1 Chronicles 8

Benjamin's Descendants

1 Benjamin fathered Bela, his firstborn; Ashbel was [born] second, Aharah third,

2 Nohah fourth, and Rapha fifth.

3 Bela's sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud,

4 Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah,

5 Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.^[a]

6 These were Ehud's sons, who were the heads of the families living in Geba and who were deported to Manahath:

7 Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera. Gera deported them and was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.

8 Shaharaim had sons in the country of Moab after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara.

9 His sons by his wife Hodesh: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam,

10 Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of families.

11 He also had sons by Hushim: Abitub and Elpaal.

12 Elpaal's sons: Eber, Misham, and Shemed who built Ono and Lod and its villages,

13 Beriah and Shema, who were the heads of families of Aijalon's residents and who drove out the residents of Gath,

14 Ahio,^[b] Shashak, and Jeremoth.

15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,

16 Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were Beriah's sons.

17 Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,

18 Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were Elpaal's sons.

19 Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi,

20 Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,

21 Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were Shimei's sons.

22 Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,

23 Abdon, Zichri, Hanan,

24 Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,

25 Iphdeiah, and Penuel were Shashak's sons.

26 Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,

27 Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were Jeroham's sons.

28 These were heads of families, chiefs according to their genealogies, and lived in Jerusalem.

29 [Jeiel],^[c][d] fathered Gibeon and lived in Gibeon. His wife's name was Maacah.

30 Abdon was his firstborn son, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab,

31 Gedor, Ahio, Zecher,

32 and Mikloth who fathered Shimeah. These also lived opposite their relatives in Jerusalem, with their [other] relatives.

33 Ner fathered Kish, Kish fathered Saul, and Saul fathered Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.^[e]

34 Jonathan's son was Merib-baal,^[f] and Merib-baal fathered Micah.

35 Micah's sons: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.

36 Ahaz fathered Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri, and Zimri fathered Moza.

37 Moza fathered Binea. His son was Raphah, his son Eleasah, and his son Azel.

38 Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were Azel's sons.^[g]

39 His brother Eshek's sons: Ulam was his firstborn, Jeush second, and Eliphelet third.

40 Ulam's sons were warriors and archers. They had many sons and grandsons-150 of them. All these were among Benjamin's sons.

1 Chronicles 8 Commentary

Chapter 8

Genealogies.

- Here is a larger list of Benjamin's tribe. We may suppose that many things in these genealogies, which to us seem difficult, abrupt, and perplexed, were plain and easy at that time, and fully answered the intention for which they were published. Many great and mighty nations then were in being upon earth, and many illustrious men, whose names are now wholly forgotten; while the names of multitudes of the Israel of God are here kept in everlasting remembrance. The memory of the just is blessed.

Footnotes

• [a]. Gn 46:21; Nm 26:38-40
• [b]. LXX reads Gath 14 and their brother
• [c]. LXX; MT omits Jeiel; 1 Ch 9:35
• [d]. 1 Ch 9:35
• [e]. Man of Baal
• [f]. Baal Contends
• [g]. 1 Ch 9:34-44

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 8

In this chapter the genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin is reconsidered, and several of the principal men and families in it are taken notice of, which were not before; or a further account is given of them, as of the sons and grandsons of Benjamin, 1Ch 8:1-5, of Ehud, 1Ch 8:5-7, of Shaharaim, 1Ch 8:8-11, of Elpaal and Beriah, 1Ch 8:12-18 of Shimhi, 1Ch 8:19-21, of Shashak, 1Ch 8:22-25, of Jeroham, 1Ch 8:26,27, of Jehiel the father of Gibeon, 1Ch 8:28-32, of Ner, and particularly Saul, 1Ch 8:33 and of Jonathan, and his posterity, 1Ch 8:34-40.