The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Chronicles — Section 66

Vers. 9, 10.-.A model prayer. Of the man Jabez we have only this brief record. He is only known by bis prayer. Yet the prayer is a sufficient revelation of the man. His character is revealed in it, as is the character of every man to him who is able to read man's prayers aright. His name means "He causes pain," and it was attached to him on account of his mother's sufferings at his birth ; but it is designed to seal a certain gentleness, lack of vigour and self-assertion, and almost melancholy tone, which characterized his whole life. From the occurrence of the same name in eh. ii. 55, it has been assumed that this Jabez was the founder of the schools of colleges of the scribtis. 'l'he date at which he !i,·cd cannot be fixed with certainty. Possibly the sorrow of Jabez's birth was, that his mother lost her husband when she gained her son. If so, she might well name her fatherless boy" Sorrowful." Yet he rose above the sadness of his birth; be belied his very name by becoming more honourable than his brethren. The shadow which had fallen upon his birth was dispelled by the uprightness, the nobility, the God- fearing, the prayerful spirit of his life. And God made to rest on him gracious signs of his acceptance. Ilegarding the prayer as giving indications of the characte1· of Jabez, we may see- I. 'l'HAT JADEZ WAS HUMBLE. Estimate the tone of the prayer. He has such a sense of personal helplessness, and such a trembling fear of responsibility, that he asks for guidance and keeping, and the true enrichment of the Divine blessing. ~e prays for strength, preservation, success, and blessing, as though a very deep sense of his own weak- ness and insufficiency rested upon him. Such "humility" is the marked feature of every truly good and great and wise man; and it is sure to find its fullest expression when, for purposes of prayer, he goes into the presence of God. Illnstrate from Abraham's intercession for Sodom, Solomon's prayer at the dedication of the temple, and Danicl's and Nehemiah's prayers for their nation. And, combined with other characteristics, the Fame" humility" is found in our Lord's great intercessory prayer; and we know that it W:lli a marked and striking feature of his bcautiflll life. Snfh "humility" is a first and 6n. tv. 1-43.j 'l'Ht PlRST BOOK or TliE CHRONICt.ES. 57