1 Chronicles 8

The Genealogy of Saul the Benjamite

1 Benjamin was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second son, Aharah the third,
2 Nohah the fourth and Rapha the fifth.
3 The sons of Bela were: Addar, Gera, Abihud,[a]
4 Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah,
5 Gera, Shephuphan and Huram.
6 These were the descendants of Ehud, who were heads of families of those living in Geba and were deported to Manahath:
7 Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who deported them and who was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.
8 Sons were born to Shaharaim in Moab after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara.
9 By his wife Hodesh he had Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malkam,
10 Jeuz, Sakia and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of families.
11 By Hushim he had Abitub and Elpaal.
12 The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod with its surrounding villages),
13 and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of families of those 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, Zikri, Zabdi,
20 Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,
21 Adaiah, Beraiah and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.
22 Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,
23 Abdon, Zikri, Hanan,
24 Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,
25 Iphdeiah and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.
26 Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,
27 Jaareshiah, Elijah and Zikri were the sons of Jeroham.
28 All these were heads of families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem.
29 Jeiel[b] the father[c] of Gibeon lived in Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maakah,
30 and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner,[d] Nadab,
31 Gedor, Ahio, Zeker
32 and Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.
33 Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal.[e]
34 The son of Jonathan: Merib-Baal,[f] who was the father of Micah.
35 The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melek, Tarea and Ahaz.
36 Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza.
37 Moza was the father of Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son and Azel his son.
38 Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
39 The sons of his brother Eshek: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second son and Eliphelet the third.
40 The sons of Ulam were brave warriors who could handle the bow. They had many sons and grandsons—150 in all. All these were the descendants of Benjamin.

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.

Cross References 15

  • 1. S Genesis 46:21; 1 Chronicles 7:6
  • 2. S Genesis 46:21
  • 3. 2 Samuel 23:9
  • 4. Judges 3:12-30; 1 Chronicles 2:52
  • 5. Ezra 2:33; Nehemiah 6:2; Nehemiah 7:37; Nehemiah 11:35
  • 6. S Joshua 10:12
  • 7. S Joshua 11:22
  • 8. S Joshua 9:3
  • 9. S 1 Samuel 28:19
  • 10. S 1 Samuel 9:1
  • 11. 1 Samuel 14:49
  • 12. S 2 Samuel 2:8
  • 13. S 2 Samuel 9:12
  • 14. S 2 Samuel 4:4; S 2 Samuel 21:7-14
  • 15. S Numbers 26:38

Footnotes 6

  • [a]. Or "Gera the father of Ehud"
  • [b]. Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 9:35); Hebrew does not have "Jeiel."
  • [c]. "Father" may mean "civic leader" or "military leader."
  • [d]. Some Septuagint manuscripts (see also 9:36); Hebrew does not have "Ner."
  • [e]. Also known as "Ish-Bosheth"
  • [f]. Also known as "Mephibosheth"

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.

1 Chronicles 8 Commentaries

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