What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 4:20? The sons of Shimon • The chronicler pauses in the larger Judah genealogy (1 Chronicles 4:1–23) to note another branch: “The sons of Shimon.” • By recording even the smaller family clusters, Scripture underscores that every covenant family matters (cf. Exodus 28:29; Malachi 3:16). • These records anchored land rights after the exile (Nehemiah 11:4–6) and proved God’s faithfulness to preserve Judah for the promised Messiah (Genesis 49:10; 2 Samuel 7:12–16). Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon • Four brothers are named individually—evidence that God’s concern drills down to specific people, not just tribes (cf. Isaiah 43:1). • Their names mark four distinct clans that would have received separate allotments and responsibilities within Judah’s territory (Joshua 15:20, 55). • The list invites later generations to trace their roots back to real men who lived, worked, and worshiped in the promised land (Psalm 78:3–4). The descendants of Ishi • “Ishi” (“man” or “my husband”) appears elsewhere in Judah’s line (1 Chronicles 2:31; 4:42), suggesting a respected patriarch whose offspring warranted a fresh heading. • By switching from “sons” to “descendants,” the writer cues a generational jump, keeping the record concise yet complete (cf. Numbers 1:18). • The placement shows that multiple Judahite sub-families thrived side by side, displaying the fruitfulness God promised Abraham (Genesis 17:6). Zoheth and Ben-zoheth • Two more names close the verse: “Zoheth” and “Ben-zoheth” (“son of Zoheth”). Even the father-and-son link gets preserved so nothing is lost (John 6:12). • Their mention reassures returnees from exile that God had not forgotten any branch; the line remained intact for Messiah’s eventual arrival (Luke 3:33; Revelation 5:5). • The chronicler’s meticulous care models how believers today should value heritage, remember God’s past works, and hand the faith to the next generation (Psalm 145:4). summary 1 Chronicles 4:20 is more than a roll call. By naming Shimon’s four sons and Ishi’s two descendants, the Holy Spirit highlights God’s faithfulness to every family in Judah, secures legal and spiritual identity for post-exilic Jews, and assures us that the Lord keeps every promise—right down to the individual names written in His book of life. |
    |