1 Chronicles 8

Genealogy from Benjamin to Saul

1 Benjamin was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third,

2 Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.

3 The sons of Bela:

4 Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah,

5 Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.

6 These were the descendants of Ehud who were the heads of the families living in Geba and were exiled to Manahath:

7 Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who carried them into exile and who was the father of Uzza and Ahihud. ^[a]

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:

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

11 He also had sons by Hushim:

12 The sons of Elpaal:

13 and Beriah and Shema (who were the heads of families living in Aijalon and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath).

14 Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth,

15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,

16 Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah.

17 Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,

18 Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.

19 Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi,

20 Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,

21 Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.

22 Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,

23 Abdon, Zichri, Hanan,

24 Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,

25 Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.

26 Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,

27 Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham.

28 All these were heads of families, the chiefs according to their genealogies, and they lived in Jerusalem.

29 Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived ^[b] in Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maacah,

30 and Abdon was his firstborn son, then Zur, Kish, Baal, ^[c] Nadab,

31 Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, ^[d]

32 and Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah. ^[e] They too lived alongside their relatives in Jerusalem.

The Family of Saul

33 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal. ^[f]

34 The son of Jonathan:

35 The sons of Micah:

36 Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah ^[g] was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza.

37 Moza was the father of Binea. Raphah ^[h] was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.

38 Azel had six sons, and these were their names:

39 The sons of his brother Eshek:

40 The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and they had many sons and grandsons—150 in all.

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]. Or and Gera, that is Heglam, who was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.
• [b]. Some LXX manuscripts (see also 1 Chronicles 9:35); Hebrew The father of Gibeon lived
• [c]. Some LXX manuscripts include Ner; see 1 Chronicles 9:36.
• [d]. Zecher is likely a variant of Zechariah; see 1 Chronicles 9:37.
• [e]. Shimeah is a variant of Shimeam; see 1 Chronicles 9:38.
• [f]. Esh-baal is also called Ish-bosheth; see 2 Samuel 2:8.
• [g]. Jehoaddah is a variant of Jarah or Jadah; see 1 Chronicles 9:42.
• [h]. Raphah is a variant of Rephaiah; see 1 Chronicles 9:43.

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.