Introduction

Gill, in his commentary, gives us a useful summary of this chapter.

‘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, 1 Chronicles 8:1, of Ehud, 1 Chronicles 8:5, of Shaharaim, 1 Chronicles 8:8, of Elpaal and Beriah, 1 Chronicles 8:12 of Shimhi, 1 Chronicles 8:19, of Shashak, 1 Chronicles 8:22, of Jeroham, 1 Chronicles 8:26, of Jehiel the father of Gibeon, 1 Chronicles 8:28, of Ner, and particularly Saul, 1 Chronicles 8:33 and of Jonathan, and his posterity, 1 Chronicles 8:34.’

THE GENEALOGY OF SAUL THE BENJAMITE

‘Benjamin was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second son, Aharah the third, Nohah the fourth and Rapha the fifth. The sons of Bela were: Addar, Gera, Abihud, Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, Gera, Shephuphan and Huram. These were the descendants of Ehud, who were heads of families of those living in Geba and were deported to Manahath: Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who deported them and who was the father of Uzza and Ahihud. Sons were born to Shaharaim in Moab after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara. By his wife Hodesh he had Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malkam, Jeuz, Sakia and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of families. By Hushim he had Abitub and Elpaal. The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod with its surrounding villages), and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of families of those living in Aijalon and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath. Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth, Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, Michael, Ishpah and Joha were the sons of Beriah. Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, Ishmerai, Izliah and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal. Jakim, Zikri, Zabdi, Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, Adaiah, Beraiah and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei. Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, Abdon, Zikri, Hanan, Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, Iphdeiah and Penuel were the sons of Shashak. Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, Jaareshiah, Elijah and Zikri were the sons of Jeroham. All these were heads of families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem. Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maakah, and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, Gedor, Ahio, Zeker and Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem. Ner was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul, and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal. The son of Jonathan: Merib-Baal, who was the father of Micah. The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melek, Tarea and Ahaz. Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza. Moza was the father of Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son and Azel his son. Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. The sons of his brother Eshek: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second son and Eliphelet the third. 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 8:1-40

In this chapter, we read about the genealogy of Benjamin, right through to Saul. This is another genealogy of Benjamin, Genesis 46:21 / Numbers 26:38-41 / 1 Chronicles 7:6-12. The names recorded in 1 Chronicles 7:6-12, are slightly different from what we read here. However, the names recorded in 1 Chronicles 9:35-41, are the same as we read in 1 Chronicles 8:29-40, and 1 Samuel 14:49-51.

Barnes, in his commentary, says the following.

‘The reason for this return to the genealogy of the Benjamites seems to be the desire to connect the genealogical introduction with the historical body of the work. As the history is, to begin with, Saul, the genealogical portion is made to end with an account of the family of this Benjamite monarch.’

The Pulpit Commentary, says the following, concerning 1 Chronicles 8:1-2.

‘These verses give five sons to Benjamin. Of the non-appearance of Becher here, 1 Chronicles 7:6, and the appearance of Ashbel in his place, also of the non-appearance here of Jediael, 1 Chronicles 7:6, and the appearance of Aharah, i.e. Ahiram, Numbers 26:38, in his place, notice has been taken on, 1 Chronicles 7:6-12. Of the two additions to the sons of Benjamin here. Nohah and Rapha, nothing is known elsewhere; yet it may be possible to count five families from Numbers 26:38 / Numbers 26:39.’

Addar, 1 Chronicles 8:3, is mentioned in Genesis 46:21, but with thee name, Ehi and in Numbers 26:40, he is named ‘Ard.’

Ellicott, in his commentary, says the following, concerning 1 Chronicles 8:4-5.

‘Naaman is a son of Bela in Numbers 26, a brother in Genesis 46. Ahoah is peculiar, unless he be identified with the Ehi of Genesis 46. Shephuphan and Huram, younger sons of Bela in the present series, are in Genesis and Numbers, his younger brothers Muppim (Shuppim) and Huppim, or Shephuphan and Hupham. These fluctuations of statement are worth observing, because they demonstrate the vagueness of terms denoting various degrees of kindred, when used in describing tribal and clan relationships.’

