1. Chronik 8:9 Kommentar

We had some account given us of Benjamin in the foregoing chapter; here we have a larger catalogue of the great men of that tribe. 1. Because of that tribe Saul came, the first king of Israel, to the story of whom the sacred writer is hastening, Ch1 10:1. 2. Because that tribe clave to Judah, inhabited much of Jerusalem, was one of the two tribes that went into captivity, and returned back; and that story also he has an eye to, Ch1 9:1. Here is, I. Some of the heads of that tribe named (v. 1-32). II. A more particular account of the family of Saul (Ch1 8:33-40).

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 8 In this chapter the genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin is reconsidered, and several of the principal men and families in it are taken notice of, which were not before; or a further account is given of them, as of the sons and grandsons of Benjamin, Ch1 8:1, of Ehud, Ch1 8:5, of Shaharaim, Ch1 8:8, of Elpaal and Beriah, Ch1 8:12 of Shimhi, Ch1 8:19, of Shashak, Ch1 8:22, of Jeroham, Ch1 8:26, of Jehiel the father of Gibeon, Ch1 8:28, of Ner, and particularly Saul, Ch1 8:33 and of Jonathan, and his posterity, Ch1 8:34.

Beriah also, and Shema,.... These were sons of Elpaal: who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon; which, though in the tribe of Dan, Jos 19:42 might afterwards come into the possession of Benjamin; or this may be another place of the same name in Benjamin; or, however, might be inhabited by Benjaminites, upon the return from captivity, who descended from those men: who drove away the inhabitants of Gath; dispossessed them of their city, in revenge for what they had done to the Ephraimites, Ch1 7:21.

The genealogy of Benjamin down to Saul, vv. 1-32. The children and descendants of Saul, Ch1 8:33-40.

He begat of Hodesh his wife - In the preceding verse it is said that Hushim and Baara were his wives; and here it is said he begat of Hodesh his wife, etc. And then his children by Hushim are mentioned, but not a word of Baara! It is likely therefore that Hodesh was another name for Baara, and this is asserted by the Targum: And he begot of Baara, that is Chodesh, his wife; so called because he espoused her anew. It is supposed that he had put her away before, and now remarried her.

SONS AND CHIEF MEN OF BENJAMIN. (1Ch. 8:1-32) Now Benjamin begat, &c.--This chapter contains some supplementary particulars in addition to what has been already said regarding the tribe of Benjamin (see on Ch1 7:6). The names of many of the persons mentioned are different from those given by Moses--a diversity which may be accounted for in part on grounds formerly stated, namely, either that the persons had more than one name, or that the word "sons" is used in a loose sense for grandsons or descendants. But there are other circumstances to be taken into account in considering the details of this chapter; namely, first, that the genealogies of the Benjamites were disordered or destroyed by the almost total extermination of this tribe (Jdg. 20:11-48); secondly, that a great number of Benjamites, born in Assyria, are mentioned here, who returned from the long captivity in Babylon, and established themselves--some in Jerusalem, others in different parts of Judea. There were more returned from Babylon of the families belonging to this tribe than to any other except Judah; and hence many strange names are here introduced; some of which will be found in the list of the restored exiles (compare Ezra 2:1-70).

INTRODUCTION TO 1 CHRONICLES 8 In this chapter the genealogy of the tribe of Benjamin is reconsidered, and several of the principal men and families in it are taken notice of, which were not before; or a further account is given of them, as of the sons and grandsons of Benjamin, Ch1 8:1, of Ehud, Ch1 8:5, of Shaharaim, Ch1 8:8, of Elpaal and Beriah, Ch1 8:12 of Shimhi, Ch1 8:19, of Shashak, Ch1 8:22, of Jeroham, Ch1 8:26, of Jehiel the father of Gibeon, Ch1 8:28, of Ner, and particularly Saul, Ch1 8:33 and of Jonathan, and his posterity, Ch1 8:34.

Beriah also, and Shema,.... These were sons of Elpaal: who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon; which, though in the tribe of Dan, Jos 19:42 might afterwards come into the possession of Benjamin; or this may be another place of the same name in Benjamin; or, however, might be inhabited by Benjaminites, upon the return from captivity, who descended from those men: who drove away the inhabitants of Gath; dispossessed them of their city, in revenge for what they had done to the Ephraimites, Ch1 7:21.