דברי הימים א, פרק ב׳, פסוק נ׳

Tracing the lineage of the tribe of Judah reveals a complex family tree where names are frequently passed down through the generations. Untangling these family records requires careful attention to identify the exact relationships between key figures and the cities they established.

A central figure in this lineage is Caleb. The primary approach among commentators is that this individual is not the original, famous Caleb, but rather his grandson. According to this view, the original Caleb had a son named Hur, who then named his own son Caleb in honor of his grandfather, making this younger Caleb the brother of Uri [רש״י, מצודת דוד, רד״ק, מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. However, other traditions suggest the record refers to the original Caleb, simply noting him as the father of Hur [רש״י]. Another perspective also identifies him as the original Caleb, tracing a direct line to show that Shobal was the son of Hur, who was in turn the son of Caleb [מלבי״ם].

Hur himself holds a distinct position in the family as the firstborn of Ephrathah. Commentators agree that this specific title highlights his status as the firstborn son only to his mother. He was not the firstborn of his father, Caleb, who already had an older son named Mesha [רש״י, מצודת דוד, ביאור שטיינזלץ].

The family's legacy extends to the city of Kiriath-jearim through Hur's descendant, Shobal, who is recognized as the father of the city. This title is understood in two distinct ways. One approach views it as a position of authority, indicating that Shobal was the founder, leader, or governor of Kiriath-jearim [רד״ק, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Conversely, another interpretation takes the title literally, suggesting that Shobal was the biological ancestor of all the city's inhabitants, meaning the entire settlement was populated exclusively by his direct descendants [רד״ק].