The sons of Caleb, son of Jephunneh. — Caleb son of Jephunneh is called the Kenizzite, Joshua 14:6-14. He obtained “a part among the children of Judah” (Joshua 15:13), “because that he wholly followed the Lord God of Israel” (Joshua 14:14). If Caleb the Kenizzite and his clan were received among the Hezronite houses of Judah, this new division of the Hezronites would henceforth be known as “the house of Caleb,” 1 Samuel 25:3; or simply “Caleb” (= Chelubai, the Calebite). (See Notes on 1 Chronicles 2:42; 1 Chronicles 2:49.)
Elah occurred 1 Chronicles 1:52, as an Edomite princedom, like Kenaz in 1 Chronicles 1:53.
Naam is perhaps Naamah, Joshua 15:41, a town in the Shephelah.
And the sons of Elah, even Kenaz. — The Heb. is, and the sons of Mah and Kenaz, that is, two clans of Calebites called Elah and Kenaz. Comp. 1 Chronicles 4:13, and 1 Chronicles 2:42; 1 Chronicles 3:21. Some MSS., the LXX., Vulg., and Targum omit and before Kenaz. But the word Elah, with different points, might be read elleh, “these.” It may be suggested, therefore, that we have in this last sentence the subscription to the list begun at 1 Chronicles 4:13, ’çlleh bnê Qnaz, “these are the sons of Kenaz.” Others suppose a name omitted, and render: “and the sons of Elah... and Kenaz.” Jehaleleel may have dropped out after the like-sounding Elah.