1 CHRONICLES LESSON 11


     We will begin this lesson in I Chronicles 8:1 "Now Benjamin begat
Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, and Aharah the third,"
I Chronicles 8:2 "Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth."

     These five sons listed, here, vary a little from the families of
Benjamin listed in Numbers chapter 26 verses 38 and 39. There are five
families in each case, however. There is just a little difference in
the fathers of the families names. Bela, his firstborn, is the same in
both. He became the father of the Belaites. Ashbel is the same in
Numbers and here. He was the father of the Ashbelites. Aharah could be
the same as Ahiram in Numbers, who started the Ahiramites. Nohah and
Rapha, given here as the fourth and fifth sons, are not mentioned in
Numbers. In Numbers Shupham, and Hupham are mentioned instead. I will
give you the Scripture on this family from Genesis. Genesis 46:21
"And the sons of Benjamin [were] Belah, and Becher, and Ashbel, Gera,
and Naaman, Ehi, and Rosh, Muppim, and Huppim, and Ard." In the Bible,
sons and grandsons are both called sons. Sometimes, male descendents
from many generations down are called sons. That is why these names
are not always the same.

     I Chronicles 8:3 "And the sons of Bela were, Addar, and Gera, and
Abihud," I Chronicles 8:4 "And Abishua, and Naaman, and Ahoah,"
I Chronicles 8:5 "And Gera, and Shephuphan, and Huram."

     There are nine sons listed here, and only three of them are
listed in Numbers. We must remember, that this chronicle was put
together many years after the fact. So many of these names are similar
to others and it is easy for such seemingly errors. I believe that
what really happened was that some of them died early, and were not
included in some of the lists. As we said earlier, some may be
grandsons, as well.

     I Chronicles 8:6 "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:"  I Chronicles 8:7 "And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he
removed them, and begat Uzza, and Ahihud."

     There is no other mention of this in the Bible. Again, we must
realize that this could be speaking of any of the thousands of
descendents. Sons do not always mean sons, as we speak of, but as
grandsons, or even descendents. It almost seems they have added sons
that are like adopted sons.

     I Chronicles 8:8 "And Shaharaim begat [children] in the country
of Moab, after he had sent them away; Hushim and Baara [were] his
wives."

     The only thing that is known of Shaharaim, is that he was a
Benjamite. It seemed, that he had children in the land of Moab by
Hushim and Baara.

     I Chronicles 8:9 "And he begat of Hodesh his wife, Jobab, and
Zibia, and Mesha, and Malcham,"  I Chronicles 8:10 "And Jeuz, and
Shachia, and Mirma. These [were] his sons, heads of the fathers."
I Chronicles 8:11 "And of Hushim he begat Abitub, and Elpaal."

     All of the aforementioned people are not spoken of further in the
Bible. There were very few records kept of Benjamin, after God allowed
them to be killed for their sins. They had taken the concubine of the
Levite and assaulted her, and killed her. All of the other tribes of
Israel came against Benjamin, and killed all but 600 men. That is,
probably, why there is much confusion of his descendents. These 600
men had to steal wives, because the other tribes would not give their
daughters to them for marriage. Read it in Judges chapters 19, 20, and
21.

     I Chronicles 8:12 "The sons of Elpaal; Eber, and Misham, and
Shamed, who built Ono, and Lod, with the towns thereof:"

     Lod is, probably, the Lydda in Acts chapter 9 verse 32.

     I Chronicles 8:13 "Beriah also, and Shema, who [were] heads of
the fathers of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who drove away the
inhabitants of Gath:"

     Aijalon was located on the boundary of both Judah and Benjamin.
This Beriah was a Benjamite. Beriah and Shema drove away Gath
together.

     I Chronicles 8:14 "And Ahio, Shashak, and Jeremoth," I Chronicles
8:15 "And Zebadiah, and Arad, and Ader," I Chronicles 8:16 "And
Michael, and Ispah, and Joha, the sons of Beriah;" I Chronicles 8:17
"And Zebadiah, and Meshullam, and Hezeki, and Heber," I Chronicles
8:18 "Ishmerai also, and Jezliah, and Jobab, the sons of Elpaal;"
I Chronicles 8:19 "And Jakim, and Zichri, and Zabdi,"  I Chronicles
8:20 "And Elienai, and Zilthai, and Eliel,"  I Chronicles 8:21 "And
Adaiah, and Beraiah, and Shimrath, the sons of Shimhi;"  I Chronicles
8:22 "And Ishpan, and Heber, and Eliel,"  I Chronicles 8:23 "And
Abdon, and Zichri, and Hanan," I Chronicles 8:24 "And Hananiah, and
Elam, and Antothijah," I Chronicles 8:25 "And Iphedeiah, and Penuel,
the sons of Shashak;" I Chronicles 8:26 "And Shamsherai, and
Shehariah, and Athaliah," I Chronicles 8:27 "And Jaresiah, and Eliah,
and Zichri, the sons of Jeroham." I Chronicles 8:28 "These [were]
heads of the fathers, by their generations, chief [men]. These dwelt
in Jerusalem."

