Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 8

Verse 1

Benjamin. This tribe is now dealt with, and brought down to Saul and Jonathan. The date of writing is Post-Exilic. See 1 Chronicles 8:28 ; 1 Chronicles 9:3 , 1 Chronicles 9:27 , and compare with Ezr 2 and Nehemiah 10:0 , which show that Benjamin was brought back to the Land after being nearly extinguished in Judges 20:0 . Loyalty to Judah and the house of God had been rewarded. Note the passages which connect Benjamin with Judah and with the blessings of the return from Babylon: Ezra 1:8 ; Ezra 2:0 ; Ezra 4:1 .Nehemiah 7:0 ; Nehemiah 11:4 , Nehemiah 11:7 , Nehemiah 11:31 ; Nehemiah 12:34 . The genealogy of Saul leads up to the subject of the book. begat. The former genealogy (1 Chronicles 7:6-12 ) is not full, but specifies only the families to be dealt with later.

Verse 2

Nohah . . . Rapha. Nowhere else mentioned in O.T. Compare Genesis 46:21 . Perhaps grandsons. But these names show independence of Chronicles.

Verse 3

Addar. Called Ard in Genesis 46:21 .Numbers 26:40 .

Gera. Name derived from a son of Benjamin (Genesis 46:21 ).

Verse 5

Gera. Another Gera. Compare 1 Chronicles 8:7 .

Verse 6

these are the: or, "and these are they the".

Geba. Near Gibeah of Saul (Joshua 18:24 . 1 Samuel 10:26 ; 1 Samuel 13:3 ). Compare Judges 19:12 .

and. Read: "but they were carried away to Mana-hath".

they (the Gebaites) removed = were carried away, (same word as in 1 Chronicles 5:26 ). The occasion is not known, but probably after they returned from captivity, as Geba is mentioned in Ezra 2:26 . Lod and Ono in 1 Chronicles 8:12 are named in Ezra 2:33 , and "the sons of Gibeon" in Nehemiah 7:25 . Compare Ezra 2:20 .

Gera. A third Gera. Compare verses: 1Ch 8:3 , 1 Chronicles 8:6 .

Ahihud. Supply Figure of speech Ellipsis : "and Ahihud [and Shaharaim]. And Shaharaim begat", &c.

Verse 8

of Moab. As Boaz did.

them: i.e. his wives.

Verse 9

Hodesh: i.e. his Moabitish wife.

Verse 12

Shamed. Some codices, with Septuagint and Syriac, read "Shemer". Compare 1 Chronicles 7:34 .

Ono . . . Lod. Mentioned only after the exile (Ezra 2:33 .Nehemiah 7:37; Nehemiah 7:37 ). See note on 1 Chronicles 8:6 .

Verse 13

Beriah. See notes on 1 Chronicles 7:23 , 1 Chronicles 7:30 .

Aijalon. In Joshua 19:42 , it was in Dan. In Joshua 21:24 it was a Levitical city. In 2 Chronicles 28:18 it was occupied by Philistines, under Ahaz. But here occupied by Benjamites, because (1) of Dan's idolatry (see note on Genesis 49:17 ), and (2) of different distribution after the exile.

drove away. A reprisal later than 1 Chronicles 7:21 . See notes on 1 Chronicles 7:23 , 1 Chronicles 7:30 .

Verse 18

Ishmerai = Ishmar-yah. The Yod = y, being the abbreviation for Yah = Jehovah.

Verse 22

Heber. Most codices, and nine early printed editions, read "Heber". Some MSS. read "Hebed".

Verse 28

These dwelt. Compare 1 Chronicles 8:32 ; 1 Chronicles 9:34 .Nehemiah 11:1-4 . Another token of God's faithfulness to Benjamin (compare Deuteronomy 33:12 ), for adhering to Judah and the worship of the true God.

Verse 29

at Gibson. Repeated in 1 Chronicles 9:35-44 .

father = lord, chief, or ruler. Compare 1 Chronicles 9:35 . Called Jehiel there.

Verse 31

Zacher. Supply Ellipsis thus: "and Zacher [and Mikloth]. And Mikloth", &c.

Verse 33

Ner begat Kish. There are three genealogies of the house of Saul. We place the facts, (1) that persons often had two names (1 Chronicles 8:34 .Judges 6:32 , &c), and (2) that the same name recurs in the same family, against the assumption that the opposite is the case. It is this assumption which creates the difficulties in "reconciling" 1 Samuel 9:1 ; 1 Samuel 14:51 ; and 1 Chronicles 9:38 .

Esh-baal. Another name for Ish-bosheth (2 Samuel 2:8 ).

Verse 34

Merib-baal. Another name by which Mephi-bosheth was known. Compare 2 Samuel 2:8 ; 2 Samuel 4:4 . See note on 1 Chronicles 8:33 above. The addition "bosheth" (= shame) came to be substituted for "Baal" as the latter word became associated with idolatry. Compare Judges 6:32 with 2 Samuel 11:21 .

Verse 38

Bocheru. Some codices, with Septuagint and Syriac, read "his firstborn" ( bekhoro ).

Verse 40

were = became.

mighty men. Hebrew. gibbor. App-14 .

archers. Compare 2 Chronicles 14:8 .