1 Chronicles 8 Study Notes

8:1-40 A second listing for the tribe of Benjamin provides more detail than the first list (7:6-12). This chapter leads up to the tragic end of Saul’s kingship (chap. 10). Saul was from Benjamin, but the throne had been promised to Judah (Gn 49:10). Benjamin, the twelfth son of Jacob, had five sons who established their own large clans.

8:1-7 These were the Benjaminites living in Geba.

8:3-6 Gera was the father of Ehud, the left-handed judge who killed Eglon, king of the Amalekites (Jdg 3:15). Abihud in v. 3 should probably be emended to “the father of Ehud.”

8:8-12 These were the Benjaminites living in Moab, Ono, and Lod.

8:8-9 Shaharaim had at least three wives: Hushim and Baara—who presumably were Israelites—and Hodesh, who was a Moabite.

8:13-28 These were the Benjaminites living in Aijalon, Gath, and Jerusalem.

8:29-32 These were the Benjaminites living in Gibeon. Jeiel fathered Gibeon may mean that he “founded” Gibeon.

8:32 Not until David’s reign as king did Jerusalem belong entirely to Israel. At the time referred to here, Benjaminites were living around Jerusalem, but the highest fortified part of the city was home to the Jebusites.

8:33 At this point the Chronicler casually mentions Saul, but without calling any special attention to him. Esh-baal (Ishbosheth) was Saul’s son and a younger brother of Jonathan. In 2Sm 2-3 we find Esh-baal attempting to continue Saul’s monarchy against David’s claim. Joab eliminated virtually the entire clan.

8:34 Merib-baal (Mephibosheth), Jonathan’s crippled son, was the only one who escaped the purge. Saul’s line eventually did make a comeback. The tribe of Benjamin became strongly allied with David’s and Solomon’s unified kingdom and then with the kingdom of Judah. Jerusalem, the eventual capital, was located at the border of Judah and Benjamin.

8:35-40 This completes Saul’s genealogy. Verse 40 notes the military skill of this tribe. The number of descendants probably indicates God’s blessing. These are ancestors of Benjaminites who returned to Jerusalem after the exile.