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1And Benjamin begat Bela his first-born, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,
2Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
3And Bela had sons: Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,
4and Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,
5and Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.
6And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Geba, and they carried them captive to Manahath:
7and Naaman, and Ahijah, and Gera, he carried them captive; and he begat Uzza and Ahihud.
8And Shaharaim begat children in the field of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.
9And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcam,
10and Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers’ houses.
11And of Hushim he begat Abitub and Elpaal.
12And the sons of Elpaal: Eber, and Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod, with the towns thereof;
13and Beriah, and Shema, who were heads of fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath;
14and Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,
15and Zebadiah, and Arad, and Eder,
16and Michael, and Ishpah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah,
17and Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hizki, and Heber,
18and Ishmerai, and Izliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal,
19and Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,
20and Elienai, and Zillethai, and Eliel,
21and Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimei,
22and Ishpan, and Eber, and Eliel,
23and Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,
24and Hananiah, and Elam, and Anthothijah,
25and Iphdeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak,
26and Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,
27and Jaareshiah, and Elijah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.
28These were heads of fathers’ houses throughout their generations, chief men: these dwelt in Jerusalem.
29And in Gibeon there dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, whose wife’s name was Maacah;
30and his first-born son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,
31and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zecher.
32And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And they also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against their brethren.
33And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
34And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal begat Micah.
35And the sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.
36And Ahaz begat Jehoaddah; and Jehoaddah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza.
37And Moza begat Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
38And Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
39And the sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his first-born, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
40And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons, and sons’ sons, a hundred and fifty. All these were of the sons of Benjamin.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Keil-Delitzsch
- Matthew Henry
- Tyndale
Introduction
The genealogy of Benjamin down to Saul, vv. 1-32. The children and descendants of Saul, Ch1 8:33-40.
Verse 1
Now Benjamin begat, etc. - See what has been said on the preceding chapter, Ch1 7:6 (note).
Verse 9
He begat of Hodesh his wife - In the preceding verse it is said that Hushim and Baara were his wives; and here it is said he begat of Hodesh his wife, etc. And then his children by Hushim are mentioned, but not a word of Baara! It is likely therefore that Hodesh was another name for Baara, and this is asserted by the Targum: And he begot of Baara, that is Chodesh, his wife; so called because he espoused her anew. It is supposed that he had put her away before, and now remarried her.
Verse 12
Who built Ono, and Lod - The Targum adds, "Which the children of Israel ravaged and burnt with fire, when they made war on the tribe of Benjamin in Gibeah."
Verse 28
These were heads of the fathers - On the following verses Dr. Kennicott has labored hard to restore the true reading. See his detailed comparison of these and their parallel passages in his Hebrew Bible, vol. ii., p. 667.
Verse 29
And at Gibeon - This passage to the end of the 38th verse is found with a little variety in the names, Ch1 9:35-44. The rabbins say that Ezra, having found two books that had these passages with a variety in the names, as they agreed in general, he thought best to insert them both, not being able to discern which was the best. His general plan was to collate all the copies he had, and to follow the greater number when he found them to agree; those which disagreed from the majority were thrown aside as spurious; and yet, in many cases, probably the rejected copies contained the true text. If Ezra proceeded as R. Sol. Jarchi says, he had a very imperfect notion of the rules of true criticism; and it is no wonder that he has left so many faults in his text.
Verse 34
Merib-baal - The same as Mephibosheth, for, as the Israelites detested Baal, which signifies lord, they changed it into bosheth, which signifies shame or reproach.
Verse 40
The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor - The Targum speaks honourably of them: "The sons of Ulam were mighty and strong men, subduing by wisdom their evil concupiscence, as men bend a bow; therefore they had many sons and grandsons." Of the six sons of Azel, mentioned Ch1 8:38, R. S. Jarchi says that their allegorical expositions were sufficient to load thirteen thousand camels! No doubt these were reputed to be deeply learned men. There was a time when the allegorizers and metaphor-men ranked very high among theologians, even in our own enlightened and critical country. At present they are almost totally out of fashion. May they never recover their footing! But what a shameful hyperbole is that of Jarchi! The writings of six men a load for thirteen thousand camels!
