1 Chronicles 8

1 Chronicles 8

The big picture

1 Chronicles 8 opens in verse 1 with “Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,”, reaches its middle movement near verse 20 with “And Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel,”, and closes in verse 40 with “And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers, and had many sons, and sons’…” Repeated or prominent terms include sons, begat, baal, fathers, heads. Together, those details trace this chapter’s own movement from its opening to its conclusion.

Scripture beside the summary

1 Chronicles · King James Version · 40

1 Chronicles 8:1-8

1–8: Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the…

1 Chronicles 8:1–8 opens with “Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,” and reaches “And Shaharaim begat children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 8 develops its own movement around sons, begat, baal, fathers, heads, with particular weight carried by begat, Gera, Bela.

Context that brings the passage to life

“Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,” Naming Aharah and Ashbel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

1 Chronicles 8:1-8

King James Version

1Now 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.

8And Shaharaim begat children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.

1 Chronicles 8:9-16

9–16: He begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham,

1 Chronicles 8:9–16 opens with “And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham,” and reaches “And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah;” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 8 develops its own movement around sons, begat, baal, fathers, heads, with particular weight carried by sons, begat, Beriah.

Context that brings the passage to life

“And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham,” Naming Hodesh and Jobab keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

1 Chronicles 8:9-16

King James Version

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:

14And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,

15And Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader,

16And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah;

1 Chronicles 8:17-24

17–24: Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber,

1 Chronicles 8:17–24 opens with “And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber,” and reaches “And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah,” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 8 develops its own movement around sons, begat, baal, fathers, heads, with particular weight carried by Eliel, Heber, sons.

1 Chronicles 8:17-24

King James Version

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,

1 Chronicles 8:25-32

25–32: Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak;

1 Chronicles 8:25–32 opens with “And Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak;” and reaches “And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And these also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 8 develops its own movement around sons, begat, baal, fathers, heads, with particular weight carried by dwelt, Gibeon, Jerusalem.

Context that brings the passage to life

“And Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak;” Naming Iphedeiah and Penuel keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

1 Chronicles 8:25-32

King James Version

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.

29And 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

33–40: Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and…

1 Chronicles 8:33–40 opens with “And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab…” and reaches “And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers, and had many sons, and sons’ sons, an…” by its final verse. That movement develops the focus on 1 Chronicles 8 develops its own movement around sons, begat, baal, fathers, heads, with particular weight carried by sons, begat, Azel.

Context that brings the passage to life

“And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal.” Naming Kish and Saul keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.” Naming Ahaz and Melech keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

1 Chronicles 8:33-40

King James Version

33And 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

40verses in this reading
5major movements

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.

Why does the waiting matter?

Noah receives signs of progress but does not confuse partial improvement with the completed deliverance.

What remains unchanged after the flood?

Human inclination toward evil remains, according to verse 21; preservation rests on God's commitment.

KJV words made clear

begat
became the father of

Text first

Where readers differ

The chapter summary begins with what the passage says and how its parts fit together. It does not assume one denomination has already settled every question. Where a conclusion depends on a tradition, literary theory, or historical reconstruction, that dependence is named openly.

The KJV text is presented first. Interpretive conclusions are labeled, and differences are introduced only when they help a reader understand why serious communities do not always reach the same answer.

Comparative interpretive notes for this chapter are in preparation. Until reviewed notes are ready, this page separates the KJV text from summary and application without claiming that serious readers agree on every question.