Jabez called on the God of Israel. — Comp. Jacob’s vow at Bethel, Genesis 28:20-22, and his altar, El-’elohë Israel, “El is the God of Israel,” Genesis 33:20. Some have supposed that the peculiar phrase, “God of Israel,” indicates that the original Canaanite population of Jabez proselytised.
Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed. — Literally, “if indeed thou wilt bless me.”
My coast. — My border or domain (fines).
And that thine hand. — Rather, and if thine hand will be with me, and thou wilt deal without (Heb. away from) evil, that I suffer not! — The prayer is expressed in the form of a condition, with the consequence (“then will I serve thee,” comp. Genesis 28:22) suppressed.
The name Jabez is twice explained; in 1 Chronicles 4:9 it is made to mean “he paineth,” in 1 Chronicles 4:10 Jabez prays to be saved from pain. Comp. the frequent allusions in the book of Gen. to the meaning of the name Isaac (Yiçhâq, “he laugheth”); Genesis 17:17, Abraham’s daughter; 1 Chronicles 18:12, Sarah’s incredulous laughter; 1 Chronicles 21:6, Sarah’s joy at the birth; 1 Chronicles 26:8, Isaac’s own mirth. These features of likeness to the language and thought of Genesis, prove the originality and antiquity of the section.
And God granted. — Literally, and God brought (caused to come). Hence Jabez was “honoured above his brethren,” 1 Chronicles 4:9. If the Sopherim of Jabez (1 Chronicles 2:55) were, as their name implies, writers or men of letters, we can understand that Jabez, like Kirjath-sepher, was a place of books, and was honoured accordingly. The art of writing among the peoples of Babylonia ascends to an unknown antiquity. The oldest inscription we possess in the Phoenician character is of the ninth century B.C., and the development of that character from its Egyptian prototype must have occupied some centuries. Perhaps this very tradition concerning their founder originally emanated from the “families of the scribes which dwelt at Jabez.”