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8:1–40 The genealogy of Israel with an expanded genealogy of Benjamin (7:6–12). The return to Benjamin might reflect the Chronicler’s concern for the tribes of the southern kingdom (Judah and Benjamin). It also provides the background for the main historical narrative in ch. 10, which begins with the death of Saul, a Benjaminite and Israel’s first king. The final section (vv. 29–40) gives the genealogy of Saul’s family, and much of the same material is essentially repeated in 9:35–44, as the Chronicler shifts from the genealogy to historical narrative (10:1–14).

8:1 Benjamin See note on 7:6.

Bela his firstborn Aside from listing the names of other sons in v. 1, the genealogy follows only the line of Bela, Benjamin’s oldest son.

8:6 Ehud A judge who delivered Israel by killing Eglon, the king of Moab (Judg 3:12–30). He is identified as a son of Gera in Judg 3:15 (compare 1 Chron 8:5). The circumstances surrounding the exile of his sons are unclear as this is the only reference to the incident.

Ehud EDB

8:29–40 The remainder of the Benjaminite genealogy focuses on the line of Saul, Israel’s first king. The people listed in vv. 33–34 are some of the ones involved in the events of the early monarchy under Saul and David—including Saul himself, his sons Jonathan (1 Sam 13–14) and Eshbaal (2 Sam 2:8), and his grandson Merib-baal (Mephibosheth; 2 Sam 4:4). The line of Saul survived only through Merib-baal (also called “Mephibosheth”; see 1 Chron 8:34–40).

8:33 Ner fathered Kish According to 1 Samuel, Abiel was father of both Kish and Ner, making Ner the uncle of Saul (see 1 Sam 9:1; 1 Sam 14:50–51). It is unclear why Ner would be listed here and in 1 Chron 9:39 as father of Kish and grandfather of Saul.

Eshbaal Known in 2 Samuel as Ish-bosheth (compare 2 Sam 2:8 and note). The Hebrew word used here, eshbaal, means “man of Baal.” The writer of 2 Samuel may have wanted to avoid giving prominence to the name of the Canaanite god Baal and changed it to “Ish-bosheth,” meaning “man of shame.” For biblical names containing the element baal, it was not unusual for some biblical writers to substitute bosheth for baal (compare Judg 6:32 and 2 Sam 11:21).

Ish-Bosheth ISBE

8:34 Merib-baal In 2 Sam 4:4, his name is given as “Mephibosheth.” The variations of his name reflect the substitution of bosheth for baal made by some biblical writers to avoid names containing a reference to the Canaanite god Baal.

Merib-baal, or Mephibosheth, was crippled (see 2 Sam 9:3 and note). He was the only surviving member of Saul’s household after David began his reign. David sought him out to show him kindness and fulfill the covenant he made with Jonathan (2 Sam 9:1; 1 Sam 10:12–17). Even though he was a descendant of David’s predecessor, Mephibosheth ate at David’s table (2 Sam 9:9–13).

Mephibosheth ISBE

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