיר נָחָשׁ אֵלֶּה אַנְשֵׁי רֵכָה׃

13The sons of Kenaz: Otniel and Seraya; and the sons of Otniel:

יגוּבְנֵי קְנַז עָתְנִיאֵל וּשְׂרָיָה וּבְנֵי עָתְנִיאֵל חֲתַת׃

14Hathath and Meonothai. He begot Ophrah. Seraya begot Yoav father of Ge-harashim, so-called because they were craftsmen.

ידוּמְעוֹנֹתַי הוֹלִיד אֶת־עָפְרָה וּשְׂרָיָה הוֹלִיד אֶת־יוֹאָב אֲבִי גֵּיא חֲרָשִׁים כִּי חֲרָשִׁים הָיוּ׃

15The sons of Kalev son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam; and the sons of Elah: Kenaz.

טווּבְנֵי כָּלֵב בֶּן־יְפֻנֶּה עִירוּ אֵלָה וָנָעַם וּבְנֵי אֵלָה וּקְנַז׃

16The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.

טזוּבְנֵי יְהַלֶּלְאֵל זִיף וְזִיפָה תִּירְיָא וַאֲשַׂרְאֵל׃

17The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. She conceived and bore Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah father of Eshtemoa.

יזוּבֶן־עֶזְרָה יֶתֶר וּמֶרֶד וְעֵפֶר וְיָלוֹן וַתַּהַר אֶת־מִרְיָם וְאֶת־שַׁמַּי וְאֶת־יִשְׁבָּח אֲבִי אֶשְׁתְּמֹעַ׃

18And his Judahite wife bore Jered father of Gedor, Chever father of Soco, and Jekuthiel father of Zanoach. These were the sons of Bithiah daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered married.

יחוְאִשְׁתּוֹ הַיְהֻדִיָּה יָלְדָה אֶת־יֶרֶד אֲבִי גְדוֹר וְאֶת־חֶבֶר אֲבִי שׂוֹכוֹ וְאֶת־יְקוּתִיאֵל אֲבִי זָנוֹחַ וְאֵלֶּה בְּנֵי בִּתְיָה בַת־פַּרְעֹה אֲשֶׁר לָקַח מָרֶד׃

19The sons of the wife of Hodiah sister of Naham were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.

יטוּבְנֵי אֵשֶׁת הוֹדִיָּה אֲחוֹת נַחַם אֲבִי קְעִילָה הַגַּרְמִי וְאֶשְׁתְּמֹעַ הַמַּעֲכָתִי׃

20The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. The sons of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-zoheth.

כוּבְנֵי שִׁימוֹן אַמְנוֹן וְרִנָּה בֶּן־חָנָן ותולון [וְתִילוֹן] וּבְנֵי יִשְׁעִי זוֹחֵת וּבֶן־זוֹחֵת׃

21The sons of Sheila son of Yehuda: Er father of Lecah, Laadah father of Mareshah, and the families of the linen factory at Beth-ashbea;

כאבְּנֵי שֵׁלָה בֶן־יְהוּדָה עֵר אֲבִי לֵכָה וְלַעְדָּה אֲבִי מָרֵשָׁה וּמִשְׁפְּחוֹת בֵּית־עֲבֹדַת הַבֻּץ לְבֵית אַשְׁבֵּעַ׃

22and Jokim, and the men of Cozeba and Yoash, and Saraph, who married into Moab and Yashuvi Lehem (the records are ancient).

כבוְיוֹקִים וְאַנְשֵׁי כֹזֵבָא וְיוֹאָשׁ וְשָׂרָף אֲשֶׁר־בָּעֲלוּ לְמוֹאָב וְיָשֻׁבִי לָחֶם וְהַדְּבָרִים עַתִּיקִים׃

23These were the potters who dwelt at Netaim and Gedera; they dwelt there in the king's service.

כגהֵמָּה הַיּוֹצְרִים וְיֹשְׁבֵי נְטָעִים וּגְדֵרָה עִם־הַמֶּלֶךְ בִּמְלַאכְתּוֹ יָשְׁבוּ שָׁם׃

24The sons of Shimon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerach, Shaul;

כדבְּנֵי שִׁמְעוֹן נְמוּאֵל וְיָמִין יָרִיב זֶרַח שָׁאוּל׃

25his son Shalum, his son Mibsam, his son Mishma.

כהשַׁלֻּם בְּנוֹ מִבְשָׂם בְּנוֹ מִשְׁמָע בְּנוֹ׃

26The sons of Mishma: his son Hammuel, his son Zaccur, his son Shim'i.

כווּבְנֵי מִשְׁמָע חַמּוּאֵל בְּנוֹ זַכּוּר בְּנוֹ שִׁמְעִי בְנוֹ׃

27Shim'i had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers had not many children; in all, their families were not as prolific as the Judahites.

