Scroll to the bottom for thoughts/discussion questions!
One-sentence summary: We learn of a man named Jabez and his unique prayer to God, of valiant men who cried out to the Lord and were victorious, of disobedient tribes who were led into captivity, and of the lineage of Judah and Reuben.
David had 6 sons in Hebron, including Absalom, where he reigned for 7 years. In Jerusalem, he reigned 33 years and had 9 sons, one of which was Solomon. This does not include the sons of his concubines. There is a lineage given of Solomon's sons as well.
We are given a lineage of the sons of Judah. One of his descendants was a man named Jabez, and it says that Jabez was "more honorable than his brothers," and his mother named him this (meaning "sorrow"), saying "Because I bore him in pain." But he "called on the God of Israel" and prayed, "Oh, that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would keep me from evil that I may not cause pain." And it says that because of his prayer, God granted him what he requested.
The sons of Reuben who were the firstborn, their birthright was given to the tribe of Joseph, because Reuben defiled his father's bed. However, Judah "prevailed over his brothers," and "from him came a ruler, although the birthright was Joseph's." A a lineage of Reuben is also given.
There are a few notable names that come from both Judah and Reuben, such as Zerubbabel (from Judah). It says there were many valiant men from Rueben, Gad, and Manasseh, and that they defeated many nations because they cried out to God in battle ,and He heeded their prayer because they put their trust in Him. They took away spoil, and it says, "The war was God's." However, some of the mighty men were unfaithful to the Lord, so He stirred up the king of Assyrian against them, and the people of the three tribes (half of Manasseh) were carried away into captivity.
Thoughts/discussion questions:
What a wonderful prayer of Jabez, one that we can pray today!
God is the One who makes us victorious, and we need to keep seeking Him if we want to keep walking in victory.