Introduction
SONS AND CHIEF MEN OF BENJAMIN. (1Ch. 8:1-32) Now Benjamin begat, &c.--This chapter contains some supplementary particulars in addition to what has been already said regarding the tribe of Benjamin (see on Ch1 7:6). The names of many of the persons mentioned are different from those given by Moses--a diversity which may be accounted for in part on grounds formerly stated, namely, either that the persons had more than one name, or that the word "sons" is used in a loose sense for grandsons or descendants. But there are other circumstances to be taken into account in considering the details of this chapter; namely, first, that the genealogies of the Benjamites were disordered or destroyed by the almost total extermination of this tribe (Jdg. 20:11-48); secondly, that a great number of Benjamites, born in Assyria, are mentioned here, who returned from the long captivity in Babylon, and established themselves--some in Jerusalem, others in different parts of Judea. There were more returned from Babylon of the families belonging to this tribe than to any other except Judah; and hence many strange names are here introduced; some of which will be found in the list of the restored exiles (compare Ezra 2:1-70).
Verse 6
these are the sons of Ehud--most probably the judge of Israel (Jdg 3:15). His descendants, who had at first been established in Geba in Benjamin, emigrated in a body under the direction of Gera (Ch1 8:7) to Manahath, where their increased numbers would find more ample accommodation. Manahath was within the territory of Judah.
Verse 8
Shaharaim begat children in the country of Moab--He had probably been driven to take refuge in that foreign land on the same calamitous occasion that forced Elimelech to emigrate thither (Rut 1:1). But, destitute of natural affection, he forsook or divorced his two wives, and in the land of his sojourn married a third, by whom he had several sons. But there is another explanation given of the conduct of this Benjamite polygamist. His children by Hushim are mentioned (Ch1 8:11), while his other wife is unnoticed. Hence it has been thought probable that it is Baara who is mentioned under the name of Hodesh, so called because her husband, after long desertion, returned and cohabited with her as before.
Verse 28
These dwelt in Jerusalem--The ordinary and stated inhabitants of Jerusalem were Judahites, Benjamites, and Levites. But at the time referred to here, the chiefs or heads of the principal families who are enumerated (Ch1 8:14-27) established themselves in the city after their return from the captivity.
Verse 33
STOCK OF SAUL AND JONATHAN. (Ch1 8:33-40) Ner begat Kish--The father of Ner, though not mentioned here, is stated (Ch1 9:35) to have been Jehiel. Moreover, the father of Kish is said (Sa1 9:1) to have been Abiel, the son of Zeror, whence it would seem that Abiel and Ner were names of the same person. Abinadab--the same as Ishui (Sa1 14:49). Esh-baal--that is, Ish-bosheth.
Verse 34
Merib-baal--that is, Mephibosheth.
Verse 36
Jehoadah--or, Jara (Ch1 9:42).
Verse 40
mighty men of valour, archers--(see on Jdg 20:16). Great strength as well as skill was requisite in ancient archery, as the bow, which was of steel, was bent by treading with the feet, and pulling the string with both hands. Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 9
Introduction
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, Ch1 8:1, of Ehud, Ch1 8:5, of Shaharaim, Ch1 8:8, of Elpaal and Beriah, Ch1 8:12 of Shimhi, Ch1 8:19, of Shashak, Ch1 8:22, of Jeroham, Ch1 8:26, of Jehiel the father of Gibeon, Ch1 8:28, of Ner, and particularly Saul, Ch1 8:33 and of Jonathan, and his posterity, Ch1 8:34.
Verse 1
Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn,.... See Ch1 7:6. The genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin is reviewed, because it joined and kept close with Judah in the worship of God, went into captivity, and returned out of it with it; and this review is made chiefly for the sake of Saul, and his posterity, the first king of Israel, who was of it, and in whose posterity this genealogy ends: Ashbel the second; supposed to be the same with Jediael, Ch1 7:6, see Gen 46:21. and Aharah the third; the same with Aher, Ch1 7:13, and with Ahiram, Num 26:38.
Verse 2
Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. Nohah is supposed by some to be the same with Becher, Ch1 7:6 and by others with Naaman, Gen 46:21, as Rapha, the same with Rosh there. , as Rapha, the same with Rosh there. 1 Chronicles 8:3 ch1 8:3 ch1 8:3 ch1 8:3The sons of Bela were Addar, and Gera, and Abihud. The first of these is thought to be the same with Ard, mentioned among the sons of Benjamin, Gen 46:21 but was one of his grandsons, see Num 26:40 as Gera also was.