Ehud, 1 Chronicles 8:6, was the left handed Benjamite judge who killed the King of Moab and delivered Israel, Judges 3. Most commentators suggest that there has been some corruption here, concerning Manahath, 1 Chronicles 8:6, from which, however, we may gather that the ‘sons of Ehud’ or, perhaps, of Ahoah, 1 Chronicles 8:4, were originally settled at Geba, Joshua 18:24, but afterwards removed to a place called Manahath, probably a town in the vicinity. Gera, 1 Chronicles 8:7, directed the movement.

Coffman, in his commentary, says the following, concerning 1 Chronicles 8:6-7.

‘There are many things in this chapter and in the entire Old Testament that must forever remain in the realm of the mysterious and the unknown as far as modern men are concerned. For example, nothing is known about the exile mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:6. We do not know who exiled whom. It is appropriate to remember in this connection that ‘the hidden things belong to God.’

Jerusalem was partly within the limits of the tribe of Benjamin, Joshua 18:28, but we don’t hear of Benjamites inhabiting it until after the return from the captivity, 1 Chronicles 9:3 / Nehemiah 11:4. The descendants of Benjamin that are given here are difficult to understand in reference to Genesis 46:21, and Numbers 26:38-40.

Barnes, in his commentary, says the following, concerning 1 Chronicles 8:8-10.

‘Shaharaim, 1 Chronicles 8:8, was either a son of Ahihud, or rather a brother of his, another son of Ehud, 1 Chronicles 8:8. The Targum makes this Hodesh, 1 Chronicles 8:9, 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 Mirmah, were his sons, the sons of Shaharaim by his wife Hodesh, 1 Chronicles 8:10.

By Hushim he had Abitub and Elpaal, 1 Chronicles 8:11, that is, before he sent her away, 1 Chronicles 8:8. The names mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:12, may be related to the names mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:17-18 / 1 Chronicles 8:21.

Gill, in his commentary, says the following, concerning the sons of Elpaal, 1 Chronicles 8:11-12.

‘Beriah also, and Shema, were sons of Elpaal, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, which, though in the tribe of Dan, Joshua 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 Benjaminite’s, upon the return from captivity, who descended from those men, who drove away from the inhabitants of Gath, dispossessed them of their city, in revenge for what they had done to the Ephraimites, 1 Chronicles 7:21.’

It’s possible that most of the names are given here, such as Ono and Lod, 1 Chronicles 8:12, which were cities in which people who lived after the captivity, 1 Chronicles 8:28 / Ezra 2:33 / 1 Chronicles 9:3 / Nehemiah 11:4.

The cities of Ono and Lod aren’t mentioned in Joshua as part of Palestine originally assigned to Benjamin but, these places were built later. There is no doubt that Lod is the Lydda, Acts 9:22. Beriah and Shema were heads of their families in Aijalon, and they drove out the inhabitants of Gath, 1 Chronicles 8:13 / 1 Chronicles 7:21.

The sons of Elpaal and their sons, lived in Jerusalem, 1 Chronicles 8:14 / 1 Chronicles 8:28 / Joshua 15:63. There are nine sons of Beriah, 1 Chronicles 8:14-16, seven other sons of Elpaal, 1 Chronicles 8:17-18, that’s twelve altogether. There are nine sons of Shimei, 1 Chronicles 8:19-21, 1 Chronicles 8:13.

Ellicott, in his commentary, says the following, concerning 1 Chronicles 8:22-25.

