Bible Commentaries
1 Chronicles 8

Verse 1

Benjamin. Some farther particulars of his genealogy are given, for the honour of Saul; (Calmet) and many of these, who returned from captivity, are mentioned, 1 Esdras x. 11. (Sanctius) --- Bale, &c., are called Bela, (Menochius; chap. vii. 6.) Jadiel, and Ahiram, or Echi, Numbers xxvi. 36., and Genesis xlvi.

Verse 2

Nohaa is probably styled Bechor; and Rapha, Ros, in Genesis.

Verse 3

Addar, Ared or Hered. (Calmet)

Verse 6

Ahod, the judge, Judges iii. 15. --- Manahath; the Menuchat, in the tribe of Juda, (chap. ii. 54.) after the captivity. (Calmet) --- Abulensis thinks Manahath was in Moab, ver. 8. (Menochius)

Verse 7

And. Literally, "but," autem. (Haydock) --- The sentence is clearer without this particle. (Menochius) --- Naaman was the first-born of Ahod; and Gera prevailed on his brethren to leave Gabaa, (Tirinus) and was probably the father of Oza. (Calmet)

Verse 8

Saharim. His father is not specified: but his was a Benjamite. (Menochius) --- Some force the Hebrew text to say that Ahod had three sons, whom he sent to form a colony at Manahath, and afterwards he had three others by his two wives, and at last, by Rodes, he had Jobab, &c. (Calmet) --- Begot. Protestants, "children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away: Hushim and Baara were his wives." But the Septuagint intimate, that "Saharim begot....after he had sent away Osim, and his wife Baara, and he begot of Ada," &c. (Haydock) --- He had perhaps retired into Moab, at the same time as Elimelech, Ruth i. (Tirinus) --- Those who were sent away were men, (eos) according to the Hebrew, unless (Haydock) the word should be eas. (Du Hamel)

Verse 11

Mehusim. Hebrew and Septuagint, "of Husim (ver. 8) he begot."

Verse 12

Ono was three miles from Lod, or Diospolis, (Lightfoot) built after the return from Babylon, (1 Esdras ii. 23.; Calmet) in the territory of Benjamin. (Menochius)

Verse 13

And Sama. They are supposed to have been sons of Elphaal. (Calmet) --- Aialon belonged to Dan, Josue xix. 42. But it was near Benjamin, (Menochius) and was probably occupied by people chiefly of that tribe. (Haydock) --- Geth. We know not at what period.

Verse 16

Baria, son of Elphaal. Whether the following were his brothers does not appear certain, as it seems more natural to have placed all his father’s children together, ver. 12., and 18.

Verse 21

Semei; perhaps Sama, ver. 13. (Calmet) --- Septuagint read, Samai. (Haydock)

Verse 25

Sesac, probably mentioned in ver. 14. (Calmet) --- Septuagint have "Sosek," in both places.

Verse 28

Families. Hebrew, "These were heads of the fathers by their generations, chief men." (Protestants) (Haydock) --- Jerusalem, probably after the captivity. We find none of these names from ver. 14, in the days of Josue; and it was not easy for people to establish themselves at Jerusalem, till David had expelled the Jebusites. (Calmet) --- Yet we find that the tribes of Juda and Benjamin had seized the lower city long before, Josue xviii. 28. (Haydock)

Verse 29

Dwelt. Literally, "they dwelt." But Hebrew and Septuagint, "in Gabaon, dwelt the father of Gaboan," (Haydock) who was called Jehiel, (chap. ix. 35.) or Abiel, 1 Kings ix. 1. (Calmet) --- The following verses are repeated in the next chapter, (Haydock) and seem to have been originally the same; though now many variations occur, which shew that "every Hebrew letter" has not been preserved. (Kennicott)

Verse 30

Baal. Add, "and Ner," (ver. 33., and chap. ix. 36.) as the Septuagint have it here also.

Verse 31

Zacher, or Zacharias, chap. ix. Hebrew omits the following name, as well as (Haydock) the end of the preceding one. (Kennicott) --- The Alexandrian Septuagint has the same faults. But the Vatican retains Macelloth. (Haydock)

Verse 32

Over-against, in the vicinity, while some remained at Gabaon. See Genesis xvi. 12. (Calmet) --- The family of Cis resided at Gabaa, 1 Kings x. 26. (Menochius)

Verse 33

Ner, son of Abiel, or of Jeheil, prince of Gabaon, ver. 29. (Haydock) --- From Aphia sprung Bechorah, Seror, Abiel, (1 Kings ix.) who is also called Ner and Jehiel. He had Ner, the father of Abner, and Cis, father of Saul. (Menochius) --- Abinadab, or Jessui, 1 Kings xiv. 49. (Calmet) --- Esbaal, alias Isboseth. (Challoner) --- The Hebrews avoid pronouncing the name of the idol, and substitute boseth, "confusion." (Calmet) --- Hence it is clear that many had two names. (Du Hamel)

Verse 34

Meribbaal, alias Mephiboseth, 2 Kings iv. 4., (Challoner) and 2 Kings ix. (Menochius)

Verse 36

Joada, or Jara, chap. ix. 42. (Calmet) --- "Strange mistakes these!" (Kennicott)

Verse 40

CHAPTER VIII.

Archers, particularly the natives of Gabaa, Judges xx. 16. Jonathan is praised for his skill, 2 Kings i. 22. (Menochius) --- Benjamin. We might hence conclude that here ended the genealogy of that family. Yet we find it partly repeated in the following chapter, ver. 35. (Haydock)