CHAPTER 8 Sep. 25 
More Children of Benjamin
Benjamin became the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third, 2Nohah the fourth and Rapha the fifth. 3Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud, 4Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, 5Gera, Shephuphan and Huram. 6These are the sons of Ehud, who are the heads of fathers’ households of the inhabitants of Geba, and they carried them captive to Manahath: 7Naaman, Ahijah and Gera. He carried them captive, and he became the father of Uzza and Ahihud. 8Shaharaim divorced his two wives, Hushim and Baara. Later, when he lived in the country of Moab, he married Hodesh 9his wife and had seven sons: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, 10Jeuz, Shachia and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers’ households. 11By Hushim he became the father of Abitub and Elpaal. 12The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod with its towns; 13and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of fathers’ households of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath; 14and Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth, 15 Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, 16Michael, Ishpah and Joha, the sons of Beriah, 17and Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, 18Ishmerai, Izliah and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal, 19and Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, 20Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, 21Adaiah, Beraiah and Shimrath, the sons of Shimei, 22and Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, 23Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, 24Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, 25Iphdeiah, and Penuel the sons of Shashak, 26and Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, 27Jaareshiah, Elijah and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham. 28These were heads of fathers’ households throughout their generations, chief men: these lived in Jerusalem. 29In Gibeon there lived the father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was Maacah; 30and his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, 31Gedor, Ahio and Zecher. 32Mikloth became the father of Shimeah. They also lived with their brothers in Jerusalem, over against their brothers. 33Ner became the father of Kish; and Kish became the father of Saul; and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab and Eshbaal. 34The son of Jonathan was Merib Baal; and Merib Baal became the father of Micah. 35The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz. 36Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah; and Jehoaddah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth and Zimri; and Zimri became the father of Moza. 37Moza became the father of Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son. 38Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel. 39The sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third. 40The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers, and had many sons, and sons’ sons, one hundred and fifty. All these were of the sons of Benjamin.

Commentary

8:8 It would seem that the genealogies of the books of Chronicles, with all their emphasis on the priesthood and temple service under Solomon, were produced at the time of the restoration- in order to encourage the people to restore the Kingdom of God as it had been, and thereby bring in the Kingdom. References to “Jeconiah the captive” (3:17) make sense in the context of the records being written up in the captivity. And we can understand why the story of Shaharaim is mentioned here- a Jewish refugee in Moab, who sent away his two Gentile wives [cp. what was done in Ezra 10:44] but ended up being blessed with more children. “Seven sons” would’ve been understood as a completeness of blessing. Note that God still recognized his later wife as just that- his wife, even though he had been married previously. No sin or failure leads to a position whereby someone is intrinsically unable to be accepted by God.
8:30-34 When a passage is repeated twice, surely God wishes us to perceive something. 1 Chron. 8:30-34 is repeated in 9:36-40. The reason may be that the name 'Baal' was used by the leaders of Israel. Gibeon's children included Kish and Baal, Kish's son was king Saul, Saul had a son called Eshbaal as well as Jonathan, David's beloved friend; and Jonathan had a son called Merib Baal. These are not the names as recorded elsewhere; evidently the Chronicles record is highlighting the fact that there was a strand of weakness for idols in the family of Saul, including in faithful Jonathan. We note that his love of God, of David, his appreciation of David's righteousness, his belief that David would have the future Kingdom, struggled against the fact that the worldly influence of his father and great-grandfather still rubbed off upon him. We find ourselves so often in similar situations.
8:33 In all close friendships there are some aspects which just could not have been contrived by human arrangement, and which add to the closeness and sense of specialness which those relationships have. There were such aspects with David and Jonathan, intensifying the love of David for Jonathan. For example, it was a beautiful coincidence that they both happened to have a brother called Abinadab (1 Sam. 16:8).