I Chronicles 8, Descendants of Saul

The author of the scroll of Chronicles has attempted to provide lines of descendants for all the twelve tribes of Israel.  Since Judah and Benjamin were in the southern kingdom and so many are presumably returning to Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile, the author spends some time here on descendants of Benjamin.

1  Chronicles 8: 1-28, Some descendants of Benjamin

Benjamin was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second son, Aharah the third, Nohah the fourth and Rapha the fifth.
   The sons of Bela were: Addar, Gera, Abihud, Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, Gera, Shephuphan and Huram.

   These were the descendants of Ehud, who were heads of families of those living in Geba and were deported to Manahath: Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who deported them and who was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.

   Sons were born to Shaharaim in Moab after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara. By his wife Hodesh he had Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, Jeuz, Sakia and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of families. By Hushim he had Abitub and Elpaal.

   The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod with its surrounding villages), and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of families of those living in Aijalon and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath. 

   Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth, Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, Michael, Ishpah and Joha were the sons of Beriah. 

   Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, Ishmerai, Izliah and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal. 

   Jakim, Zicri, Zabdi, Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, Adaiah, Beraiah and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.

   Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, Abdon, Zicri, Hanan, Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, Iphdeiah and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.

   Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, Jaareshiah, Elijah and Zicri were the sons of Jeroham.

   All these were heads of families, chiefs as listed in their genealogy, and they lived in Jerusalem.

  

This section give the lineage of some descendants of Benjamin living in Jerusalem after the return from Babylon. 

Ehud, appearing in verse 6, is the left-handed judge of Judges 3. Ehud, according to Judges 3: 15, was the son of Gera, mentioned in verses 5 and 7.  There are events briefly described here that are not mentioned elsewhere: a deportation mentioned in verses 6 and 7 and the divorce and remarriage of Shaharaim mentioned in verse 8. Shaharaim apparently did not have children by his first two wives but after divorcing them and remarrying, he has many sons, one of which was Ebal whose descendants survived into the day of the Chronicler.

A victory over the Philistine town of Gath is mentioned in verse 13. We do not know any more of that event but the scroll of 1 & 2 Samuel details countless skirmishes between Saul and the Philistines and later David and the Philistines. The town of Gath was a major Philistine stronghold and David escaped to Gath at one point while running from Saul.

1 Chronicles 8: 29-32, A Gibeonite family

Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon. His wife's name was Maacah, and his firstborn son was Abdon, followed by Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, Gedor, Ahio, Zeker and Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah. They too lived near their relatives in Jerusalem.

Another line is given of people living in Jerusalem at the date of the author.

1 Chronicles 8: 33-40, The lineage of Saul
Ner was the father of Kish, 

   Kish the father of Saul, 

and 

   Saul the father of Jonathan, Malki-Shua, Abinadab and Esh-Baal.

   The son of Jonathan: Merib-Baal, who was the father of Micah.

    The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea and Ahaz.

   Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, 

   Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri, and 

   Zimri was the father of Moza.

   Moza was the father of Binea; 

   Raphah was his son, 

   Eleasah his son and 

   Azel his son.

   Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bokeru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.

   The sons of his brother Eshek: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second son and Eliphelet the third.

   The sons of Ulam were brave warriors who could handle the bow. They had many sons and grandsons--150 in all. All these were the descendants of Benjamin.

The apparent focus of this line is Saul and his descendants. Benjamin is the tribe of the first king.  Esh-baal is apparently the same as Ish-bosheth. Ish-bosheth is briefly king after Saul (2 Samuel 2: 8-10.) Merib-Baal, mentioned here in verse 34, is the same as Mephibosheth, the subject of 2 Samuel 9.

The commentary by J. Barton Payne, in addition to descendants of Judah and Levi, also includes a chart which traces the descendants of Benjamin, attached.