     All of the names, listed above, are Benjamites. Verse 28 tells us
they were heads of the fathers, and they dwelt in Jerusalem. Not very
much more is known of them. Some families are mentioned once, and no
more. This is what we see here.

     I Chronicles 8:29 "And at Gibeon dwelt the father of Gibeon;
whose wife's name [was] Maachah:"

     The father of Gibeon was Jehiel. This Maachah is, possibly, the
same as the one mentioned as the wife of Machir, since her same
brothers are mentioned in both places.

     I Chronicles 8:30 "And his firstborn son Abdon, and Zur, and
Kish, and Baal, and Nadab," I Chronicles 8:31 "And Gedor, and Ahio,
and Zacher."

     In these verses, we have discovered Kish, who is the third son of
Jehiel of Gibeon.

     I Chronicles 8:32 "And Mikloth begat Shimeah. And these also
dwelt with their brethren in Jerusalem, over against them."

     These long lists of names, in the last few verses, are lists of
the leaders of the families who lived in Jerusalem.

     I Chronicles 8:33  "And Ner begat Kish, and Kish begat Saul, and
Saul begat Jonathan, and Malchi-shua, and Abinadab, and Esh-baal."

     Some Scriptures indicate that Ner was the brother of Kish,
instead of his father.  This is not a terribly important point. It is
important to realize that Kish was the father of Saul. Saul was the
first king of Israel. Jonathan was, indeed, the son of Saul, but he
was best known for being the best friend of David. Malchi-shua was
slain with his father at the battle of Gilboa. Abinadab is the same
person as Ishui in the book of Samuel. He was, also, killed in the
battle of Gilboa. Esh-baal is, probably, the same as Ishbosheth. He
reigned for two years over Israel, and was killed in his own bed by
two of his captains.

     I Chronicles 8:34 "And the son of Jonathan [was] Merib-baal; and
Merib-baal begat Micah."

     Merib-baal is better known as Mephibosheth. He was crippled.
David sought him out and helped him, because he loved his father so
much. Micah, his son, was known by Michah, Mica, and Micha.

     I Chronicles 8:35 "And the sons of Micah [were], Pithon, and
Melech, and Tarea, and Ahaz." I Chronicles 8:36 "And Ahaz begat
Jehoadah; and Jehoadah begat Alemeth, and Azmaveth, and Zimri; and
Zimri begat Moza,"  I Chronicles 8:37 "And Moza begat Binea: Rapha
[was] his son, Eleasah his son, Azel his son:" I Chronicles 8:38 "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." I Chronicles 8:39 "And the sons of Eshek his brother
[were], Ulam his firstborn, Jehush the second, and Eliphelet the
third." I Chronicles 8:40 "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."

     The things we must remember about all of these names is that they
are Benjamites. They are descended from Saul through Jonathan. They
were mighty warriors. They were valiant men.

                      1 Chronicles 11 Questions


1.  What tribe's descendents are dealt with in this lesson.
2.  Who was Benjamin's firstborn?
3.  What group of people descended from him?
4.  Who were the other sons of Benjamin?
5.  How do their names differ in other books of the Bible?
6.  Who are sometimes called sons in the Bible, that are not actually
    sons?
7.  The nine sons of Bela listed, here, are how many in Numbers?
8.  How could this happen?
9.  Shaharaim begat children in the country of __________.
10. Who were his wives?
11. What happened to the tribe of Benjamin, that may account for some
    of the names not being mentioned more than once?
12. Who is the same as Lod?
13. Where was Aijalon located?
14. The Maachah, in verse 29, is, possibly, the same as whom?
15. What causes us to come to this conclusion?
16. Who does verse 33 say Ner is?
17. Who do many other Scriptures say this is?
18. Why is this not terribly important?
19. Who was the father of Saul?
20. What is something special about Jonathan?
21. What sons of Saul died at Gilboa?
22. Who is Esh-baal?
23. How did he die?
24. Who is the same as Meri-baal.
25. What physical ailment did he have?
26. What must we remember about the people mentioned in this lesson?