Chapter Eight

1–28. The generation of Benjamin. 29–40. The family of Saul.

1 Chronicles 8:1. Benjamin fathered Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third, 1 Chronicles 8:2. Nok the fourth and Rapha the fifth. See the note to (1 Chr 7:6). The names Nok and Rapha are not encountered anywhere else.

1 Chronicles 8:3. The sons of Bela were: Addar, Gera, and Abihud, 1 Chronicles 8:4. Abishua, Naaman, and Ahoah, 1 Chronicles 8:5. Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram. Addar is the same name as Ard (Gen 46:22 and Num 26:40). Transposition of letters was made, probably, in 1 Chronicles for the sake of ease of pronunciation. In the latter place, as well as in this verse, he is called a son of Bela, not of Benjamin, in contrast to (Gen 46:41). The same observation is made concerning Naaman. The name Gera, encountered in verses 3 and 5, is spelled identically in the Hebrew text. The LXX distinguish two names – Γηρὰ (verse 3) and Γερὰ (verse 5). In Genesis it is mentioned only once, as the name of a son of Benjamin (Gen 46:21), and in Numbers it is not encountered at all. Shephupham and Huram are not counted in Numbers, and likewise here, in contrast to Genesis, as sons of Benjamin (Gen 46:21). Abihud, Abishua, and Ahoah as descendants of Benjamin are not mentioned anywhere else.

1 Chronicles 8:6. These are the sons of Ehud who were heads of fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Geba, and they were carried into exile to Manahath: Some identify the name Ehud with the name of the Israeli judge “Aod” (more precisely in Hebrew “Egud”). But since Ehud and Egud are names different in their roots, in the opinion of others, identity cannot be admitted. If the place “Manahath” has no relation to Manohah (1 Chr 2:54), then its position is completely unknown, as are also the persons and events mentioned below.

1 Chronicles 8:8. Shaharaim fathered children in the land of Moab after he had sent away Hushim and Baara, his wives. 1 Chronicles 8:9. And he fathered by Hodesh, his wife, Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, 1 Chronicles 8:10. Jeuz, Shakia, and Mirma: these are his sons, heads of fathers’ houses. 1 Chronicles 8:11. By Hushim he fathered Abitub and Elpaal. 1 Chronicles 8:12. The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod and its dependent cities, – The identity of Shaharaim, his children, and their relation to the previously enumerated descendants of Benjamin remain completely unknown. Concerning the cities built by Shemed, mention is made of the first in (Ezra 2:33; Neh 6:2); of the second – Lydda, or Diospolis, which lay to the north of Carmel, on the road from Jerusalem to Jaffa, in (Ezra 2:33; Neh 7:37; 1 Macc 11:34; Acts 9:32). Judging from the location of these cities, far beyond the bounds of the tribe of Benjamin, on the borders of the ancient lot of Dan, one may suppose that here the discussion is of later times, when tribal distinctions lost their force for obtaining the right to own one or another piece of land.

1 Chronicles 8:13. and Beriah and Shema. They were heads of fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon. They put to flight the inhabitants of Gath. 1 Chronicles 8:14. Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth, 1 Chronicles 8:15. Zebadiah, Arad, and Eder, 1 Chronicles 8:16. Michael, Ishpah, and Joha – sons of Beriah. 1 Chronicles 8:17. Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, and Heber, 1 Chronicles 8:18. Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab – sons of Elpaal. 1 Chronicles 8:19. Jakim, Zichri, and Zabdi, 1 Chronicles 8:20. Elienai, Zillethai, and Eliel, 1 Chronicles 8:21. Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath – sons of Shimei. 1 Chronicles 8:22. Ishpan, Heber, and Eliel, 1 Chronicles 8:23. Abdon, Zichri, and Hanan, 1 Chronicles 8:24. Hananiah, Elam, and Anthothijah, 1 Chronicles 8:25. Iphdeiah and Penuel – sons of Shashak. 1 Chronicles 8:26. Shamsherai, Shehariah, and Athaliah, 1 Chronicles 8:27. Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri, sons of Jeroham. 1 Chronicles 8:28. These were heads of fathers’ houses, by their generations, chief men. They lived in Jerusalem. The family relationship of Beriah and Shema, as well as of all the subsequently enumerated persons with the preceding ones is unknown. According to the ancient division of the land of Israel, Aijalon – a city of the tribe of Dan, ceded to the Levites (Josh 10:12). But as is evident from this verse, the population of it in later times belonged to the descendants of Benjamin.