Verse 3
And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah, and Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram. These were all the sons of Bela; one of the name of Naaman is reckoned among the sons of Benjamin, Gen 46:21 and from this grandson the family of the Naamanites are named, Num 26:40, and Ahoah is by some thought to be the same with Ehi, mentioned in Gen 46:21 as one of Benjamin's sons. Some take the three last to be the sons of Ehud, spoken of in the next verse; but Shephuphan and Huram seem to be the same with Shupham and Hupham, Num 26:39. . 1 Chronicles 8:6 ch1 8:6 ch1 8:6 ch1 8:6And these are the sons of Ehud,.... Not he that was a judge in Israel, Jdg 3:15 but perhaps a son of Huram the last mentioned; for not the three last are his sons, as some think, but the three following in the next verse; what follows being to be read in a parenthesis: (these are the heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Geba;) a city in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 18:24 namely, those sons of Ehud, after mentioned, were principal men in that tribe, and chief of the inhabitants of the city of Geba: and they removed them to Manahath; the name of a country referred to in Ch1 2:52 according to Jarchi, which was in the tribe of Judah; Geba being too small, either the inhabitants of Geba removed them, or they removed themselves, or their fathers removed them, Ch1 8:7, or it may be read impersonally, they were removed thither for the sake of a better habitation; the Targum adds,"to the land of the house of Esau,''to Edom; which is not likely.
Verse 4
And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera,.... Or, to wit, Naaman, &c. so the words are to be connected with these are the sons or Ehud, in the preceding verse: he removed them; to the above place, that is, either Gera, or rather Ehud, he advised them, directed and enjoined them to go thither, as being most convenient for them: and he begat Uzza and Ahihud; after he had removed his other sons.
Verse 6
And Shaharaim,.... Who was either a son of Ahihud, or rather a brother of his, another son of Ehud: begat children in the country of Moab; whither he might go on account of the famine, as Elimelech did, Rut 1:1, after he had sent them away; which some understand of those that were removed from Geba to Manahath, Ch1 8:6, but a different word is here used; and besides Shaharaim seems to be one of those that were removed. Kimchi takes Shilhootham, we render "had sent them away", to be the name of his first wife, of whom he begat children in Moab; but it seems best to render and interpret the words in connection with what follows: he begat children in Moab: after he had sent them away; even Hushim and Baara his wives; after he had divorced them, for some reasons he had, he begat children of another wife, later mentioned.
Verse 7
And he begat of Hodesh his wife,.... That is, he, I say, begat, namely, Shaharaim; the Targum makes this Hodesh to be the same with Baara, called so because she was newly espoused; but wrongly: the sons begotten of her were the seven following; Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcham, Jeuz, Shachia, and Mirma. These were his sons; the sons of Shaharaim by his wife Hodesh: heads of the fathers; of the houses or families of their father.
Verse 8
And of Hushim he begat Abitub, and Elpaal. Before he sent her away, or divorced her, Ch1 8:8. . 1 Chronicles 8:12 ch1 8:12 ch1 8:12 ch1 8:12The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed,.... Besides those in Ch1 8:14. who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof; not Shamed, but Elpaal his father, so the Targum; and the Talmudists say (o), these were walled cities from the days of Joshua the son of Nun, and were destroyed in the days of the concubine in Gibea, and Elpaal came and rebuilt them; they were inhabited by the Benjaminites, upon their return from the Babylonish captivity, Neh 11:35 they were near to each other; according to a Jewish chronologer (p), it was three miles from the one to the other; Lod is the same with Lydda, in Act 9:32. (o) T. Hieros. Megillah, fol. 70. 1. & T. Bab Megillah, fol. 4. 1. So the Targum. (p) Juchasin, fol. 39. 2.
Verse 9
Beriah also, and Shema,.... These were sons of Elpaal: who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon; which, though in the tribe of Dan, Jos 19:42 might afterwards come into the possession of Benjamin; or this may be another place of the same name in Benjamin; or, however, might be inhabited by Benjaminites, upon the return from captivity, who descended from those men: who drove away the inhabitants of Gath; dispossessed them of their city, in revenge for what they had done to the Ephraimites, Ch1 7:21.
Verse 10
And Ahio, Shashak, and Jerimoth. These were also sons of Elpaal. And Ahio, Shashak, and Jerimoth. These were also sons of Elpaal. 1 Chronicles 8:15 ch1 8:15 ch1 8:15 ch1 8:15And Zebadiah,.... And all that follow in this and the next verse were the sons of Beriah the son of Elpaal; namely: Arad, Ader, Michael, Ispah, and Joha.
