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1 Chronicles Chapter 8

Old Testament Historical 40 Verses

What is 1 Chronicles 8 about?

A priestly perspective on David's reign, his gathering of Temple materials, and preparations for Solomon's building project. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1And Benjamin begat Bela his first-born, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,
2Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
3And Bela had sons: Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,
4and Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,
5and Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.
6And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of fathers` [houses] of the inhabitants of Geba, and they carried them captive to Manahath:
7and Naaman, and Ahijah, and Gera, he carried them captive: and he begat Uzza and Ahihud.
8And Shaharaim begat children in the field of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.
9And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcam,
10and Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers` [houses].
11And of Hushim he begat Abitub and Elpaal.
12And the sons of Elpaal: Eber, and Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod, with the towns thereof;
13and Beriah, and Shema, who were heads of fathers` [houses] of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath;
14and Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,
15and Zebadiah, and Arad, and Eder,
16and Michael, and Ishpah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah,
17and Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hizki, and Heber,
18and Ishmerai, and Izliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal,
19and Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,
20and Elienai, and Zillethai, and Eliel,
21and Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimei,
22and Ishpan, and Eber, and Eliel,
23and Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,
24and Hananiah, and Elam, and Anthothijah,
25and Iphdeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak,
26and Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,
27and Jaareshiah, and Elijah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.
28These were heads of fathers` [houses] throughout their generations, chief men: these dwelt in Jerusalem.
29And in Gibeon there dwelt the father of Gibeon, [Jeiel], whose wife`s name was Maacah;
30and his first-born son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,
31and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zecher.
32And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And they also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against their brethren.
33And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
34And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal begat Micah.
35And the sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.
36And Ahaz begat Jehoaddah; and Jehoaddah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza.
37And Moza begat Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
38And Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
39And the sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his first-born, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
40And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons, and sons` sons, a hundred and fifty. All these were of the sons of Benjamin.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, etc.] (see <130706>1 Chronicles 7:6). The genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin is reviewed, because it joined and kept close with Judah in the worship of God, went into captivity, and returned out of it with it; and this review is made chiefly for the sake of Saul, and his posterity, the first king of Israel, who was of it, and in whose posterity this genealogy ends: Ashbel the second; supposed to be the same with Jediael, (<130706>1 Chronicles 7:6), (see <014621>Genesis 46:21) and Aharah the third; the same with Aher, (<130713>1 Chronicles 7:13), and with Ahiram,…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“SONS AND CHIEF MEN OF BENJAMIN. (1Ch. 8:1-32) Now Benjamin begat, &c.--This chapter contains some supplementary particulars in addition to what has been already said regarding the tribe of Benjamin (see on Ch1 7:6). The names of many of the persons mentioned are different from those given by Moses--a diversity which may be accounted for in part on grounds formerly stated, namely, either that the persons had more than one name, or that the word "sons" is used in a loose sense for grandsons or descendants. But there are other circumstances to be taken into account in considering the details of this chapter; namely,…”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“The reason of 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. return to 'Top of Page'”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 6
“These - These following, Ch1 8:7, because he here speaks of them who were removed. He describes the sons of Benjamin by the places of their habitation, without an exact account of their parents; because their genealogies were broken by that almost total extirpation of this tribe, Jdg. 20:29-48. 1 Chronicles 8:28”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on 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.”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“Bela: Ch1 7:6-12; Gen 46:21 Aharah: Num 26:38, Ahiram 1 Chronicles 8:3”
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Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · on verse 1
“The families of Benjamin enumerated in this chapter were probably separated from those in Ch1 7:6-11, merely on the ground that all the registers which are grouped together in 1 Chron 7 were taken from another genealogical document than that from which the registers in our chapter, which form a supplement to the short fragments in Ch1 7:6-11, have been derived. Ch1 8:1-2 The sons of Benjamin and Bela. - The manner in which the five sons begotten by Benjamin are enumerated is remarkable, "Bela his first-born, Ashbel the second," etc., since, according to Gen 46:21, after the first-born Bela, Becher follows as the…”
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