Verse-by-Verse Bible Commentary
1 Chronicles 9:39

Bridgeway Bible Commentary

9:35-22:1 THE REIGN OF DAVID

End of the line of Saul (9:35-10:14)

Saul is introduced by listing his genealogy once again (35-44). However, the Chronicler passes over the reign of Saul in silence, for his concern is with the dynasty of David. Saul’s death alone is recounted, since that was the means of bringing in the reign of David. It was also God’s judgment on Saul for his unfaithfulness and disobedience (10:1-14; see notes on 1 Samuel 31:1-13).

Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible

"And in Gibeon there dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, whose wife was Maacah; and his first-born son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab, and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth. And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against their brethren. And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malcashua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal. And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Meribbaal begat Micah. And the sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz. And Ahaz begot Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza; and Moza begat Benia; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son. And Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheriah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel."

1 Chronicles 9:35-44 is a duplicate of 1 Chronicles 8:29-38. Twelve generations of King Saul are listed here; and the reason for their being repeated would appear to be that they are an appropriate background for the record of the death of Saul, related in the very next chapter.

This brings us to the end of these amazing genealogies. Unbelieving scholars have leveled all kinds of critical allegations against these records; but the truth is that not any of them has been able to shed any light whatever upon these records.

"These genealogies are the skeletal framework of the entire O.T. They bind the whole book together and afford the most convincing demonstration that the O.T. is genuine history as contrasted with myth or legend."Henry H. Halley, p. 203.

"This chapter has a list of the post-exilic inhabitants of Jerusalem, to which has been appended a list of the ancestors of king Saul as a fitting introduction to the story of Saul which immediately follows."The Layman's Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 131 J. Barton Payne sharply disagreed with Dentan's statement here, affirming that, "This chapter enumerates the inhabitants of Jerusalem prior to the city's capture and the removal of its people to Babylon."Wycliffe Old Testament Commentary, p. 374. This writer believes that Payne's opinion is the more trustworthy. The principal support of Dentan's view comes, "From an emendation that changes the meaning of verse 2 in this chapter."Ibid. It is a weakness of the RSV that it follows that change of the sacred text without adequate authority.

The truly significant fact that comes to light here is that with the records before the Chronicler (whom we believe to have been Ezra) as revealed in this chapter, "It was possible for Ezra to restore the legitimate theocracy in Jerusalem after their return from Babylon."Ibid., p. 375. This may have resulted from the detailed account in this chapter of the various services and responsibilities of the Levites.

These nine chapters, composed principally of genealogical tables, must, without doubt, be among the most neglected chapters in the Bible.

Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible

An almost exact repetition of 1 Chronicles 8:29-38; and probably intentionally made by the author. In order to connect the genealogical section of his work with the historical, he re-introduces the genealogy of the person with whose death his historical section opens.

Smith's Bible Commentary

Chapter 9

You get to chapter nine and it declares,

So all of Israel was reckoned by the genealogies; and, behold, they were written in the book of the kings of Israel and Judah, who were carried away to Babylon because of their transgression ( 1 Chronicles 9:1 ).

Again God declares that the reason for the fall was their transgressions. Carried away to Babylon. And again we come back now to the priests and the descendants of the priests and the Levites and so forth. And in verse twenty-six, we are told that portion of them.

For these Levites, the four chief porters, were in their set office, and were over the chambers and treasuries of the house of God. And they lodged round about the house of God, because the charge was upon them, and the opening every morning pertained to them ( 1 Chronicles 9:26-27 ).

And so it was their duty to just live around it to protect it from vandals and so forth, and every morning to open it up and to set things out. Set out all of the instruments, the vessels for the worship, the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the frankincense, and all.

And in verse thirty-three we get back to the singers.

These are the singers, chief of the fathers of the Levites, who remaining in the chambers were free: for they were employed in that work day and night ( 1 Chronicles 9:33 ).

In other words, they were free from the other labors in order that day and night they may spend their whole time in just praising and worshipping the Lord. That would be quite an occupation. Quite a job. Get paid for that. Just being around, worshipping God all the time and getting paid for it.

And so then we jump to in verse thirty-five, the family of Saul again through Jonathan, the descendants of Jonathan. "

Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

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Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible

      35 And in Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jehiel, whose wife's name was Maachah:   36 And his firstborn son Abdon, then Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Ner, and Nadab,   37 And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zechariah, and Mikloth.   38 And Mikloth begat Shimeam. And they also dwelt with their brethren at Jerusalem, over against their brethren.   39 And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.   40 And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal: and Merib-baal begat Micah.   41 And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tahrea, and Ahaz.   42 And Ahaz begat Jarah; and Jarah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza;   43 And Moza begat Binea; and Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.   44 And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan: these were the sons of Azel.

      1 Chronicles 9:35-44 are the very same with 1 Chronicles 9:1; 1 Chronicles 9:1, giving an account of the ancestors of Saul and the posterity of Jonathan. There it is the conclusion of the genealogy of Benjamin; here it is an introduction to the story of Saul. We take the repetition as we find it; but if we admit that there are in the originals, especially in these books, some errors of the transcribers, I should be tempted to think this repetition arose from a blunder. Some one, in copying out these genealogies, having written those words, 1 Chronicles 9:34; 1 Chronicles 9:34 (These dwelt in Jerusalem), cast his eye on the same words, 1 Chronicles 8:28; 1 Chronicles 8:28. (These dwelt in Jerusalem), and so went on with what followed there, instead of going on with what followed here; and, when he perceived his mistake, was loth to make a blot in his book, and so let it stand. We have a rule in our law, Redundans non nocet--Redundancies do no harm.