Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: [they were] judges in Beersheba.
Ver. 2. Now the name of his firstborn was Joel.] Which some a will have to be Joel the prophet, the son of Pethuel, that is, of Samuel, say they, Joe 1:1 as this Joel is called Vashni. 1 Chronicles 6:28 ; 1Ch 6:33 He might afterwards repent of his government without righteousness, which is but robbery by authority, and be a prophet as was his father. Howsoever, he had a good son - viz., Heman the music master and a prophet. 1 Kings 4:31 1Ch 6:33 ; 1Ch 25:1 Psa 88:1
They were judges in Beersheba,] i.e., From Dan to Beersheba, saith Junius: the one in Dan, the other in Beersheba, saith Josephus. Pellican thinketh they dwelt both at Beersheba, purposely to vex the people with long journeys for judgment: or at least out of a neglect toward them. Others hold that their father set them there to exercise that authority by him delegated unto them in the southern parts of the land, because they were so far remote from Ramah, and that he knew not of their bribery, &c.
a Alsted.