Verse 12
And Zebadiah, and Meshullam,.... These, with those that follow: Hezeki, Heber, Ishmerai, Jezliah, and Jobab, were the sons of Elpaal
Verse 13
And Jakim,.... With all the rest in these verses, namely: Zichri, Zabdi, Elienai, Zilthai, Eliel, Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath, were the sons of Shimhi, the same with Shema brother of Beriah, and son of Elpaal, Ch1 8:13.
Verse 14
And Ishpan, and Heber,.... And all that follow to the end of these verses: Eliel, Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, Hananiah, Elam, Antothijah, Iphedeiah, and Penuel, were the sons of Shashak, another son of Elpaal, Ch1 8:14.
Verse 15
And Shamsherai,.... Who, with those next mentioned: Shehariah, Athaliah, Jaresiah, Eliah, and Zichri, were the sons of Jeroham, who perhaps is the same with Jerimoth, another son of Elpaal, Ch1 8:14 who makes a considerable figure in this genealogy. Kimchi observes that it is a tradition (q) that this Eliah is Elijah the prophet, who was of the seed of Rachel. (q) Shemoth Rabba, sect. 40. fol. 138. 4.
Verse 17
These were heads of the fathers, by their generations, chief men,.... All from Ch1 8:14, the sons of Elpaal and their sons: these dwelt in Jerusalem; part of which always belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, see Jos 15:63.
Verse 19
And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon,.... The builder of the city, and prince of the inhabitants of it, which was in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 18:25 whose name was Jehiel, Ch1 9:35, (whose wife's name was Maachah;) of which name were many, see Ch1 2:48.
Verse 22
And his firstborn son Abdon,.... That is, Jehiel's, the father or prince of Gibeon; other sons follow: Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, Gedor, Ahio, and Zacher; called Zechariah, Ch1 9:37 and between Baal and Nadab, Ner is placed, Ch1 9:36 and another son is added at the end of Ch1 9:37, Mikloth next mentioned.
Verse 26
And Mikloth begat Shimeah,.... Called Shimeam, Ch1 9:38. and these also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against them; in another part of the city, right beside them.
Verse 28
And Ner begat Kish,.... Who also is called Abiel, as the Targum here adds; for Ner had two names, as other Jewish writers likewise say (r), see Sa1 9:1, and Kish begat Saul; the first king of Israel, for whose sake chiefly the genealogy of Benjamin is revised and enlarged in this chapter: and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal, see Sa1 31:2. Abinadab is called Ishui, Sa1 14:49 and Eshbaal is the same with Ishbosheth, Sa2 2:8, so Baal and Bosheth are used of the same idol of which they are names, Hos 9:10. (r) Vajikra Rabba, sect. 9. fol. 152. 4.
Verse 29
And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal,.... The same with Mephibosheth, Sa2 4:4 so Jerubbaal is called Jerubbesheth, Jdg 6:32. and Meribbaal begat Micah; called his young son in David's time, Sa2 9:12.
Verse 30
And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz. The last but one is called Tahrea, Ch1 9:41, where Ahaz is left out, though supplied in our version. , where Ahaz is left out, though supplied in our version. 1 Chronicles 8:36 ch1 8:36 ch1 8:36 ch1 8:36And Ahaz begat Jehoadah,.... Called Jarah, Ch1 9:42. and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza; the same account is given, Ch1 9:42.
Verse 32
And Moza begat Binea; Rapha was his son,.... Called Rephaiah, Ch1 9:43. Elasah his son; whose name is Eleasah, Ch1 9:43. Azel his son.
Verse 33
And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bochim, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan,.... Which make the said number: all these were the sons of Azel; his family was large.
Verse 34
And the sons of Eshek his brother,.... The brother of Azel; who he was is not known, unless he is the same with Elasah, as is conjectured: were Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
Verse 35
And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour,.... Men of great fortitude and courage, though their names are not expressed: archers; skilful in the use of the bow and arrows, as the Benjaminites formerly were famous for slinging stones: and had many sons, and sons' sons, an hundred and fifty; so that the posterity of Jonathan, whose genealogy is drawn down from Ch1 8:34 hither, were very great; and greater still, according to the Vulgate Latin version, in which the number is 150,000 in the edition of Sixtus the fifth, and so in most MSS of that version (s). all these are of the sons of Benjamin; his posterity, whose names are given in this chapter. (s) See James of the Contrariety of the Popish Bibles, p. 294. Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 9
Introduction
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, Ch1 8:1, of Ehud, Ch1 8:5, of Shaharaim, Ch1 8:8, of Elpaal and Beriah, Ch1 8:12 of Shimhi, Ch1 8:19, of Shashak, Ch1 8:22, of Jeroham, Ch1 8:26, of Jehiel the father of Gibeon, Ch1 8:28, of Ner, and particularly Saul, Ch1 8:33 and of Jonathan, and his posterity, Ch1 8:34.
