Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Chapters 2–8. The Genealogies of the Tribes of Israel The Chronicler deals very unequally with the tribes in their genealogies; as the following table shews: 1 Chronicles 2:1 to 1 Chronicles 4:23. Judah (102 verses). 1 Chronicles 4:24-43. Simeon (20 verses). 1 Chronicles 5:1-26. Reuben, Gad, and Eastern Manasseh (26 verses). 1 Chronicles 6:1-81. Levi (81 verses). 1 Chronicles 7:1-40. Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, Eastern Manasseh (again), Ephraim, and Asher (40 verses). 1 Chronicles 8:1-40. Benjamin, though already noticed in 1 Chronicles 7:6-11 (40 verses). Zebulun and (perhaps) Dan (cp. 1 Chronicles 7:12, note) are omitted. It may easily be seen that the tribes in which the Chronicler is really interested are the three southern tribes, Judah, Simeon, and Benjamin, together with the priestly tribe, Levi. The order in which the tribes are mentioned is at first geographical, Judah and Simeon the southern tribes first, then the eastern tribes Reuben, Gad, Manasseh; the rest follow in no fixed order. Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third, Ch. 1 Chronicles 8:1-40 (cp. 1 Chronicles 7:6-12). The Genealogy of Benjamin. The Benjamite Families which dwelt in Jerusalem1. Bela … Ashbel … Aharah] See 1 Chronicles 7:6, notes. Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
And the sons of Bela were, Addar, and Gera, and Abihud, 3. Addar] perhaps to be read Ard, as Genesis 46:21; Numbers 26:40.And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,
And Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram. 5. Shephuphan and Huram] See 1 Chronicles 7:12, note.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: 6. And these are the sons of Ehud] Ehud (the deliverer of Israel from Moab) was descended from Gera (1 Chronicles 8:5; Jdg 3:15). His genealogy is given somewhat fully.they ramoved them] R.V. they carried them captive. Probably some words have fallen out; we cannot say who carried whom captive. to Manahath] Targ. to Manahath to the land of the house of Esau. And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and begat Uzza, and Ahihud. 7. he removed them] R.V. he carried them captive. He seems to refer back to Ehud, but the words yield no satisfactory sense.And Shaharaim begat children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives. 8. sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives] R.V. mg. sent away Hushim and Baara his wives.And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham,
And Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirma. These were his sons, heads of the fathers. 10. of the fathers] R.V. of fathers’ houses. See 1 Chronicles 7:2, note.And of Hushim he begat Abitub, and Elpaal.
The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof: 12. Ono, and Lod] Ezra 2:33; Nehemiah 7:37; Nehemiah 11:35. The two places were evidently well-known in post-exilic times, and were doubtless near together. Lod is the Lydda of the N.T. (Acts 9:32). Targ. adds, which the sons of Israel laid waste and burnt with fire, when they made war in Gibeah with the tribe of Benjamin.Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath: 13. of the fathers] R.V. of fathers’ houses, as in 1 Chronicles 8:10.drove away] R.V. put to flight. Probably an allusion to some fight the memory of which was kept alive in local song. Cp. 1 Chronicles 7:21-22. Aijalon] Joshua 10:12; 1 Samuel 14:31. And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth, 14. And Ahio] LXX., and his brother. This verse is probably corrupt. If however we read And Elpaal his brother for And Ahio (cp. 1 Chronicles 8:18), and Jeroham for Jeremoth (cp. 1 Chronicles 8:27), we then find in 1 Chronicles 8:13 a and 1 Chronicles 8:14 five names corresponding (with one transposition) with the five names of heads of families given below, viz., Beriah (1 Chronicles 8:16), Elpaal (1 Chronicles 8:18), Shimei (1 Chronicles 8:21, R.V., = Shema), Shashak (1 Chronicles 8:25), and Jeroham (1 Chronicles 8:27).And Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader,
And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah;
And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber,
Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal;
And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,
And Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel, 20. Elienai] Read, perhaps, Elioenai, a name meaning, “My eyes look towards Jehovah.”And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi;
And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel,
And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,
And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah,
And Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak;
And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,
And Jaresiah, and Eliah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.
These were heads of the fathers, by their generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem. 28. of the fathers, by their generations] R.V. of fathers’ houses throughout their generations.These dwelt in Jerusalem] i.e. in the writer’s day the heads of families enumerated in 1 Chronicles 8:15-27 dwelt in Jerusalem. Cp. 1 Chronicles 9:2-3; Nehemiah 11:1-8. But the words may be a gloss brought in from 1 Chronicles 9:34. And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon; whose wife's name was Maachah: 29–32 (= ch. 1 Chronicles 9:35-38). The Genealogy of Jeiel29. the father of Gibeon] R.V. the father of Giboon Jeiel; cp. 1 Chronicles 9:35, R.V. And his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab, 30. and Baal] Add with LXX. (A) and 1 Chronicles 9:36 and Ner. LXX. (B) shews that a word is missing after Baal for it reads Βααλακαίμ (= Βαὰλ καὶ N …?).And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zacher. 31. and Zacher] Read with 1 Chronicles 9:37, and Zechariah, and Mikloth, the latter name having probably fallen out through homœoteleuton.And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And these also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against them. 32. with their brethren etc.] i.e. with some of their brethren in Jerusalem over against other of their brethren in Gibeon and other places. 1 Chronicles 8:32 b. looks like the heading of a list which has been lost.over against them] R.V. over against their brethren. And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal. 33–40 (cp. 1 Chronicles 9:39-44). The Genealogy of the House of Saul33. Abinadab] So in 1 Samuel 31:2, but in 1 Samuel 14:49 R.V., Ishvi. Eshbaal] In 2 Samuel 2:8 called Ish-bosheth. Cp. 1 Chronicles 7:6, note on Jediael (= Ashbel), In the (more generally read) Sam. text the offensive name Eshbaal “Man of Baal” has been changed to Ishbosheth, “Man of the Shameful-thing” (i.e. of the idol), but it has been left standing in the less-used text of Chron. The title Baal (“Lord”) was applied in early days (e.g. in the days of Saul) to the national God of Israel, but in later days (cp. Hosea 2:17) the prophets objected to it because it was freely applied to Heathen gods. Thus to Saul and Samuel the name Eshbaal was acceptable as meaning “Man of the Lord,” i.e. of Jehovah, while to the prophetic author or reviser of the book of Samuel it was offensive as signifying “Man of a Baal,” i.e. of one of the gods worshipped by the neighbouring nations. And the son of Jonathan was Meribbaal; and Meribbaal begat Micah. 34. Merib-baal] A name meaning “Baal pleadeth”; in ch. 1 Chronicles 9:40 b (Heb.) it is written Meri-baal, i.e. “Man of Baal.” The person meant seems to be Mephibosheth (2 Samuel 9:6; 2 Samuel 9:12).And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz. 35. Tarea] In 1 Chronicles 9:41, Tahrea.And Ahaz begat Jehoadah; and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza, 36. Jehoadah] R.V. Jehoaddah. In 1 Chronicles 9:42, Jarah.And Moza begat Binea: Rapha was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son: 37. Rapha] In 1 Chronicles 9:43, Rephaiah.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.
And the sons of Eshek his brother were, Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third. 39. Jehush] R.V. Jeush.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. The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Text Courtesy of BibleSupport.com. Used by Permission. Bible Hub |
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