1 Chronicles 8:29. In Gibeon lived: [Jeiel,] the father of Gibeon, – and the name of his wife was Maacah, – The father of the inhabitants of Gibeon, a city lying to the north-west of Jerusalem, about seven versts from it, according to (1 Chr 9:35), is Jeiel. His name is not encountered anywhere else; nor is the origin from Benjamin indicated.

1 Chronicles 8:30. and his son Abdon was the firstborn, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, [Ner,] 1 Chronicles 8:31. Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, and Mikloth. In comparison with (1 Chr 9:36), in the present place the sixth son of Jeiel – Ner – is omitted: mention of him is necessary in view of the fact that (1 Chr 7:33) presents his generation. Instead of the name Zecher in (1 Chr 9:37) stands Zechariah.

1 Chronicles 8:32. Mikloth fathered Shimeam. And they too lived with their brothers in Jerusalem, together with their brothers. Instead of the name Shimeam in (1 Chr 9:38) stands Shimeam.

1 Chronicles 8:33. Ner fathered Kish; Kish fathered Saul; Saul fathered Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. Since in (1 Sam 9:1) the father of Kish and grandfather of Saul is Abiel, then Ner of this verse is evidently a more distant ancestor. Instead of four sons of Saul, (1 Sam 14:49) names only three: Jonathan, Ishvi, and Malchishua. But Ishvi, as is evident from (1 Sam 31:2) and (1 Chr 10:2), is only another name for Abinadab. In (2 Sam 2:8) there is mentioned yet another son of Saul – Ishboseth (Ishbaal), whom some reckon as one person with Eshbaal. The replacement of the word “baal” with the expression “boshet” (“shame,” “disgrace” – one of the designations of idols (Jer 3:24; Hos 9:10)) – is not a single occurrence; compare Jerubbaal (Judg 6:32) – Jerubesheth (2 Sam 11:21).

1 Chronicles 8:34. The son of Jonathan: Merib-baal; and Merib-baal fathered Micah. In (2 Sam 4:4) the son of Jonathan is called Mephibosheth, but not Merib-baal. But these names have the same meaning: Merib-baal – resisting the idol, and Mephibosheth – destroying the idol.

1 Chronicles 8:35. The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz. The names of the sons of Micah (2 Sam 9:12) are the same as in (1 Chr 9:41). Only Tarea in the latter place is called Tahrea; the difference is in the replacement of one guttural letter (aleph) with another (het), which has a stronger aspiration.

1 Chronicles 8:36. Ahaz fathered Jehoaddah; Jehoaddah fathered Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri; Zimri fathered Moza; The name Alemeth is used in (1 Chr 6:60) as the name of a city in the lot of the tribe of Benjamin; Azmaveth – as the name of a person (1 Chr 11:33; 1 Chr 12:3).

1 Chronicles 8:38. Azel had six sons, and these are their names: Azrikam, Bochru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan; all of them were sons of Azel. Both in this verse and in (1 Chr 9:44) after the name Azrikam stands the expression “bochru.” Jerome and later translators from the Hebrew text recognize this word as a proper name, because without it there would be only five sons of Azel, while there should be six. The LXX, however, read this word as a common noun – his firstborn, and to make up the count they added the name Asa, which, however, is not found in the Sinaitic list edited by Tischendorf. In the Slavonic text at this place the name Azariah is inserted, and in (1 Chr 9:44) – Asa.

1 Chronicles 8:40. The sons of Ulam were mighty men who drew the bow, having many sons and grandsons: one hundred fifty. All of them were from the sons of Benjamin. Cf. (Judg 20:16; Gen 49:27).