Verse 1
Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn,.... See Ch1 7:6. The genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin is reviewed, because it joined and kept close with Judah in the worship of God, went into captivity, and returned out of it with it; and this review is made chiefly for the sake of Saul, and his posterity, the first king of Israel, who was of it, and in whose posterity this genealogy ends: Ashbel the second; supposed to be the same with Jediael, Ch1 7:6, see Gen 46:21. and Aharah the third; the same with Aher, Ch1 7:13, and with Ahiram, Num 26:38.
Verse 2
Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. Nohah is supposed by some to be the same with Becher, Ch1 7:6 and by others with Naaman, Gen 46:21, as Rapha, the same with Rosh there. , as Rapha, the same with Rosh there. 1 Chronicles 8:3 ch1 8:3 ch1 8:3 ch1 8:3The sons of Bela were Addar, and Gera, and Abihud. The first of these is thought to be the same with Ard, mentioned among the sons of Benjamin, Gen 46:21 but was one of his grandsons, see Num 26:40 as Gera also was.
Verse 3
And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah, and Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram. These were all the sons of Bela; one of the name of Naaman is reckoned among the sons of Benjamin, Gen 46:21 and from this grandson the family of the Naamanites are named, Num 26:40, and Ahoah is by some thought to be the same with Ehi, mentioned in Gen 46:21 as one of Benjamin's sons. Some take the three last to be the sons of Ehud, spoken of in the next verse; but Shephuphan and Huram seem to be the same with Shupham and Hupham, Num 26:39. . 1 Chronicles 8:6 ch1 8:6 ch1 8:6 ch1 8:6And these are the sons of Ehud,.... Not he that was a judge in Israel, Jdg 3:15 but perhaps a son of Huram the last mentioned; for not the three last are his sons, as some think, but the three following in the next verse; what follows being to be read in a parenthesis: (these are the heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Geba;) a city in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 18:24 namely, those sons of Ehud, after mentioned, were principal men in that tribe, and chief of the inhabitants of the city of Geba: and they removed them to Manahath; the name of a country referred to in Ch1 2:52 according to Jarchi, which was in the tribe of Judah; Geba being too small, either the inhabitants of Geba removed them, or they removed themselves, or their fathers removed them, Ch1 8:7, or it may be read impersonally, they were removed thither for the sake of a better habitation; the Targum adds,"to the land of the house of Esau,''to Edom; which is not likely.
Verse 4
And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera,.... Or, to wit, Naaman, &c. so the words are to be connected with these are the sons or Ehud, in the preceding verse: he removed them; to the above place, that is, either Gera, or rather Ehud, he advised them, directed and enjoined them to go thither, as being most convenient for them: and he begat Uzza and Ahihud; after he had removed his other sons.
Verse 6
And Shaharaim,.... Who was either a son of Ahihud, or rather a brother of his, another son of Ehud: begat children in the country of Moab; whither he might go on account of the famine, as Elimelech did, Rut 1:1, after he had sent them away; which some understand of those that were removed from Geba to Manahath, Ch1 8:6, but a different word is here used; and besides Shaharaim seems to be one of those that were removed. Kimchi takes Shilhootham, we render "had sent them away", to be the name of his first wife, of whom he begat children in Moab; but it seems best to render and interpret the words in connection with what follows: he begat children in Moab: after he had sent them away; even Hushim and Baara his wives; after he had divorced them, for some reasons he had, he begat children of another wife, later mentioned.
Verse 7
And he begat of Hodesh his wife,.... That is, he, I say, begat, namely, Shaharaim; the Targum makes this Hodesh to be the same with Baara, called so because she was newly espoused; but wrongly: the sons begotten of her were the seven following; Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcham, Jeuz, Shachia, and Mirma. These were his sons; the sons of Shaharaim by his wife Hodesh: heads of the fathers; of the houses or families of their father.
