(25) Ram the firstborn.--Not the same as the Ram, brother of Jerahmeel, of 1 Chronicles 2:9. (See Note at end of section.)
And Ahijah.--This is probably a mistake, as the conjunction is wanting in the Hebrew. The LXX. has, "his brother" the Hebrew for which might easily be misread Ahijah. So the Syriac and Arabic read, "and Ozem their sister." But the statement of 1 Chronicles 2:26, "Jerahmeel had also another wife," &c., makes it likely that the first wife was mentioned here; and, therefore, it is conjectured that Ahijah--usually a man's name--is the former wife; and that the right reading is "from Ahijah," which requires merely the restoration of the prefix m (me-Ahiyah), which has fallen out, as in other instances, after the m of Ozem immediately preceding.
Verses 25-41. - We reach here the second interruption in the account of Caleb's posterity. (A) Jerahmeel, though the eldest Hezronite son, has as yet been passed by in favour of Ram and in favour of Caleb, so far as regards part of his descendants. Jerahmeel himself is mentioned nowhere else, but his people collectively are (1 Samuel 27:10; 1 Samuel 30:29). On the other hand, this place alone supplies the lists of names, and we have not the aid of any collation. Ver. 25 purports in the Authorized Version to give five sons of Jerahmeel by his first wife, of name not given. The absence of the conjunction "and," however, in the Hebrew text before the last name, Ahijah, suggests that this may be the name of the first wife the presence of which seems greatly required by the contents of the next verse. Some particle being required, Le Clerc, accepting the suggestion of Junins and Tremellius, proposes to supply מֵאֵת, and Bertheau the same preposition, but in a simpler form, prefixed to the name Ahijah (see Barrington's 'Genealogies,' 1:180).
2:1-55 Genealogies. - We are now come to the register of the children of Israel, that distinguished people, who were to dwell alone, and not be reckoned among the nations. But now, in Christ, all are welcome to his salvation who come to him; all have equal privileges according to their faith in him, their love and devotedness to him. All that is truly valuable consists in the favour, peace, and image of God, and a life spent to his glory, in promoting the welfare of our fellow-creatures.
And the sons of Jerahmeel, the firstborn of Hezron, were Ram the firstborn,.... So called by his father after the name of his brother, see 1 Chronicles 2:9.
and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, and Ahijah; or "of Ahijah", as some (r) render it, this being the name of his wife, who bare him the sons before named, since mention is made of another wife in the next verse.
And Ahijah.--This is probably a mistake, as the conjunction is wanting in the Hebrew. The LXX. has, "his brother" the Hebrew for which might easily be misread Ahijah. So the Syriac and Arabic read, "and Ozem their sister." But the statement of 1 Chronicles 2:26, "Jerahmeel had also another wife," &c., makes it likely that the first wife was mentioned here; and, therefore, it is conjectured that Ahijah--usually a man's name--is the former wife; and that the right reading is "from Ahijah," which requires merely the restoration of the prefix m (me-Ahiyah), which has fallen out, as in other instances, after the m of Ozem immediately preceding.
and Bunah, and Oren, and Ozem, and Ahijah; or "of Ahijah", as some (r) render it, this being the name of his wife, who bare him the sons before named, since mention is made of another wife in the next verse.
(r) Junius, Tremellius, Piscator, Michaelis.