Thus
the Calebites in consequence of the exile have forsaken their old
seats and have taken up new ones on their return; this fact is
expressed in ver. 18 to the effect that Caleb's first wife Azubah
bath Jerioth (Deserta filia Nomadum) had died, and that he had then
married a second, Ephrath, by whom he became the father of Hur:
Ephrath is the name of the district in which Bethlehem and Kirjath-
jearim are situated, and properly speaking is merely another
form of Ephraim, as is shown by the word Ephrathite. In addition
to these appendices to Jerahmeel and Caleb, we have also the
genealogy of David (vers. 10-17). The Book of Samuel knows only
of his father Jesse; on the other hand, Saul's genealogy is
carried further back, and there was no reason for not doing so in
David's case also if the materials had existed. But here, as in
Ruth, the pedigree is traced backwards through Jesse, Obed, Boaz,
up to Salma. Salma is the father of Bethlehem (ii. 54), and hence
the father of David. But Salma is the father of Bethlehem and the
neighbouring towns or fractions of towns AFTER THE EXILE; he belongs
to Kaleb Abi Hur.
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