FRAMEWORKS:
1 Chronicles 8: The
Genealogy of Saul (the Benjaminite)
[Preliminary
Comment: We can
only assume the content of this chapter in working towards Saul
as the precursor king to David. There is no explanation of the
structure of the names beyond the fact that they are of the tribe
of Benjamin, from which Saul eventually comes. Jonathan must be
included perhaps simply as David's good friend, so he is being
honoured by the scribe-compiler. The fact that the scribe was
able to assemble such a large group of [to us meaningless] names,
presumably from over quite a period of history, shows us that
record-keeping was common in Israel.]
v.1-28
A mixed bunch of names from Benjamin
v.1
Benjamin
was
the father of Bela his firstborn,
Ashbel
the second son, Aharah the third,
v.2
Nohah
the fourth and Rapha the fifth.
v.3
The
sons of Bela were:
Addar,
Gera, Abihud,
v.4
Abishua,
Naaman, Ahoah,
v.5
Gera,
Shephuphan and Huram.
v.6
These
were the descendants of Ehud, who were heads of families of those
living in Geba and were deported to Manahath:
v.7
Naaman,
Ahijah and Gera, who deported them and who was the father of Uzza
and Ahihud.
v.8
Sons
were born to Shaharaim in Moab after he had divorced his wives
Hushim and Baara.
v.9
By
his wife Hodesh he had Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malkam,
v.10
Jeuz,
Sakia and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of families.
v.
11
By
Hushim he had Abitub and Elpaal.
v.
12
The
sons of Elpaal:
Eber,
Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod with its surrounding villages),
v.13
and
Beriah and Shema, who were heads of families of those living in
Aijalon and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath.
v.14
Ahio,
Shashak, Jeremoth,
v.15
Zebadiah,
Arad, Eder,
v.16
Michael,
Ishpah and Joha were the sons of Beriah.
v.17
Zebadiah,
Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,
v.18
Ishmerai,
Izliah and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.
v.19
Jakim,
Zikri, Zabdi,
v.20
Elienai,
Zillethai, Eliel,
v.21
Adaiah,
Beraiah and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.
v.22
Ishpan,
Eber, Eliel,
v.23
Abdon,
Zikri, Hanan,
v.24
Hananiah,
Elam, Anthothijah,
v.25
Iphdeiah
and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.
v.26
Shamsherai,
Shehariah, Athaliah,
v.27
Jaareshiah,
Elijah and Zikri were the sons of Jeroham.
v.28
All
these were heads of families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy,
and they lived in Jerusalem.
v.29-33
Saul's background
v.29
Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon.
His
wife's name was Maakah,
v.30
and
his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner,
Nadab,
v.31
Gedor,
Ahio, Zeker
v.32
and
Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah. They too lived near their
relatives in Jerusalem.
v.33
Ner
was the father of Kish, Kish the father of Saul,
and Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua,
Abinadab and Esh-Baal.
v.34-40
The Descendants of Jonathan
v.34
The
son of Jonathan:
Merib-Baal,
who was the father of Micah.
v.35
The
sons of Micah:
Pithon,
Melek, Tarea and Ahaz.
v.36
Ahaz
was the father of Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth,
Azmaveth and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza.
v.37
Moza
was the father of Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son and
Azel his son.
v.38
Azel
had six sons, and these were their names:
Azrikam,
Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. All these were the
sons of Azel.
v.39
The
sons of his brother Eshek:
Ulam
his firstborn, Jeush the second son and Eliphelet the third.
v.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.
Continue
to Ch.9