1 Chronicles
Chapter 8
Descendants of Benjamin
Benjamin became the father of Bela, his firstborn, Ashbel second, Ahiram third,
Nohah fourth, Rapha fifth.
Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Ehud,
Abishua, Naaman, and Ahoah,
Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.
These are the sons of Ehud. They were the heads of families of the inhabitants of Geba and led them into exile at Manahath:
Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera. It was he who led them into exile; he became the father of Uzza and Ahihud.
He became the father of Shaharaim in the plains of Moab after he had dismissed his wives, Hushim and Baara.
By his new wife, he had sons: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam,
Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of families.
By Hushim, he had sons Abitub and Elpaal.
Sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, and Shemed: He built Ono and Lud with its outlying towns.
Beriah and Shema were the heads of families of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath.
Shashak was his brother.Jeremoth,
Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,
Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were sons of Beriah.
Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Haber,
Ishmerai, Izliah, Jobab were sons of Elpaal.
Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi,
Elioenai, Zillethai, Eliel,
Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were sons of Shimei.
Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,
Abdon, Zichri, Hanan,
Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,
Iphdeiah, and Penuel were sons of Shashak.
Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,
Jaareshaiah, Elijah, and Zichri were sons of Jeroham.
These were the heads of families, grouped according to their kinship. They lived in Jerusalem.
At Gibeon lived Jeiel, whose wife was Macaah.
His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
Gedor, Ahio, Zecher
and Mikloth, who became the father of Shimeah. These individuals were also near their relatives and often lived with them in Jerusalem.
Ner was the father of Kish, and Kish became the father of Saul. Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
Son of Jonathan: Meribbaal. Meribbaal became the father of Micah.
Sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, Ahaz.
Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah, father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri became the father of Moza,
Moza, and the father of Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.
Azel had six sons, whose names were these: Azrikam, his firstborn, then Ishmael, Sheariah, Azariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were sons of Azel.
Sons of Eshek, his brother: Ulam, his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
Ulam had sons, stout fighting men, and archers. They had numerous sons and grandsons, a hundred and fifty of them.All these were sons of Benjamin.
Commentaries
Genealogies.
The first nine chapters list genealogies starting with Adam and ending with David. They include detailed names representing individuals, groups, territories, and cities, reflecting the historical context of the Chronicler’s time. Key to these genealogies are the tribe of Judah, from which King David comes, and the priestly tribe of Levi. This shows the Chronicler’s emphasis on God’s plan for creation and humanity, from the first human, to whom all history points, through David, the priesthood (represented by Levi), and an Israel united around the tribe of Judah.
The Other Tribes.
These chapters offer brief descriptions of various tribes of Israel, including Issachar, Benjamin, Manasseh, Ephraim, and Asher. Very little is said about Naphtali, while Dan and Zebulun are missing, as they no longer existed during the time of the Chronicler. The return of the Benjaminites in 8:1-32 aims to link them to Jerusalem (8:28, 32) and to King Saul (8:33), the central figure of chapter 10, whose family tree is detailed in 8:33-40.