1 Chronicles 8: The Line of Saul
Benjamin's families are traced in detail, leading down to Kish, Saul, and Jonathan, Israel's first royal house.
1 Chronicles 8 (WEB)
1 Benjamin became the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,
2 Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
3 Bela had sons: Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,
4 and Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,
5 and Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.
6 These are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of fathers’ households of the inhabitants of Geba, and they carried them captive to Manahath:
7 and Naaman, and Ahijah, and Gera, he carried them captive: and he became the father of Uzza and Ahihud.
8 Shaharaim became the father of children in the field of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.
9 He became the father of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcam,
10 and Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers’ households.
11 Of Hushim he became the father of Abitub and Elpaal.
12 The sons of Elpaal: Eber, and Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod, with its towns;
13 and Beriah, and Shema, who were heads of fathers’ households of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath;
14 and Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,
15 and Zebadiah, and Arad, and Eder,
16 and Michael, and Ishpah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah,
17 and Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hizki, and Heber,
18 and Ishmerai, and Izliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal,
19 and Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,
20 and Elienai, and Zillethai, and Eliel,
21 and Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimei,
22 and Ishpan, and Eber, and Eliel,
23 and Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,
24 and Hananiah, and Elam, and Anthothijah,
25 and Iphdeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak,
26 and Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,
27 and Jaareshiah, and Elijah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.
28 These were heads of fathers’ households throughout their generations, chief men: these lived in Jerusalem.
29 In Gibeon there lived the father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was Maacah;
30 and his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,
31 and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zecher.
32 Mikloth became the father of Shimeah. They also lived with their brothers in Jerusalem, over against their brothers.
33 Ner became the father of Kish; and Kish became the father of Saul; and Saul became the father of Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
34 The son of Jonathan was Merib Baal; and Merib Baal became the father of Micah.
35 The sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.
36 Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah; and Jehoaddah became the father of Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri became the father of Moza.
37 Moza became the father of Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
38 Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
39 The sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
40 The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons, and sons’ sons, one hundred fifty. All these were of the sons of Benjamin.
1 Chronicles 8 (KJV)
1 Now Benjamin begat Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,
2 Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
3 And the sons of Bela were, Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,
4 And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,
5 And Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.
6 And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Geba, and they removed them to Manahath:
7 And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and begat Uzza, and Ahihud.
8 And Shaharaim begat children in the country of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.
9 And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham,
10 And Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirma. These were his sons, heads of the fathers.
11 And of Hushim he begat Abitub, and Elpaal.
12 The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof:
13 Beriah also, and Shema, who were heads of the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the inhabitants of Gath:
14 And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,
15 And Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader,
16 And Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah;
17 And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber,
18 Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal;
19 And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,
20 And Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel,
21 And Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi;
22 And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel,
23 And Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,
24 And Hananiah, and Elam, and Antothijah,
25 And Iphedeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak;
26 And Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,
27 And Jaresiah, and Eliah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.
28 These were heads of the fathers, by their generations, chief men. These dwelt in Jerusalem.
29 And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon; whose wife’s name was Maachah:
30 And his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,
31 And Gedor, and Ahio, and Zacher.
32 And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And these also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against them.
33 And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi–shua, and Abinadab, and Esh–baal.
34 And the son of Jonathan was Merib–baal; and Merib–baal begat Micah.
35 And the sons of Micah were, Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.
36 And Ahaz begat Jehoadah; and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza,
37 And Moza begat Binea: Rapha was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son:
38 And Azel had six sons, whose names are these, Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
39 And the sons of Eshek his brother were, Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
40 And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valour, archers, and had many sons, and sons’ sons, an hundred and fifty. All these are of the sons of Benjamin.
1 Chronicles 8 (ASV)
1 And Benjamin begat Bela his first-born, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,
2 Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
3 And Bela had sons: Addar, and Gera, and Abihud,
4 and Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,
5 and Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram.
6 And these are the sons of Ehud: these are the heads of fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Geba, and they carried them captive to Manahath:
7 and Naaman, and Ahijah, and Gera, he carried them captive; and he begat Uzza and Ahihud.
8 And Shaharaim begat children in the field of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara were his wives.
9 And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcam,
10 and Jeuz, and Shachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers’ houses.
11 And of Hushim he begat Abitub and Elpaal.
12 And the sons of Elpaal: Eber, and Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod, with the towns thereof;
13 and Beriah, and Shema, who were heads of fathers’ houses of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath;
14 and Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth,
15 and Zebadiah, and Arad, and Eder,
16 and Michael, and Ishpah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah,
17 and Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hizki, and Heber,
18 and Ishmerai, and Izliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal,
19 and Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,
20 and Elienai, and Zillethai, and Eliel,
21 and Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimei,
22 and Ishpan, and Eber, and Eliel,
23 and Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan,
24 and Hananiah, and Elam, and Anthothijah,
25 and Iphdeiah, and Penuel, the sons of Shashak,
26 and Shamsherai, and Shehariah, and Athaliah,
27 and Jaareshiah, and Elijah, and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham.
