The big picture
Benjamin, one of Israel’s sons and the ancestor of a tribe, receives a longer family list. Some branches move between towns. Others build homes and take the lead. Jerusalem, the city where several of these families live, appears more than once. The record then reaches Saul, a king from this tribe, and continues through his descendants. His family belongs to a wider people. Their names and homes also have a place here.
In this chapter
- Benjamin’s Descendants Move Between Towns 1 Chronicles 8:1-7
Benjamin’s sons are listed in birth order, beginning with Bela.
- Families Grow and Build Towns 1 Chronicles 8:8-13
Shaharaim has children in Moab after sending away two wives.
- Family Heads Live in Jerusalem 1 Chronicles 8:14-28
Several groups of descendants follow, each gathered under a named father.
- A Gibeon Family Also Settles Nearby 1 Chronicles 8:29-32
A family at Gibeon is introduced through its founding father and his wife Maachah.
- Saul’s Line Continues Through Descendants 1 Chronicles 8:33-40
Ner’s line leads through Kish to Saul and Saul’s sons.
Central truth
Benjamin’s record places Saul’s family among many branches and follows descendants whose lives extend beyond the king himself.
Scripture beside the summary
1 Chronicles · King James Version · 401 Chronicles 8:1-7
Benjamin’s Descendants Move Between Towns
Benjamin’s sons are listed in birth order, beginning with Bela. Bela’s children form the next group. The account then names family heads descended from Ehud who live in Geba. They are moved to Manahath, and Gera receives a further family link. The wording gives little detail about why this move takes place. It records the change alongside descent because both matter to the families’ identity. The people belong to a line of ancestors, but their place of residence can change within that continuing line.
In everyday life
A removal coordinator labels boxes from several related households in an apartment stairwell. She marks each family’s old flat and its new address. The move changes where they live without changing how the households are related. Her list keeps both facts visible while the vans fill. The chapter leaves the reason for its recorded move unclear.
Notice
1 Chronicles 8:6 The entry includes a move from Geba to Manahath. Family history here keeps track of changes in home as well as the names of parents.
1 Chronicles 8:1-7
King James Version1Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,
2Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
3And the sons of Bela were, Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,
4And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,
5And Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.
6And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Geba, and they removed them to Manahath:
7And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and begat Uzza, and Ahihud.
1 Chronicles 8:8-13
Families Grow and Build Towns
Shaharaim has children in Moab after sending away two wives. Children born to Hodesh are named as family heads. The account also returns to his sons by Hushim. Their descendants include a builder of Ono, Lod, and nearby towns. Other family heads live at Aijalon and drive away people from Gath. The record mixes births with settlement and conflict. These families do not remain names without a place; their descendants build communities and take part in struggles over who occupies the surrounding land.
In everyday life
A settlement researcher spreads house plans across a model village table. She matches several buildings to branches of one extended family. An old note records a dispute that changed who lived there. The model now shows growth with conflict attached, not growth alone. Building this model cannot judge the ancient struggle with Gath.
Notice
1 Chronicles 8:12 Shamed is remembered for building towns as well as belonging to a family. A practical contribution to settlement earns a place within the genealogy.
1 Chronicles 8:8-13
King James Version8And Shaharaim begat children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.
9And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham,
10And Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirma. These were his sons, heads of the fathers.
11And of Hushim he begat Abitub, and Elpaal.
12The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof:
13Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath:
1 Chronicles 8:14-28
Family Heads Live in Jerusalem
Several groups of descendants follow, each gathered under a named father. The list includes sons of Beriah, Elpaal, Shimhi, Shashak, and Jeroham. Some personal names recur, so the family grouping matters for knowing which person is meant. The account calls these men leading heads of households through their generations. It then states that they live in Jerusalem. Their ancestry and public standing meet in a shared city. Benjamin’s place in that city is thus shown through households and leaders rather than through a single royal name.
In everyday life
The houseboat registrar checks family names on boats moored for the winter. Two households share a surname, so she adds each family’s given names. Their representatives gather on the pontoon to discuss shared duties. Her list identifies both households and the people speaking for them. Jerusalem’s ancestral heads belong to settled tribal families rather than visiting boat crews.
Notice
1 Chronicles 8:28 The shared home in Jerusalem appears after the groups of names. That final detail gathers the separate families into one city’s population.
1 Chronicles 8:14-28
King James Version14And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,
15And Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader,
16And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah;
17And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber,
18Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal;
19And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,
20And Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel,
21And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi;
22And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel,
23And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,
24And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah,
25And Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak;
26And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,
27And Jaresiah, and Eliah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.
28These were heads of the fathers, by their generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 8:29-32
A Gibeon Family Also Settles Nearby
A family at Gibeon is introduced through its founding father and his wife Maachah. Their sons are named, with Abdon marked as firstborn. Mikloth then appears as the father of Shimeah. The account says these people also live with their relatives in Jerusalem, near them. The brief entry joins an earlier family home with another place where its members settle. It does not give a full account of the move. It preserves the household links that help connect people in two towns.
In everyday life
The former railway worker lays two address books on a station waiting-room bench. He shows his grandson the old family home, then points to cousins now living on neighbouring streets. The towns differ, but the same relatives appear in both books. Their links make the move traceable. The ancient entry offers family ties without a full record of relocation.
Notice
1 Chronicles 8:32 The family lives near its relatives in Jerusalem. The list records closeness on the ground as well as closeness through ancestry.
1 Chronicles 8:29-32
King James Version29And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon; whose wife’s name was Maachah:
30And his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,
31And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zacher.
32And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And these also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against them.
1 Chronicles 8:33-40
Saul’s Line Continues Through Descendants
Ner’s line leads through Kish to Saul and Saul’s sons. Jonathan’s son Merib-baal has Micah, whose descendants carry the line onward. The record reaches Azel and names his six sons. It also follows his brother Eshek’s family through Ulam. Ulam’s descendants are skilled archers with many sons and grandsons, totalling a hundred and fifty. The final statement places all these people within Benjamin. Saul’s name is important, but the record continues past him to families with their own children, skills, and standing.
In everyday life
A fencing coach unfolds an old team tree beside the equipment rack. A former champion appears near the top, with children and grandchildren on later branches. Some now coach or compete, while others belong only through family ties. She reads the later names instead of stopping at the famous one. Saul’s descendants belong to a tribal history, not a sporting line.
Notice
1 Chronicles 8:40 The closing count includes sons and grandsons of skilled archers. The record extends beyond Saul to the size and abilities of later family branches.
1 Chronicles 8:33-40
King James Version33And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
34And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal begat Micah.
35And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.
36And Ahaz begat Jehoadah; and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza,
37And Moza begat Binea: Rapha was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son:
38And 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.
39And the sons of Eshek his brother were, Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
40And 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.
Details worth noticing
The opening image
1 Chronicles 8:1 begins with “Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,”
Where the chapter turns
1 Chronicles 8:1 forms a natural hinge: “Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,”
The final note
1 Chronicles 8:40 leaves the reader with “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.”
A word trail through the chapter
The words sons, begat, baal, fathers, heads, Azel help reveal the chapter’s repeated concerns.
KJV words made clear
- begat
- became the father of
Music and video connected to the passage
Related media appears when its Scripture reference overlaps this study. Music and video can illuminate a theme while the biblical text remains the foundation.
