1 Chronicles chapter 8 depicts the ancestry of Benjamin, which is a continuation of the family history that begins in the preceding chapters. The notable personalities of this tribe are named in succession starting from Benjamin and ending in Ulam, all of whom are called the “Sons of Benjamin.” In this lineup are iconic figures like Ehud, Saul, and Jonathan.
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Importance of Recording History
Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Ezra wrote these genealogies in a bid to preserve the heritage of the people of Israel and to ensure that this history was not lost to perpetual oblivion. Benjamin was the last of the sons of Jacob, and by the era of Judges, there were very few Benjamites left; yet such chronicles made sure that each of the great men from this tribe would be recorded in the history of the people of God.
Important Men Mentioned
Verse 6 of 1 Chronicles chapter 8 mentions Ehud and goes further to show how this lineage ends up in the country of Moab. In Judges 3:15, God gives Ehud (son of Gera, which shows that this is the same man) as a deliverer to the Israelites from the Moabites.
Though he was a lowly man, God used him to lead His people to victory against their oppressors and regain freedom. In the same way, Saul is mentioned in verse 33 – a significant house that marked an important turning point in Israelites’ history.
The Importance of Saul
Saul was the first king of Israel after a long period of God using Judges to lead his people. Commanded by God, Samuel would appoint Saul to be king to lead Israelites against the Philistines despite being from the smallest tribe of Israel (1 Samuel 9:21). Saul’s pedigree is continued only through Jonathan with whom David had made a covenant to bind his generations to those of Jonathan’s.
1 Chronicles chapter 8 ends with Ulam’s descendants who are said to be mighty and heroic men with great archery skills.
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1 Chronicles 8 (King James Version)
1 Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,
2 Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
3 And the sons of Bela were, Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,
4 And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,
5 And Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.
6 And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Geba, and they removed them to Manahath:
7 And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and begat Uzza, and Ahihud.
8 And Shaharaim begat children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.
9 And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham,
10 And Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirma. These were his sons, heads of the fathers.
11 And of Hushim he begat Abitub, and Elpaal.
12 The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof:
13 Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath:
14 And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,
15 And Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader,
16 And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah;
17 And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber,
18 Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal;
19 And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,
20 And Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel,
21 And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi;
22 And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel,
23 And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,
24 And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah,
25 And Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak;
26 And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,
27 And Jaresiah, and Eliah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.
28 These were heads of the fathers, by their generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem.
29 And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon; whose wife’s name was Maachah:
30 And his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,
31 And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zacher.
32 And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And these also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against them.
33 And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
34 And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Meribbaal begat Micah.
35 And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.
36 And Ahaz begat Jehoadah; and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza,
37 And Moza begat Binea: Rapha was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son:
38 And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
39 And the sons of Eshek his brother were, Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
40 And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers, and had many sons, and sons’ sons, an hundred and fifty. All these are of the sons of Benjamin.