In this video listen to 1 Chronicles Chapter 4, read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.

In 1 Chronicles 4 is the fourth of 9 entire chapters of genealogies of the people of God and Israel right through to the exile.

The genealogies start going through the tribes one by one. They begin with Judah, and then next is Simeon, an interesting order, given that these were sons, number 4 and 2 in order. Reuben the first born comes in third in the next chapter.

This chapter features Jabez, a man who despite having only one verse in the entire Bible, has had enumerable sermons preached about him, and the source of much Christian merchandise. The name Jabez means “he makes sorrowful.” His birth seems to have been so traumatic for his mother, that it caused his name to mean “pain.”

Hence is prayer to not cause pain ...