‘Eleven sons of Shashak, 1 Chronicles 8:14, followed by six sons of Jeroham, Jeremoth, 1 Chronicles 8:14, in 1 Chronicles 8:26-27. The recurrence of the same names in the five groups is noticeable. Thus, a Zichri appears among the sons of Shimei, 1 Chronicles 8:19, among the sons of Shashak, 1 Chronicles 8:23, and among the sons of Jeroham, 1 Chronicles 8:27. Of course the name may have been thus frequent among the Benjamite clans dwelling in Jerusalem. But it is possible to see in the fact an indication that, at the time when the present register was framed, some of these houses were no longer able to trace their pedigrees with certainty to one famous name rather than another.’

Barnes, in his commentary, says the following, concerning 1 Chronicles 8:26-27.

‘Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, Jaresiah, Eliah, and Zichri, were the sons of Jeroham, who perhaps is the same with Jerimoth, another son of Elpaal, 1 Chronicles 8:14, who makes a considerable figure in this genealogy. Kimchi observes that it is a tradition that this Eliah is Elijah the prophet, who was of the seed of Rachel.’

The sons of Elpaal and their sons, all lived in Jerusalem, 1 Chronicles 8:28 / 1 Chronicles 8:14 / Joshua 15:63. After the captivity, there were settlements of Benjamites in Gibeon, and so, Jeiel, the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon, 1 Chronicles 8:29 / 1 Chronicles 9:35-44.

Before David’s rise to power, the tent of meeting was located at Gibeon, 1 Chronicles 16:39 / 1 Chronicles 21:29. Solomon went there to sacrifice and pray in 1 Kings 3:3-9. This list related to Saul in 1 Chronicles 8:29-38, is repeated in 1 Chronicles 9:35-44. Maakah was the great-grandmother of Saul, 1 Chronicles 8:29.

The Pulpit Commentary, says the following, concerning. 1 Chronicles 8:30-31.

‘These verses contain the names of eight sons of Jehiel instead of the ten of 1 Chronicles 9:36 / 1 Chronicles 9:37. Both of the missing names, however, Ner after Baal, and Mikloth after Zacher, are introduced in verses immediately succeeding, where their sons are spoken of. One name, Zacher, also is spelt as Zechariah in 1 Chronicles 9:37.’

Zecher, 1 Chronicles 8:31, is also named Zechariah in 1 Chronicles 9:37. Shimeah, 1 Chronicles 8:32, is also called Shimeam in 1 Chronicles 9:38. Saul, 1 Chronicles 8:33, was the first king of the United Kingdom, 1 Samuel 9 and his son, Jonathan, was David’s close friend, 1 Samuel 18.

The Eshbaal mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:33, is Ishbosheth, 2 Samuel 2:8, and Meribbaal mentioned in 1 Chronicles 8:34, as Mephibosheth, 2 Samuel 4:4. Tarea, 1 Chronicles 8:35, is also called Tahrea in 1 Chronicles 9:41. Jehoaddah, 1 Chronicles 8:36, is also called Jarah in 1 Chronicles 9:42. Raphah, 1 Chronicles 8:37, is also called Rephaiah in 1 Chronicles 9:43.

Ellicott, in his commentary, says the following, concerning 1 Chronicles 8:38-39.

‘Bocheru. Some MSS. read ‘his firstborn,’ with which, with different points, the LXX. and the Syriac agree. This seems right, as the conjunctive particle is wanting between Azrikam and the doubtful word, and Bocheru would be anomalous as a proper name, 1 Chronicles 8:40. Azel was a place near Jerusalem, Zechariah 14:5 / Micah 1:11. Eshek his brother, that is, the brother of Azel, and son of Eleasah, 1 Chronicles 8:37. The elder line is first developed.’

The sons of Ulam were brave warriors who could handle the bow, 1 Chronicles 8:40. These were the left-handed archers of Benjamin, 1 Chronicles 12:2 / 2 Chronicles 14:8 2 Chronicles 17:17.

Henry, in his commentary, says the following, concerning 1 Chronicles 8:40.

‘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, 1 Chronicles 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.’

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