Verse 8
And of Hushim he begat Abitub, and Elpaal. Before he sent her away, or divorced her, Ch1 8:8. . 1 Chronicles 8:12 ch1 8:12 ch1 8:12 ch1 8:12The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed,.... Besides those in Ch1 8:14. who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof; not Shamed, but Elpaal his father, so the Targum; and the Talmudists say (o), these were walled cities from the days of Joshua the son of Nun, and were destroyed in the days of the concubine in Gibea, and Elpaal came and rebuilt them; they were inhabited by the Benjaminites, upon their return from the Babylonish captivity, Neh 11:35 they were near to each other; according to a Jewish chronologer (p), it was three miles from the one to the other; Lod is the same with Lydda, in Act 9:32. (o) T. Hieros. Megillah, fol. 70. 1. & T. Bab Megillah, fol. 4. 1. So the Targum. (p) Juchasin, fol. 39. 2.
Verse 9
Beriah also, and Shema,.... These were sons of Elpaal: who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon; which, though in the tribe of Dan, Jos 19:42 might afterwards come into the possession of Benjamin; or this may be another place of the same name in Benjamin; or, however, might be inhabited by Benjaminites, upon the return from captivity, who descended from those men: who drove away the inhabitants of Gath; dispossessed them of their city, in revenge for what they had done to the Ephraimites, Ch1 7:21.
Verse 10
And Ahio, Shashak, and Jerimoth. These were also sons of Elpaal. And Ahio, Shashak, and Jerimoth. These were also sons of Elpaal. 1 Chronicles 8:15 ch1 8:15 ch1 8:15 ch1 8:15And Zebadiah,.... And all that follow in this and the next verse were the sons of Beriah the son of Elpaal; namely: Arad, Ader, Michael, Ispah, and Joha.
Verse 12
And Zebadiah, and Meshullam,.... These, with those that follow: Hezeki, Heber, Ishmerai, Jezliah, and Jobab, were the sons of Elpaal
Verse 13
And Jakim,.... With all the rest in these verses, namely: Zichri, Zabdi, Elienai, Zilthai, Eliel, Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath, were the sons of Shimhi, the same with Shema brother of Beriah, and son of Elpaal, Ch1 8:13.
Verse 14
And Ishpan, and Heber,.... And all that follow to the end of these verses: Eliel, Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, Hananiah, Elam, Antothijah, Iphedeiah, and Penuel, were the sons of Shashak, another son of Elpaal, Ch1 8:14.
Verse 15
And Shamsherai,.... Who, with those next mentioned: Shehariah, Athaliah, Jaresiah, Eliah, and Zichri, were the sons of Jeroham, who perhaps is the same with Jerimoth, another son of Elpaal, Ch1 8:14 who makes a considerable figure in this genealogy. Kimchi observes that it is a tradition (q) that this Eliah is Elijah the prophet, who was of the seed of Rachel. (q) Shemoth Rabba, sect. 40. fol. 138. 4.
Verse 17
These were heads of the fathers, by their generations, chief men,.... All from Ch1 8:14, the sons of Elpaal and their sons: these dwelt in Jerusalem; part of which always belonged to the tribe of Benjamin, see Jos 15:63.
Verse 19
And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon,.... The builder of the city, and prince of the inhabitants of it, which was in the tribe of Benjamin, Jos 18:25 whose name was Jehiel, Ch1 9:35, (whose wife's name was Maachah;) of which name were many, see Ch1 2:48.
Verse 22
And his firstborn son Abdon,.... That is, Jehiel's, the father or prince of Gibeon; other sons follow: Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, Gedor, Ahio, and Zacher; called Zechariah, Ch1 9:37 and between Baal and Nadab, Ner is placed, Ch1 9:36 and another son is added at the end of Ch1 9:37, Mikloth next mentioned.
Verse 26
And Mikloth begat Shimeah,.... Called Shimeam, Ch1 9:38. and these also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against them; in another part of the city, right beside them.
Verse 28
And Ner begat Kish,.... Who also is called Abiel, as the Targum here adds; for Ner had two names, as other Jewish writers likewise say (r), see Sa1 9:1, and Kish begat Saul; the first king of Israel, for whose sake chiefly the genealogy of Benjamin is revised and enlarged in this chapter: and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal, see Sa1 31:2. Abinadab is called Ishui, Sa1 14:49 and Eshbaal is the same with Ishbosheth, Sa2 2:8, so Baal and Bosheth are used of the same idol of which they are names, Hos 9:10. (r) Vajikra Rabba, sect. 9. fol. 152. 4.
