And the sons of Eshek his brother ,.... The brother of Azel; who he was is not known, unless he is the same with Elasah, as is conjectured: were Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third . read more
These verses are occupied with the immediate ancestors and posterity of Saul. And apparently the same account, minus some of its deficiencies, is repeated in the next chapter, 1 Chronicles 8:35 -44. The two may be taken together here, and the latter will help the interpretation of the former. read more
The genealogy runs on from Micah to Ulam with nothing special to remark upon. Ulam is twelfth from Saul, while his "sons and sons' sons" (verse 40) are spoken of. The time of Hezekiah must be reached, therefore, who was thirteenth from David. The table of next chapter stops with the name Azel ( 1 Chronicles 9:44 ), and wears the appearance of having just missed the last two verses of this chapter. read more
The name Ulam is found also among the descendants of Gilead, grandson of Manasseh ( 1 Chronicles 7:17 ). HOMILIES BY W. CLARKSON 1 Chronicles 8:1-40 . - Readings between the lines. "Reading between the lines," or extracting from these tables some moral truths which, if they do not contain, they may fairly suggest, we gather — I. THAT ALLIANCES OFTEN END IN ENTANGLEMENTS AND ENTAIL UNCONSIDERED CONSEQUENCES . Shaharaim went into Moab and there... read more
Genealogies of the remaining tribes (7:1-8:40)Although the lists here are incomplete and in places difficult to follow, it seems that the tribes dealt with are Issachar (7:1-5), parts of Benjamin and Dan (6-12), Naphtali (13), the portion of Manasseh not listed earlier (14-19; cf. 5:23-24), Ephraim (20-29) and Asher (30-40).Benjamin is given in greater detail, possibly because it included Jerusalem in its tribal territory. Also this was the only tribe that joined Judah in the southern kingdom,... read more
C. The Lineage of Saul chs. 8-9This list obviously parallels to some extent David’s genealogy (chs. 1-3). Saul came from the tribe of Benjamin, not from the tribe of Judah that God had promised leadership of the nation. One reason the writer had an interest in the tribe of Benjamin (ch. 8) was that it was the only tribe other than Judah to remain loyal to the Davidic line. The tribe of Benjamin "ranked second only to Judah in postexilic society." [Note: Payne, "1, 2 Chronicles," p. 360.]... read more
Genealogies (continued)This chapter contains a second account of the descendants of Benjamin, and traces the ancestors and descendants of Saul.1. Now Benjamin, etc.] The names of Benjamin’s descendants are repeated (with some variants) from 1 Chronicles 7:7., in order to lead up to the mention of Saul (1 Chronicles 8:33), the predecessor of David (1 Chronicles 10:14), whose history forms the chief subject of this book.3. And Abihud] perhaps to be corrected to ’father (Heb. Abi) of Ehud’: see 1... read more
(39) Eshek his brother—that is, the brother of Azel, and son of Eleasah (1 Chronicles 8:37). The elder line is first developed. read more
6. Benjamin CHAPTER 8 1. The genealogies of Benjamin (1 Chronicles 8:1-28 ) 2. The house of Saul (1 Chronicles 8:29-40 ) In comparing this list with Genesis 46:21 we find some differences. The names of Benjamites include many who were born in the captivity and who returned to the land and dwelt in Jerusalem. Twice we read “those dwelt in Jerusalem” (verses 28, 32). Some of the names are found in the list of restored exiles in Ezra (chapter 2). Benjamin being brought back from the exile,... read more
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Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 8:33-40
It is observable that among all the genealogies of the tribes there is no mention of any of the kings of Israel after the defection from the house of David, much less of their families; not a word of Jeroboam's house or Baasha?s, of Umri's or Jehu?s; for they were all idolaters. But of the family of Saul, which was the royal family before the elevation of David, we have here a particular account. 1. Before Saul, Kish and Ner only are named, his father and grandfather, 1 Chron. 8:33. His... read more