כזוּלְשִׁמְעִי בָּנִים שִׁשָּׁה עָשָׂר וּבָנוֹת שֵׁשׁ וּלְאֶחָיו אֵין בָּנִים רַבִּים וְכֹל מִשְׁפַּחְתָּם לֹא הִרְבּוּ עַד־בְּנֵי יְהוּדָה׃

28They dwelt in Be'er Sheva, Moladah, Hazar-shual,

כחוַיֵּשְׁבוּ בִּבְאֵר־שֶׁבַע וּמוֹלָדָה וַחֲצַר שׁוּעָל׃

29Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad,

כטוּבְבִלְהָה וּבְעֶצֶם וּבְתוֹלָד׃

30Bethuel, Hormah, Tziklag,

לוּבִבְתוּאֵל וּבְחָרְמָה וּבְצִיקְלָג׃

31Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaarayim. These were their towns until David became king,

לאוּבְבֵית מַרְכָּבוֹת וּבַחֲצַר סוּסִים וּבְבֵית בִּרְאִי וּבְשַׁעֲרָיִם אֵלֶּה עָרֵיהֶם עַד־מְלֹךְ דָּוִיד׃

32together with their villages, Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan—five towns,

לבוְחַצְרֵיהֶם עֵיטָם וָעַיִן רִמּוֹן וְתֹכֶן וְעָשָׁן עָרִים חָמֵשׁ׃

33along with all their villages that were around these towns as far as Baal; such were their settlements. Registered in their genealogy were:

לגוְכָל־חַצְרֵיהֶם אֲשֶׁר סְבִיבוֹת הֶעָרִים הָאֵלֶּה עַד־בָּעַל זֹאת מוֹשְׁבֹתָם וְהִתְיַחְשָׂם לָהֶם׃

34Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah son of Amatzya,

לדוּמְשׁוֹבָב וְיַמְלֵךְ וְיוֹשָׁה בֶּן־אֲמַצְיָה׃

35Yoel, Yehu son of Joshibiah son of Seraya son of Asiel.

להוְיוֹאֵל וְיֵהוּא בֶּן־יוֹשִׁבְיָה בֶּן־שְׂרָיָה בֶּן־עֲשִׂיאֵל׃

36Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah,

לווְאֶלְיוֹעֵינַי וְיַעֲקֹבָה וִישׁוֹחָיָה וַעֲשָׂיָה וַעֲדִיאֵל וִישִׂימִאֵל וּבְנָיָה׃

37Ziza son of Shiphi son of Allon son of Jedaiah son of Shimri son of Shemaya

לזוְזִיזָא בֶן־שִׁפְעִי בֶן־אַלּוֹן בֶּן־יְדָיָה בֶן־שִׁמְרִי בֶּן־שְׁמַעְיָה׃

38these mentioned by name were chiefs in their families, and their clans increased greatly.

לחאֵלֶּה הַבָּאִים בְּשֵׁמוֹת נְשִׂיאִים בְּמִשְׁפְּחוֹתָם וּבֵית אֲבוֹתֵיהֶם פָּרְצוּ לָרוֹב׃

39They went to the approaches to Gedor, to the eastern side of the valley, in search of pasture for their flocks.

לטוַיֵּלְכוּ לִמְבוֹא גְדֹר עַד לְמִזְרַח הַגָּיְא לְבַקֵּשׁ מִרְעֶה לְצֹאנָם׃

40They found rich, good pasture, and the land was ample, quiet, and peaceful. The former inhabitants were of Ham;

va-yim-tz'-U mir-EH sha-MAYN va-TOV v'-ha-A-retz ra-kha-VAT ya-DA-yim v'-sho-KE-tet ush-lay-VAH KEE min KHAM ha-yo-sh'-VEEM sham l'-fa-NEEM

מוַיִּמְצְאוּ מִרְעֶה שָׁמֵן וָטוֹב וְהָאָרֶץ רַחֲבַת יָדַיִם וְשֹׁקֶטֶת וּשְׁלֵוָה כִּי מִן־חָם הַיֹּשְׁבִים שָׁם לְפָנִים׃

 4:40   The land was ample, quiet, and peaceful

The Hebrew word for ‘peaceful’ in this verse is shalva (שלוה), rather than the more common word ‘shalom’ (שלום). What is the difference between shalom and shalva? The 19th-century commentator Malbim explains that shalom refers an external peace, meaning that one is free from threats or harm. Shalva, on the other hand, refers to internal harmony. Accordingly, this verse teaches that the inhabitants of the cities of Shimon experienced not only a quiet security from outside threats, but also enjoyed peaceful coexistence with their brethren and neighbors. In his prayer for the peace of Jerusalem (Psalm 122:6) the Psalmist includes both terms: “Pray for the well-being (shalom) of Yerushalayim; may those who love you be at peace (shalva).”

41those recorded by name came in the days of King Chizkiyahu of Yehuda, and attacked their encampments and the Meunim who were found there, and wiped them out forever, and settled in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks.

מאוַיָּבֹאוּ אֵלֶּה הַכְּתוּבִים בְּשֵׁמוֹת בִּימֵי יְחִזְקִיָּהוּ מֶלֶךְ־יְהוּדָה וַיַּכּוּ אֶת־אָהֳלֵיהֶם וְאֶת־המעינים [הַמְּעוּנִים] אֲשֶׁר נִמְצְאוּ־שָׁמָּה וַיַּחֲרִימֻם עַד־הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה וַיֵּשְׁבוּ תַּחְתֵּיהֶם כִּי־מִרְעֶה לְצֹאנָם שָׁם׃

42And some of them, five hundred of the Simeonites, went to Mount Seir, with Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, sons of Ishi, at their head,

מבוּמֵהֶם מִן־בְּנֵי שִׁמְעוֹן הָלְכוּ לְהַר שֵׂעִיר אֲנָשִׁים חֲמֵשׁ מֵאוֹת וּפְלַטְיָה וּנְעַרְיָה וּרְפָיָה וְעֻזִּיאֵל בְּנֵי יִשְׁעִי בְּרֹאשָׁם׃

43and they destroyed the last surviving Amalekites, and they live there to this day.

מגוַיַּכּוּ אֶת־שְׁאֵרִית הַפְּלֵטָה לַעֲמָלֵק וַיֵּשְׁבוּ שָׁם עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה׃