October 19

And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren: and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, Because I bare him with sorrow. - 1 Chronicles 4:9.

THE chapter of which these words form a part, and the former and following chapters, are full of genealogies. They seem to be the least interesting and profitable of all the parts of the Sacred Scriptures. Yet they are not without their use, especially as they ascertain the descent of the Messiah from the tribe of Judah and the house of David. But this passage breaks in upon us as a fine, well-watered, green, pleasant spot suddenly bursts in upon the sight of the traveller in a barren wilderness or a sandy desert. Let us observe what is said concerning Jabez.

First, With regard to his name. This was given him by his mother, who called him Jabez, which signifies sorrowful, “because,” says she, “I bare him with sorrow.” Among the Jews names were generally appellatives; and they were often given to signify and perpetuate particular events, with which the imposers were affected at the time. For instance, Joseph had two sons born before the years of famine; and Joseph called the name of the first-born Manasseh:-“ For God,” said he, “hath made me forget all my toil and all my father’s house; and the name of the second called he Ephraim, signifying fruitful.” So we find with Moses: he had two sons; the name of the one was Gershom,-that is, a stranger, for he said, “I have been an alien in a strange land;” and the name of the other was Eliezer:-“For the God of my fathers,” said he, “was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh.” And with regard to the name given to Jabez by his mother, perhaps she bore him in a very ill state of health; perhaps under great depression of spirits, and full of forebodings; perhaps she brought him forth in peculiar pain and sorrow; perhaps the expression refers to her external condition; perhaps (and this is exceedingly probable) her husband died while she was bearing, and thus it was her lot to bring forth a babe destined never to see a father’s smile. What an affliction would this be! But there are various other afflictions to which mortals are born “as the sparks fly upward,” and every heart knows its own bitterness. We may be assured that it was not without reason that she called the child Jabez, saying, “I bare him with sorrow.”

Secondly, His honour:-“And Jabez was more honourable than his brethren.” The commendation is comparative. This may imply that his brethren also were honourable, though in a less degree. If it were said of some persons that they were “more honourable than their brethren,” it would not be saying much in their favour; but the language here is obviously designed to dignify Jabez. We are not told from whence the honourableness of Jabez arose,-whether he had signalized himself in war, or distinguished himself by his talents and learning, or whether he had been a magistrate or a ruler.

“Them that honour me,” says God, “I will honour,” and this should also be our rule of judgment: we should estimate men, not according to their adventitious appendages, but according to their real worth; and their real worth is their moral and religious character. And we have reason, therefore, to believe that the honourableness of Jabez arose from his piety, especially when we consider the testimony that is added. Let us also observe the connection between the two former particulars. His mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bare him with sorrow;” but “he was more honourable than his brethren.” Did she live to see this? If she did, she learned from it, and we may learn from it too, that, as our comforts often prove our crosses, our afflictions often prove our blessings; and where is the Christian who has not found “the valley of Achor a door of hope”?