1 Chronicles 4 31

1 Chronicles 4:31 kjv

And at Bethmarcaboth, and Hazarsusim, and at Bethbirei, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities unto the reign of David.

1 Chronicles 4:31 nkjv

Beth Marcaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri, and at Shaaraim. These were their cities until the reign of David.

1 Chronicles 4:31 niv

Beth Markaboth, Hazar Susim, Beth Biri and Shaaraim. These were their towns until the reign of David.

1 Chronicles 4:31 esv

Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David reigned.

1 Chronicles 4:31 nlt

Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These towns were under their control until the time of King David.

1 Chronicles 4 verses

1 Chronicles 4 31 Meaning

First Chronicles 4:31 details additional cities allotted to the tribe of Simeon: Beth-marcahoth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. The verse significantly concludes with the statement, "These were their cities until the reign of David." This temporal qualifier indicates that the independent possession or distinctive identity of these specific cities as solely Simeonite settlements ceased, or underwent significant change and absorption into the larger kingdom, by the time David became king over all Israel. It marks a historical boundary for Simeon's prominent tribal control over these regions.

1 Chronicles 4 31 Context

First Chronicles 4:31 is embedded within the extensive genealogies presented by the Chronicler in chapters 1-9. Specifically, it belongs to the section detailing the lineage and territories of the tribe of Simeon (1 Chr 4:24-43). The Chronicler's primary goal in presenting these detailed tribal records, especially for less prominent tribes like Simeon, was to demonstrate the continuity of Israel's twelve tribes despite exile and dispersion, reaffirming their inheritance of the promised land and their place within God's covenant plan. For the post-exilic community, this provided a vital link to their heritage, establishing identity and claims to land. The inclusion of the phrase "until the reign of David" is a precise historical detail that underscores the fluidity of tribal boundaries and control, even for divinely allocated lands, particularly during significant political shifts. It implies that the full unification of the kingdom under David reshaped tribal distinctions and administrative control, leading to Simeon's deeper integration or absorption into Judah.

1 Chronicles 4 31 Word analysis

• and Beth-marcahoth: (Hebrew: בֵּית מַרְכָּבוֹת, Bet Markabot). Literally "House of Chariots." This name suggests a strategic location, possibly a depot for chariots or a fortified town important for military logistics, given its position in the borderlands frequently contested with the Philistines. It appears as "Beth-marcaboth" in Jos 19:5, indicating a slight variation but common identity.
• and Hazar-susim: (Hebrew: חֲצַר סוּסִים, Hatzar Susim). Literally "Court of Horses" or "Village of Horses." This name, similar to Beth-marcahoth, reinforces the military and logistical significance, indicating a place where horses were kept or bred, again relevant to border defenses or travel. In Jos 19:5, it is referred to as "Hazar-susah." David himself sent spoils to "Hazar-susim" according to 1 Sam 30:31, confirming its existence and his connection to the region.
• and Beth-biri: (Hebrew: בֵּית בִּרְאִי, Bet Bir'i). The precise meaning is debated; it could mean "House of My Creator" or "House of a Well/Fountain." This name is unique to Chronicles and is commonly equated by scholars with "Beth-lebaoth" ("House of Lionesses") found in Jos 19:6, suggesting a scribal or linguistic variant or a later name. If Beth-lebaoth, it suggests a wilder, less settled area.
• and Shaaraim: (Hebrew: שַׁעֲרַיִם, Sha'arayim). Literally "Two Gates." This name strongly implies a well-fortified city with prominent, perhaps double, gates. Cities with multiple or large gates were often significant centers for trade, defense, or administration. It is also mentioned in Jos 15:36 (as part of Judah's inheritance in the Shephelah) and Jos 19:6 (as part of Simeon's inheritance). The existence of the city across tribal listings speaks to the overlapping nature of the regions.
• These were their cities: This phrase directly attributes ownership or, more accurately, the inherited portion, to the tribe of Simeon. It marks the conclusion of a list of specific urban centers.
• until the reign of David: (Hebrew: עַד־מְלֹךְ דָּוִיד, ʻad-melokh David). This is the pivotal temporal marker in the verse. It indicates a significant historical watershed. It does not necessarily mean the cities ceased to exist, but rather that their status as distinct Simeonite enclaves changed. This could imply they were:
  • Absorbed Administratively: Integrated directly into Judah's royal administration under David's centralized rule, blurring tribal lines for taxation or governance.
  • Lost in Conflict: Possibly lost to Philistines or other enemies during Saul's reign, and subsequently re-conquered and administered differently by David.
  • Reassigned/Reallocated: David, as the unified monarch, may have restructured land use or ownership, especially for territories like Simeon's that were already deeply intermingled with Judah.
  • Reflecting the Chronicler's Perspective: The Chronicler, writing post-exile, knew that in his own day, these places were not known primarily as "Simeonite cities." Pinpointing "David's reign" as the boundary serves as a convenient and historically significant marker for this change.
  This phrase highlights David's transformative role in Israel's history, extending to even the minute details of tribal territorial status.

1 Chronicles 4 31 Bonus section

The tribal genealogies in Chronicles often reveal an internal struggle of the post-exilic community: How to define "Israel" and re-establish identity after the loss of the northern kingdom and the exile of the south. By painstakingly detailing the Simeonites, even down to which specific cities they held and when that tenure changed, the Chronicler sought to validate their historical existence and connection to the covenant land. The explicit dating of "until the reign of David" points to the Chronicler's meticulous historical methodology and his desire to root the post-exilic community's identity deeply in their pre-exilic, especially monarchical, history. This precision often aids in understanding textual variants across different biblical books, for instance, linking "Beth-biri" in Chronicles to "Beth-lebaoth" in Joshua, which suggests either linguistic evolution of names, alternative local spellings, or the Chronicler's unique sourcing. The inclusion of these cities also provides valuable archaeological insights into settlement patterns and military importance of the southern border regions in early Israelite history.

1 Chronicles 4 31 Commentary

First Chronicles 4:31 concisely presents a list of four Simeonite cities: Beth-marcahoth ("House of Chariots"), Hazar-susim ("Court of Horses"), Beth-biri (possibly "House of a Well" or "House of Lionesses"), and Shaaraim ("Two Gates"). The strategic and militaristic connotations of the first two names, along with Shaaraim's suggestion of fortification, point to these cities' importance in the southern Shephelah/Negev region, often a frontier area. The crucial phrase, "These were their cities until the reign of David," serves as a historical and theological marker. It underscores that by the time David had fully established his reign over a united Israel, the distinctive independent territorial claim of Simeon over these particular cities had ended or drastically changed. This aligns with Jacob's prophecy in Genesis 49:7, foretelling Simeon's scattering within Israel. David's reign represented a new epoch of centralization and unification, wherein traditional tribal distinctions, especially for a geographically absorbed tribe like Simeon, naturally began to diminish in administrative significance. The Chronicler includes this detail to meticulously track the destiny of each tribe within God's larger redemptive narrative, showing how even the nuances of tribal land inheritance were affected by historical events and divine providence.