1 Chronicles 8:4 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Chronicles 8:1-32

There is little or nothing of history in all these verses; we have not therefore much to observe. 1. As to the difficulties that occur in this and the foregoing genealogies we need not perplex ourselves. I presume Ezra took them as he found them in the books of the kings of Israel and Judah (1 Chron. 9:1), according as they were given in by the several tribes, each observing what method they thought fit. Hence some ascend, others desecnd; some have numbers affixed, others places; some have... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 8:4-5

And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah, and Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram. These were all the sons of Bela; one of the name of Naaman is reckoned among the sons of Benjamin, Genesis 46:21 and from this grandson the family of the Naamanites are named, Numbers 26:40 , and Ahoah is by some thought to be the same with Ehi, mentioned in Genesis 46:21 as one of Benjamin's sons. Some take the three last to be the sons of Ehud, spoken of in the next verse; but Shephuphan and Huram seem to be the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Chronicles 8:3-5

Nine sons are here assigned to Bela . Genesis (44:41) only finds us clearly three of them, and these in very different order, viz. Gera, Naaman , and Arel; and Numbers ( Numbers 26:39 , Numbers 26:40 ) finds us only three, viz. Ard, Naaman, and Shupham. Yet our Huram may correspond with Hupham, and then the four pairs of names—Shephuphan and Huram, Shupham and Hupham, Shuppim and Huppim, and Muppim and Huppim—may be interpreted as designating one and the same couple of persons. The... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 8:1-40

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

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - 1 Chronicles 8:1-44

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

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Chronicles 8:1-40

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

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - 1 Chronicles 8:1-5

THE SONS OF BENJAMIN AND BELA (1 Chronicles 8:1-5).(See Notes on 1 Chronicles 7:6-7.)Bela his first-born.—The Hebrew word for “firstborn” in Genesis 46:21 may have been turned into the proper name Becher, by an ancient mistake of the scribes. (See Note on 1 Chronicles 7:6.)Ashbel.—Probably the same as Jediael.Aharah the same as Ahiram and Ehirosh.(2) Nohah and Rapha.—These names do not occur in either of the other lists. The present series agrees with Numbers 26:38 in assigning five sons to... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - 1 Chronicles 8:1-40

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

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - 1 Chronicles 8:1-40

GENEALOGIES AND PEDIGREES INTRODUCTION With this begins the study of those historical books of the Old Testament written shortly after the return from the Babylonian captivity, the remainder of the series including 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther. “Chronicles” means “diaries” or “journal,” and the books recapitulate sacred history from the time of Adam, in which the earlier books of the Old Testament are drawn upon and occasionally supplemented. The Holy Spirit, who is the real... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - 1 Chronicles 8:1-40

Valiant Men Ingratitude a Torrent of Names 1 Chronicles 7:1; 1 Chronicles 8:01 Chronicles 8:0 In these chapters we have summaries of the great clans of Issachar, Benjamin, Naphtali, West Manasseh, Ephraim, Asher, the families of Gibeon, especially the royal house of Saul, with innumerable and collateral allusions. In 1Ch 7:2 of chapter 7 there is a sentence which presents an excellent family record "They were valiant men of might in their generations;" while the reference is to the sons of... read more