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About this chapterThe chapter gives a detailed genealogy of Benjamin, the tribe that lived near Jerusalem, with a focus on the family of Saul, Israel's first king, and his son Jonathan. It lists heads of families, some living in Jerusalem, and traces Saul's line for several generations. Benjamin's placement matters because Jerusalem lay at the border with Judah, and the tribe stayed loyal to David's house after the kingdom divided. The names include warriors who were skilled archers with either hand. The chapter honors a tribe with a mixed history and shows that the writer wants to preserve even Saul's descendants in the record, prepared for the account of Saul's death.

The chapter gives a detailed genealogy of Benjamin, the tribe that lived near Jerusalem, with a focus on the family of Saul, Israel's first king, and his son Jonathan. It lists heads of families, some living in Jerusalem, and traces Saul's line for several generations. Benjamin's placement matters because Jerusalem lay at the border with Judah, and the tribe stayed loyal to David's house after the kingdom divided. The names include warriors who were skilled archers with either hand. The chapter honors a tribe with a mixed history and shows that the writer wants to preserve even Saul's descendants in the record, prepared for the account of Saul's death.

Themes

  • Benjamin's families
  • Saul's line
  • Community around Jerusalem

Key verses

Audio Bible · 1 Chronicles 8

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1 Chronicles 8

Berean Standard Bible40 verses · 2 min read

1Benjamin was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third, 2Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth. 3The sons of Bela: Addar, Gera, Abihud, 4Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, 5Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram. 6These were the descendants of Ehud who were the heads of the families living in Geba and were exiled to Manahath: 7Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who carried them into exile and who was the father of Uzza and Ahihud. 8Shaharaim had sons in the country of Moab after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara. 9His sons by his wife Hodesh: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, 10Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of families. 11He also had sons by Hushim: Abitub and Elpaal. 12The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod with its villages), 13and Beriah and Shema (who were the heads of families living in Aijalon and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath). 14Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth, 15Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 16Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah. 17Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal. 19Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, 20Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei. 22Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, 24Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 25Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak. 26Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham. 28All these were heads of families, the chiefs according to their genealogies, and they lived in Jerusalem. 29Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maacah, 30and Abdon was his firstborn son, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, 31Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, 32and Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah. They too lived alongside their relatives in Jerusalem. 33Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal. 34The son of Jonathan: Merib-baal, and Merib-baal was the father of Micah. 35The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz. 36Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza. 37Moza was the father of Binea. Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son. 38Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. 39The sons of his brother Eshek: Ulam was his firstborn, Jeush second, and Eliphelet third. 40The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and they had many sons and grandsons—150 in all. All these were the descendants of Benjamin.
Verses in 1 Chronicles 8

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