1 Chronicles 8: Summary and Commentary

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.

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 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