Baal-hanan died, and Hadad reigned in his place, the name of his city being Pai; and his wife’s name was Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.
Israel was the chosen nation, elect in type; no other people in their national capacity held the covenant privilege the Jews held. The Lord knows His own by name, and many good souls outside Abraham's seed surely found favor with Him, but this genealogy traces the one nation incorporated into His peculiar bond. The Ishmaelites get scant notice because they were cast out as children of the bondwoman, and their rejection foreshadowed the unbelieving Jews rejected after.
AI summary
Commenting on 1 Chronicles 1:28-54
Daughter of Mezahab - This word מי זהב mey zahab, is literally the golden waters; or What is gold? The Targumist paraphrases thus: "Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, was so earnest and diligent in business that she became immensely rich; but when she was converted, she said, What is this silver, and What is this gold? That is, They are of no real worth.
The Chronicler copies Genesis's king list almost word for word, but makes one telling change: he records that the final king Hadad died, whereas Genesis leaves him living because Moses wrote while he still reigned. This detail shows the Chronicler writing long after, when that ancient ruler had long passed from the earth.
AI summary
Commenting on 1 Chronicles 1:43-50