28 These were heads of fathers’ houses throughout their generations, chief men: these dwelt in Jerusalem.
29 And in Gibeon there dwelt the father of Gibeon, Jeiel, whose wife’s name was Maacah;
30 and his first-born son Abdon, and Zur, and Kish, and Baal, and Nadab,
31 and Gedor, and Ahio, and Zecher.
32 And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And they also dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against their brethren.
33 And Ner begat Kish; and Kish begat Saul; and Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
34 And the son of Jonathan was Merib-baal; and Merib-baal begat Micah.
35 And the sons of Micah: Pithon, and Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz.
36 And Ahaz begat Jehoaddah; and Jehoaddah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and Zimri begat Moza.
37 And Moza begat Binea; Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son.
38 And Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, and Ishmael, and Sheariah, and Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
39 And the sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his first-born, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
40 And the sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons, and sons’ sons, a hundred and fifty. All these were of the sons of Benjamin.
Summary
The Chronicler returns to Benjamin and devotes a whole chapter to this tribe, tracing its families and their settlements in towns like Geba, Ono, Lod, and especially Jerusalem and Gibeon. The names roll on through many households and heads of fathers' houses. Then the genealogy converges on a single famous family: Ner became the father of Kish, Kish became the father of Saul, and Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. The line continues past Saul through Jonathan's son Merib Baal (Mephibosheth) and on through Micah and several more generations, ending with the sons of Azel. By giving Benjamin and the house of Saul such careful attention, the Chronicler prepares the reader for the narrative that begins in the next chapter. Saul was Israel's first king, from the tribe of Benjamin, and his story stands in deliberate contrast to David, who would follow. Even here, in the bare record of names, the Chronicler is setting the stage: the first king's family is remembered and honored as part of Israel, yet the genealogy moves toward the moment when the kingdom would pass to the house of David.
Key Figures
- The tribe of Benjamin — The tribe given a full chapter, with families settled in Jerusalem, Gibeon, and other towns, traced down to the royal house.
- Kish — The father of Saul, a link in the Benjamite line that leads to Israel's first king.
- Saul — Israel's first king, son of Kish, whose family is recorded here before the account of his death in the next chapter.
- Jonathan — Saul's son, whose line continues through Merib Baal and beyond, preserving the memory of the first royal family.
Key Verse
1 Chronicles 8:33 (WEB)
Ner became the father of Kish; and Kish became the father of Saul; and Saul became the father of Jonathan, and Malchishua, and Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
Lessons Learned
- God's record honors even the family of Saul, the king whose house would not endure.
- Careful genealogy can set the stage for the larger story God is telling.
- Every tribe, including Benjamin, has its honored place among the people of God.
- The line of Saul stands as a quiet contrast to the line of David toward which the story moves.
- God remembers the whole family of his people. Benjamin receives a full chapter of names (1 Chronicles 8:1-40, WEB), showing that even tribes overshadowed by Judah hold an honored place in God's record.
- Genealogy serves the larger story. The line converges on “Kish… Saul… Jonathan” (1 Chronicles 8:33, WEB), preparing the reader for the account of Saul's end and the rise of David.
- God preserves a faithful remembrance. Saul's line continues through Jonathan and Merib Baal (1 Chronicles 8:34, WEB); even a king whose house lost the throne is not erased from the people's memory.
- The story is moving toward David. By spotlighting Saul's family just before chapter 10, the Chronicler quietly contrasts the first king with the one God truly chose, the house of David (1 Chronicles 8:33-40, WEB).
- Why does the Chronicler devote an entire chapter to the tribe of Benjamin?
- What is the effect of the long list of names converging on the family of Saul?
- Why might the Chronicler record Saul's descendants in such detail before telling of his death?
- How does honoring Saul's family fit with the larger story moving toward David?
- How does it encourage you that God records and remembers even families whose stories ended in failure or loss?
- Benjamin matters both as the tribe of Israel's first king and as a tribe that remained loyal to Judah and David. Giving it a full chapter honors its place and sets up the account of Saul that follows in the next chapter.
- The accumulation of names builds toward the climactic mention of Kish, Saul, and Jonathan. It shows that the first royal house arose from an ordinary Benjamite family and frames Saul within the wider story of God's people.
- Recording Saul's line in full honors the memory of Israel's first king and his family before the sobering account of his death. It treats him as a real part of the nation's history even as the narrative prepares to explain why the kingdom passed to David.
- Honoring Saul's family while moving toward David shows that God can record and respect a person and house even as his larger purposes advance elsewhere. The contrast highlights that the enduring kingdom belongs to the line God chose, not the one the people first wanted.
- This is a personal-application question. Invite members to consider that God does not discard people whose stories held failure; he still remembers and records them. As leader, offer this as comfort for those who feel defined by past losses, pointing to God's faithfulness in the larger story.