1 Chronicles 3:19

St. Matthew saith that Zerubbabel was son of Shealtiel, meaning, that he was his nephew according to the Hebrew speech: for he was Pedaiah’s son.

Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain. Text via Bolls.life.

Verse 19. The sons of Pedaiah] Houbigant thinks these words should be omitted. Pedaiah is wanting in the Arabic and Syriac. If this be omitted, Zerubbabel will appear to be the son of Salathiel, according to Mt 1:12, and not the son of Pedaiah, as here stated.

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

(19) And the sons of Pedaiah were, Zerubbabel, and Shimei.—Zerubbabel, the famous prince who, with Joshua the high priest, led the first colony of restored exiles from Babylon to Canaan, under the edict of Cyrus (B.C. cir. 536). Zerubbabel (LXX., Σοροβάβελ), means born at Babel. His father is appropriately named Pedaiah (Iah hath redeemed). Zerubbabel is called son of Shealtiel (Hag_1:1, &c.; Ezr_3:2; Ezr_5:2—part of the chronicle it should be remembered; Mat_1:12). Hence some expositors, ancient and modern, have assumed that the six persons named in 1Ch_3:18, including Pedaiah, the father of Zerubbabel, were sons, not brothers of Salathiel (Shealtiel). In this way they bring Zerubbabel into the direct line of descent from Shealtiel. But our Hebrew text, though peculiar, can hardly mean this. It makes Zerubbabel the son of Pedaiah, and nephew of Shealtiel. If Zerubbabel, for reasons unknown, became adopted son and heir of Shealtiel, his uncle, the seemingly discordant statements of the different passages before us are all reconciled; while that of our text is the more exact.

And the sons of Zerubbabel.—The Hebrew received text has “and the son.” This is not to be altered, although some MSS. have the plural. (Comp. 1Ch_3:21; 1Ch_3:23.) This use of the singular is characteristic of the present genealogical fragment (see 1Ch_3:17-18), “And the sons of Jeconiah captive—Salathiel his son, and Malchiram,” &c.

Meshullam, and Hananiah, and Shelomith their sister.—This seems to mean that the three were the offspring of one wife.

A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

19. the sons of Zerubbabel] R.V. = LXX.; A.V. = Heb.

19. their sister] R.V. was their sister.

19b–24. The Davidic Line from Zerubbabel

The text of these verses is very uncertain. In 1Ch_3:20 the names of five sons are given, but their father’s name (perhaps Meshullam) is wanting. In 1Ch_3:21-22 the LXX. differs from the Heb. in such a way as to affect the number of steps in the genealogy; the Heb. seems to reckon but one generation between Hananiah and Shemaiah, the LXX. on the contrary reckons six; the result on the whole genealogy being that the LXX. counts eleven generations after Zerubbabel as against six in the Heb. In 1Ch_3:22 again the sons of Shemaiah are reckoned to be six, but only five names are given both in Heb. and LXX.

The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Zerubbabel, elsewhere always called “the son of Salathiel,” was only Salathiel’s heir and legal son, being naturally his nephew, the son of his brother, Pedaiah.

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Bible (1834–1885) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Phadaia, called also Salathiel, (Matthew i. 12.) or these two brothers had each a son named Zorobabel. The grandson of Salathiel was called Abiud, and that of Phadaia, Mosollam, (Menochius) unless these were the same person. (Sa) --- Phadaia, son of Salathiel, and father of Zorobabel, left his son to the care of his brother Salatheil, who was therefore accounted the father of Zorobabel too. (Calmet)

George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).

i.e. Sister to the two last named sons of Zerubbabel, to wit, by both parents; and therefore named before the other five, 1Ch 3:20, who were her brethren by the father, but not by the mother.

Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.

Pedaiah is now given as the father of Zeraubabel and Shimei. Of the latter of these nothing else is known, unless Lord Hervey"s theory below be correct. The former is a great name its derivation perhaps doubtful. Strictly it signifies "scattered to Babylon," but (Gesenius, "Lexicon") if the initial part of the word be strengthened into Wrz, the signification might be "born in Babylon." We have in this name another instance of the treatment just commented on with regard to the name Salathiel in Luk_3:28. Zerubbabel is elsewhere invariably described as son of Salathiel, or Shealtiel; but as the genealogy of St. Luke gives the natural descent of Salathiel as from Neri, so does our genealogy in this one place give us the natural descent of Zerubbabel as from Pedaiah, one of Salathiel"s brothers; while all other passages (e.g. Ezr_3:8; Haggai Mat_1:12; give Luk_3:27) us that for which the genealogical table is chiefly designed, viz. the matter of succession, according to which Zerubbabel would be shown as son, i.e. link of succession, following on Shealtiel.

Meshullam. Though this name recurs, and very frequently, in Chronicles, Ezra, and Nehemiah, yet the person here denoted by it son of Zerubbabel is found here only. Hananiah, 1.q. Joanna of Luk_3:27, the names being the same, but with the component parts transposed, as in instances already given above. In the Gospel, Hananiah appears as grandson of Zorobabel, Rhesa intervening. Shelomith. This person is mentioned here only. The word, though evidently a feminine form, is found for the name of a man, chief of the Izarhites, (1Ch_23:18) but very possibly by a mere clerical error, as the true form is given in the very next chapter (1Ch_24:22) for the same character, viz. twOmolv. Ver. 19.

The builder of the second temple.

Among the names recorded here, that of Zerubbabel suggests an interesting passage in the Jewish history; and he has a marked individuality, so that his work and his times may be profitably reviewed. It is noticed as a fulfilling of the Divine promise concerning the Davidic dynasty, that Zerubbabel was a prince of the house of David, and so the returned captives resumed their national life under a Davidic leader, and with a fresh and constantly effective remembrance of the Divine promise and faithfulness. From the narrative in Ezra, details of the work of Zerubbabel may be given. His mission concerned three things:

1. The leadership of the liberated captives on their return journey to Palestine. What qualities this demanded command, courage, patience, cheerfulness, etc., should be fully illustrated.

2. The erection of a new temple from the ruins of that of Solomon, and the restoration of the Mosaic ritual and worship. In this he was aided by Joshua, the high priest. Show what further qualities were demanded by this work power to inspire others, personal godliness, an enkindling enthusiasm, and, in view of the efforts of the Samaritans, firmness, unswerving loyalty to God, and a holy jealousy that permitted no compromises in religion.

3. The establishment of a national and governmental order among the people. This was the work for which he probably had hereditary genius; and his position and authority, as the Persian Sheshbazzar, enabled him effectively to carry out his schemes. In him may be illustrated the threefold truth:

(1) that circumstances call forth the best that is in men;

(2) that men may to a large extent mould their circumstances; and

(3) that God is ever ready to give his grace and strength, unto the best success, to every man who sincerely wishes to be found faithful. R.T.

The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.

Their sister - Sister to the two last named sons of Zerubbabel, namely, by both parents; and therefore named before the other five, ver.

20, who were her brethren by the father, but not by the mother.

John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.

General Information:

All of the names in this list except Shelomith are the names of men. Shelomith is a woman's name. (See: How to Translate Names)

Obadiah

This man has the same name as the prophet Obadiah but is a different person. (See: How to Translate Names)

further descendants were Arnan, Obadiah, and Shekaniah

Different versions put these people into different relationships with each other because the Hebrew is not very clear about them.

translationWords

Zerubbabel

sister

descend

Obadiah

unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.