1 Chronicles 8

NOw Benjamin He had spoken something of this Tribe before, ch. 7. 6. but now he treats of it again and that more fully and exactly; partly for Sauls sake who was of this Tribe; and partly because this Tribe adhered to David and the Kingdom of Iudah, and went with Iudah into Babylon; and now were returned from thence in greater Numbers than the other Tribes, except Iudah. begat Bela So called by Moses: but the Names of the rest vary from those in Moses: either because the same Person had two several Names, as has been oft noted: or because these were not the immediate sons of Benjamin, but his Grandchildren here mentioned in their Parents stead, possibly because they were more Eminent than their Parents, his first born, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,

Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.

And the sons of Bela, were ‖ Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,

And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,

And Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.

And these Either those three last mentioned; or rather th... se following, v. 7. because he here speaks of them who were removed; and they are said to be removed, v. 7. He describes the Sons of Benjamin by the Places of their Habitation without an exact Account of their Parents; because their Genealogies were broken by that almost total Extirpation of this Tribe, Iudg. 20. are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of the fathers of the Inhabitants of Geba d, and they removed them Either their Fathers, or their Heads and Superiours removed them: or they removed themselves; either because they were too numerous for that Place: or because they desired to change their Habitation and hoped it would be for the better, and judged Manahath a more convenient Place. to Manahath:

And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he Either 1. Their Father: Or, 2, Gera last mentioned, who, it seems, was the Chief Counsellor or Promoter of this Work. removed them, and begat Uzza, and Ahihud When he was seated in Manahath..

And Shaharaim begat children in the country of Moab Whither he had removed himself either at the same time when Elimelech did, Ruth 1. 1, &c. or upon the same or like Occasion., after he Ehud or Gera last mentioned. had sent them away. Hushim and Baara were his wives Others joyn these Words with the former and render the Place thus, after he had sent them (to wit, his Sons) away, with Hushim and Baara his wives, i. e. as he also sent his Wives away from him. Which may be here mentioned as a Brand upon him, to show that he was without natural Affection to his Wives and Children. And it seems the more probable that he divorced them, because we find him married to another Wise, v. 9..

And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham,

And Jeuz, and Shachiah, and Mirma. These were his sons, heads of the fathers.

And of Hushim he begat Ahitub, and Elpaal.

The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod Of which see Ezr. 2. 33. Nehem. 7. 37. & 11. 35. with the towns thereof.

Beriah also and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Ajalon A Place formerly belonging to the Tribe of Dan, Ios. 19. 42. but after the Return from Babylon possessed by the Benjamites, because both Dan and the rest of the ten Tribes were yet for the Generality of them in Captivity and but few of them returned., who drove away the inhabitants of Gath Either 1. at that time when they made such a Slaughter among Ephraims Children, ch. 7. 21. and were possibly pursuing their Victory, till they were driven back by these Benjamites who came to the... uccour of their Brethren. Or, 2, Now when they were returned from the Captivity and found the Men of Gath possessed of Ajalon. Or, 3. at some other time not mentioned in Scripture..

And Ahio, Shashak, and Jerimoth,

And Zebediah, and Arad, and Ader,

And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah,

And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber,

Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal.

And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,

And Elionai, and Zilthai, and Eliel,

And Adajah, and Berajah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi.

And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel,

And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,

And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah,

And Iphedejah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak.

And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,

And Jaresiah, and Eliah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham,

These were heads of the fathers by their generations, chief men. These All these named from v. 14. to this place. dwelt in Jerusalem.

And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon i. e. The Chief or Ruler of the Benjamites dwelling there. (whose wives name was Maacha:)

And his first-born son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,

And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zacher.

And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And these also dwelt with their brethren i. e. With those other Benjamites spoken of v. 28. in Jerusalem, over against them In some street or part of Ierusalem, which was over against that where their Brethren dwelt..

And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.

And the son of Jonathan, was Merib-baal, and Merib-baal begat Micah.

And the sons of Micah, were Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.

And Ahaz begat Jehoada, and Jehoada begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri, and Zimri begat Moza,

And Moza begat Binea: Rapha was his son, Eleasa his son, Azel his son,

And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheraiah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.

And the sons of Eshak his brother, were Ulam his first-born, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third.

And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valout, atchers Heb. That tread the bow; For the Bows of Steel, which these used, required great strength to bend them; which therefore they did by treading the Bow with their Feet, and pulling the String with both their Hands., and had many sons, and sons sons, an hundred and fifty. All these are of the sons of Benjamin.