Verse 29
And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal,.... The same with Mephibosheth, Sa2 4:4 so Jerubbaal is called Jerubbesheth, Jdg 6:32. and Meribbaal begat Micah; called his young son in David's time, Sa2 9:12.
Verse 30
And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz. The last but one is called Tahrea, Ch1 9:41, where Ahaz is left out, though supplied in our version. , where Ahaz is left out, though supplied in our version. 1 Chronicles 8:36 ch1 8:36 ch1 8:36 ch1 8:36And Ahaz begat Jehoadah,.... Called Jarah, Ch1 9:42. and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza; the same account is given, Ch1 9:42.
Verse 32
And Moza begat Binea; Rapha was his son,.... Called Rephaiah, Ch1 9:43. Elasah his son; whose name is Eleasah, Ch1 9:43. Azel his son.
Verse 33
And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bochim, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan,.... Which make the said number: all these were the sons of Azel; his family was large.
Verse 34
And the sons of Eshek his brother,.... The brother of Azel; who he was is not known, unless he is the same with Elasah, as is conjectured: were Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
Verse 35
And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour,.... Men of great fortitude and courage, though their names are not expressed: archers; skilful in the use of the bow and arrows, as the Benjaminites formerly were famous for slinging stones: and had many sons, and sons' sons, an hundred and fifty; so that the posterity of Jonathan, whose genealogy is drawn down from Ch1 8:34 hither, were very great; and greater still, according to the Vulgate Latin version, in which the number is 150,000 in the edition of Sixtus the fifth, and so in most MSS of that version (s). all these are of the sons of Benjamin; his posterity, whose names are given in this chapter. (s) See James of the Contrariety of the Popish Bibles, p. 294. Next: 1 Chronicles Chapter 9
Introduction
We had some account given us of Benjamin in the foregoing chapter; here we have a larger catalogue of the great men of that tribe. 1. Because of that tribe Saul came, the first king of Israel, to the story of whom the sacred writer is hastening, Ch1 10:1. 2. Because that tribe clave to Judah, inhabited much of Jerusalem, was one of the two tribes that went into captivity, and returned back; and that story also he has an eye to, Ch1 9:1. Here is, I. Some of the heads of that tribe named (v. 1-32). II. A more particular account of the family of Saul (Ch1 8:33-40).
Verse 1
There is little or nothing of history in all these verses; we have not therefore much to observe. 1. As to the difficulties that occur in this and the foregoing genealogies we need not perplex ourselves. I presume Ezra took them as he found them in the books of the kings of Israel and Judah (Ezr 9:1), according as they were given in by the several tribes, each observing what method they thought fit. Hence some ascend, others desecnd; some have numbers affixed, others places; some have historical remarks intermixed, others have not; some are shorter, others longer; some agree with other records, others differ; some, it is likely, were torn, erased, and blotted, others more legible. Those of Dan and Reuben were entirely lost. This holy man wrote as he was moved by the Holy Ghost; but there was no necessity for the making up of the defects, no, nor for the rectifying of the mistakes, of these genealogies by inspiration. It was sufficient that he copied them out as they came into his hand, or so much of them as was requisite to the present purpose, which was the directing of the returned captives to settle as nearly as they could with those of their own family, and in the places of their former residence. We may suppose that many things in these genealogies which to us seem intricate, abrupt, and perplexed, were plain and easy to them then (who knew how to fill up the deficiencies) and abundantly answered the intention of the publishing of them. 2. Many great and mighty nations there were now in being upon earth, and many illustrious men in them, whose names are buried in perpetual oblivion, while the names of multitudes of the Israel of God are here carefully preserved in everlasting remembrance. They are Jasher, Jeshurun - just ones, and the memory of the just is blessed. Many of these we have reason to fear, came short of everlasting honour (for even the wicked kings of Judah come into the genealogy), yet the perpetuating of their names here was a figure of the writing of the names of all God's spiritual Israel in the Lamb's book of life. 3. This tribe of Benjamin was once brought to a very low ebb, in the time of the judges, upon the occasion of the iniquity of Gibeah, when only 600 men escaped the sword of justice; and yet, in these genealogies, it makes as good a figure as almost any of the tribes: for it is the honour of God to help the weakest and raise up those that are most diminished and abased. 