1 Chronicles 2:4

And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(4) Tamar.—Wife of Er. The story of her incest with Judah, the fruit of which was the twins Pharez (Heb., Perez) and Zerah (called Zarah, Genesis 38:30; and Zara, Matthew 1:3), is told in Genesis 38:8-30.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The sons of Israel - The order of the names here approximates to an order determined by legitimacy of birth. A single change - the removal of Dan to the place after Benjamin - would give the following result:

(1) The six sons of the first wife, Leah.

(2) the two sons of the second wife, Rachel.

(3) the two sons of the first concubine, Bilhah.

(4) the two sons of the second concubine, Zilpah.

Dan's undue prominency may, perhaps, be accounted for by his occupying the seventh place in the "blessing of Jacob" Genesis 49:16.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

1Ch 2:3-12. Posterity of Judah.

3. The sons of Judah—His descendants are enumerated first, because the right and privileges of the primogeniture had been transferred to him (Ge 49:8), and because from his tribe the Messiah was to spring.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

No text from Poole on this verse.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Tamar his daughter in law bare him Pharez and Zerah,.... Through incest; they were twins, Genesis 38:27 all the sons of Judah were five; who are before mentioned by name.

Geneva Study Bible

And Tamar his daughter in law bore him Pharez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

1 Chronicles 2:4

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

The sons of Judah and of Pharez, 1 Chronicles 2:3.f. - The five sons of Judah are given according to Genesis 38, as the remark on Er which is quoted from Genesis 38:7 of that chapter shows, while the names of the five sons are to be found also in Genesis 46:12. The two sons of Pharez are according to Genesis 46:12, cf. Numbers 26:21.