1 Chronicles 8
About 1 ChroniclesWritten by AI
1 Chronicles retells Israel's story for people who had come home from exile in Babylon and were asking whether God was still with them. It covers ground you have already read in Samuel, but from a different angle, with a special interest in David, the temple, the priests and Levites, and worship. The author is unnamed; Jewish tradition credits Ezra, and many scholars speak more cautiously of the Chronicler, writing perhaps in the 400s BC. 1 and 2 Chronicles were first one book.
It begins with nine chapters of genealogies, from Adam to the families who resettled Jerusalem, quietly showing that Israel's story is unbroken. Then it moves quickly past Saul to David: his rise, the ark brought to Jerusalem, God's covenant, and his careful preparations for a temple his son Solomon will build.
Watch for what is emphasized and what is left out, and for the note of worship running through it all: “everything comes from You, and from Your own hand we have given to You.”
Before you read 1 Chronicles 8Written by AI
The tribe of Benjamin, with special attention to the family of Saul, Israel's first king. Notice that Saul's line is traced through Jonathan and his son Merib-baal, whom 2 Samuel calls Mephibosheth, for many generations. This list prepares for the turn from Saul to David in chapter 10.
Genealogy from Benjamin to Saul
Benjamin was the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third, Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
The sons of Bela: Addar, Gera, Abihud, Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah, Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.
These were the descendants of Ehud who were the heads of the families living in Geba and were exiled to Manahath: Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who carried them into exile and who was the father of Uzza and Ahihud.
Shaharaim had sons in the country of Moab after he had divorced his wives Hushim and Baara. His sons by his wife Hodesh: Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam, Jeuz, Sachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of families.
He also had sons by Hushim: Abitub and Elpaal.
The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, Shemed (who built Ono and Lod with its villages), and Beriah and Shema (who were the heads of families living in Aijalon and who drove out the inhabitants of Gath).
Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth, Zebadiah, Arad, Eder, Michael, Ishpah, and Joha were the sons of Beriah.
Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber, Ishmerai, Izliah, and Jobab were the sons of Elpaal.
Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi, Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel, Adaiah, Beraiah, and Shimrath were the sons of Shimei.
Ishpan, Eber, Eliel, Abdon, Zichri, Hanan, Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah, Iphdeiah, and Penuel were the sons of Shashak.
Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah, Jaareshiah, Elijah, and Zichri were the sons of Jeroham.
All these were heads of families, the chiefs according to their genealogies, and they lived in Jerusalem.
Jeiel the father of Gibeon lived in Gibeon. His wife’s name was Maacah, and Abdon was his firstborn son, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, Gedor, Ahio, Zecher, and Mikloth, who was the father of Shimeah. They too lived alongside their relatives in Jerusalem.
The Family of Saul
Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, and Saul was the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Esh-baal.
The son of Jonathan: Merib-baal, and Merib-baal was the father of Micah.
The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.
Ahaz was the father of Jehoaddah, Jehoaddah was the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri, and Zimri was the father of Moza.
Moza was the father of Binea. Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.
Azel had six sons, and these were their names: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
The sons of his brother Eshek: Ulam was his firstborn, Jeush second, and Eliphelet third. The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and they had many sons and grandsons—150 in all.
All these were the descendants of Benjamin.