4. Here is mention of one Ehud (Ch1 8:6), in the preceding verse of one Gera (Ch1 8:5) and (Ch1 8:8) of one that descended from him, that begat children in the country of Moab, which inclines me to think it was that Ehud who was the second of the judges of Israel; for he is said to be the son of Gera and a Benjamite (Jdg 3:15), and he delivered Israel from the oppression of the Moabites by killing the king of Moab, which might give him a greater sway in the country of Moab than we find evidence of in his history and might occasion some of his posterity to settle there. 5. Here is mention of some of the Benjamites that drove away the inhabitants of Gath (Ch1 8:13), perhaps those that had slain the Ephraimites (Ch1 7:21) or their posterity, by way of reprisal: and one of those that did this piece of justice was named Beriah too, that name in which the memorial of that injury was preserved. 6. Particular notice is taken of those that dwelt in Jerusalem (Ch1 8:28 and again Ch1 8:32), that those whose ancestors had had their residence there might thereby be induced, at their return from captivity, to settle there too, which, for aught that appears, few were willing to do, because it was the post of danger: and therefore we find (Neh 11:2) the people blessed those that willingly offered themselves to dwell at Jerusalem, the greater part being inclined to prefer the cities of Judah. Those whose godly parents had their conversation in the new Jerusalem should thereby be engaged to set their faces thitherward and pursue the way thither, whatever it cost them.
Verse 33
It is observable that among all the genealogies of the tribes there is no mention of any of the kings of Israel after the defection from the house of David, much less of their families; not a word of Jeroboam's house or Baasha's, of Umri's or Jehu's; for they were all idolaters. But of the family of Saul, which was the royal family before the elevation of David, we have here a particular account. 1. Before Saul, Kish and Ner only are named, his father and grandfather, Ch1 8:33. His pedigree is carried higher Sa1 9:1, only there Kish is said to be the son of Abiel, here of Ner. He was in truth the son of Ner but the grandson of Abiel, as appears by Sa1 14:51, where it is said that Ner was the son of Abiel, and that Abner, who was the son of Ner, was Saul's uncle (that is, his father's brother); therefore his father was also the son of Ner. It is common in all languages to put sons for grandsons and other descendents, much more in the scanty language of the Hebrews. 2. After Saul, divers of his sons are named, but the posterity of none of them, save Jonathan only, who was blessed with numerous issue and those honoured with a place in the sacred genealogies for the sake of his sincere kindness to David. The line of Jonathan is drawn down here for about ten generations. Perhaps David was, in a particular manner, careful to preserve that, and assigned it a page by itself, because of the covenant made between his seed and Jonathan's seed forever, Sa1 20:15, Sa1 20:23, Sa1 20:42. This genealogy ends in Ulam, whose family became famous in the tribe of Benjamin for the number of its valiant men. Of that one man's posterity there were, as it should seem, at one time, 150 archers brought into the field of battle, that were mighty men of valour, Ch1 8:40. That is taken notice of concerning them which is more a man's praise than his pomp or wealth is, that they were qualified to serve their country.
Verse 1
8:1-40 The genealogy of Benjamin’s descendants brings the genealogies to a close. The record began with Judah, the tribe of David; it ends with Benjamin, the tribe of Saul.
Verse 3
8:3 Gera, Abihud: As translated, Bela had two sons named Gera (8:3, 5), an unusual situation. If the rendering suggested in the NLT note is correct, the second Gera was the first Gera’s son.
Verse 6
8:6-28 This list reports the militia from the clans of Ehud (8:6-7) and Shaharaim (8:8-28), who lived in the vicinity of Jerusalem.
Verse 7
8:7 This exile is unknown; it might have been a voluntary emigration from the territory of Benjamin, perhaps during the period of the judges.
Verse 29
8:29-32 This list gives the militia that resided at Gibeon, although some of them had moved to Jerusalem.
Verse 33
8:33-40 The Chronicler concludes his record of Benjamin’s history with the genealogy of Saul, beginning two generations before Saul and extending through Merib-baal (=Mephibosheth; see study note on 2 Sam 4:4) and down to the families of Azel and Eshek (1 Chr 8:38-40). Micah (8:35) lived in the time of Solomon, and Ulam (8:39) lived near the end of the kingdom of Judah before the destruction of Jerusalem. Thus, Saul is connected with his larger tribal history and with a noble heritage that carried on throughout the kingdom period.