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Saul's Family and the People of Jerusalem
This passage is a long family record, but it does more than list names. It traces Benjamin’s lines, repeats Saul’s family, and then shows who lived in Jerusalem and served in God’s house.
Understanding the passage
Understanding this family record
The text begins with Benjamin’s descendants and several family branches, noting places such as Geba, Moab, Aijalon, Gibeon, and Jerusalem. It then states that Israel was listed by genealogies, mentions Judah’s captivity for disobedience, and names the first inhabitants, including priests, Levites, gatekeepers, and other servants in Jerusalem.
1 Chronicles 8:1–9:44Main takeaway
This passage shows that families, places, and entrusted duties in God’s house were remembered among God’s people.
Follow the family lines
Open a card to explore the full explanation and its Bible references.
01Benjamin’s families and placesThe list starts with Benjamin and his sons, then follows several branches through many generations.
Explanation
The list starts with Benjamin and his sons, then follows several branches through many generations. Some details connect families to places and movements, such as the inhabitants of Geba being carried captive to Manahath, Shaharaim having children in Moab, and others building Ono and Lod. These names show family identity tied closely to households and towns.
02Chief men living in JerusalemAfter many names, the passage pauses to say these were heads of fathers’ households, chief men, and that they lived in Jerusalem.
Explanation
After many names, the passage pauses to say these were heads of fathers’ households, chief men, and that they lived in Jerusalem. Then it narrows to a line from Gibeon to Kish and Saul. Saul’s sons are named, followed by Jonathan’s line down to Azel and his sons. The same family names appear again later in chapter 9.
03Genealogies, captivity, and the first inhabitantsChapter 9 widens the view from Benjamin to all Israel. It says genealogies were recorded and states that Judah was carried away captive to Babylon for disobedience.
Explanation
Chapter 9 widens the view from Benjamin to all Israel. It says genealogies were recorded and states that Judah was carried away captive to Babylon for disobedience. Then it names the first inhabitants in their cities as Israel, priests, Levites, and temple servants, and adds that people from Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem.
04Work in God’s houseThe passage gives special attention to service in God’s house. Priests and Levites are listed, then gatekeepers, whose work included guarding entrances, opening the house morning by morning, and overseeing rooms and treasuries.
Explanation
The passage gives special attention to service in God’s house. Priests and Levites are listed, then gatekeepers, whose work included guarding entrances, opening the house morning by morning, and overseeing rooms and treasuries. Others cared for vessels, ingredients, things baked in pans, show bread, and singing. The text describes these duties as organised work in an office of trust.
05Saul’s family list repeatedThe final verses return to the Gibeon line and repeat Saul’s family record in very similar form.
Explanation
The final verses return to the Gibeon line and repeat Saul’s family record in very similar form. Jeiel, Kish, Saul, Jonathan, Merib-baal, Micah, and Azel’s sons appear again. The passage ends with this repeated family record, closing the section with names preserved across generations.
Questions to explore
Pause, look back at the verses and talk together.
01What details show that this genealogy is connected to real places as well as people?
Look for towns and regions named alongside family lines, such as Geba, Moab, Ono, Lod, Aijalon, Gibeon, and Jerusalem.
02How does the passage highlight Saul’s family line?
Notice that Saul’s ancestors and descendants are listed once in chapter 8 and then again near the end of chapter 9.
03What kinds of work in God’s house are actually named here?
Read the verses about gatekeepers, vessels, treasuries, spices, things baked in pans, show bread, and singing, and list each duty the passage mentions.
Read the Bible passages
World English Bible ClassicScripture quotation · Public domain
1 Chronicles 8:1–40
1Benjamin became the father of Bela his firstborn, Ashbel the second, Aharah the third,
2Nohah the fourth, and Rapha the fifth.
3Bela had sons: Addar, Gera, Abihud,
4Abishua, Naaman, Ahoah,
5Gera, Shephuphan, and Huram.
6These are the sons of Ehud. These are the heads of fathers’ households of the inhabitants of Geba, who were carried captive to Manahath:
7Naaman, Ahijah, and Gera, who carried them captive; and he became the father of Uzza and Ahihud.
8Shaharaim became the father of children in the field of Moab, after he had sent them away. Hushim and Baara were his wives.
9By Hodesh his wife, he became the father of Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, Malcam,
10Jeuz, Shachia, and Mirmah. These were his sons, heads of fathers’ households.
11By Hushim, he became the father of Abitub and Elpaal.
12The sons of Elpaal: Eber, Misham, and Shemed, who built Ono and Lod, with its towns;
13and Beriah and Shema, who were heads of fathers’ households of the inhabitants of Aijalon, who put to flight the inhabitants of Gath;
14and Ahio, Shashak, Jeremoth,
15Zebadiah, Arad, Eder,
16Michael, Ishpah, Joha, the sons of Beriah,
17Zebadiah, Meshullam, Hizki, Heber,
18Ishmerai, Izliah, Jobab, the sons of Elpaal,
19Jakim, Zichri, Zabdi,
20Elienai, Zillethai, Eliel,
21Adaiah, Beraiah, Shimrath, the sons of Shimei,
22Ishpan, Eber, Eliel,
23Abdon, Zichri, Hanan,
24Hananiah, Elam, Anthothijah,
25Iphdeiah, Penuel, the sons of Shashak,
26Shamsherai, Shehariah, Athaliah,
27Jaareshiah, Elijah, Zichri, and the sons of Jeroham.
28These were heads of fathers’ households throughout their generations, chief men. These lived in Jerusalem.
29The father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was Maacah, lived in Gibeon
30with his firstborn son Abdon, Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab,
31Gedor, Ahio, Zecher,
32and Mikloth, who became the father of Shimeah. They also lived with their families in Jerusalem, near their relatives.
33Ner became the father of Kish. Kish became the father of Saul. Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
34The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal. Merib-baal became the father of Micah.
35The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tarea, and Ahaz.
36Ahaz became the father of Jehoaddah. Jehoaddah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri became the father of Moza.
37Moza became the father of Binea. Raphah was his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.
38Azel had six sons, whose names are these: Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. All these were the sons of Azel.
39The sons of Eshek his brother: Ulam his firstborn, Jeush the second, and Eliphelet the third.
40The sons of Ulam were mighty men of valor, archers, and had many sons, and grandsons, one hundred fifty. All these were of the sons of Benjamin.
1 Chronicles 9:1–44
1So all Israel were listed by genealogies; and behold, they are written in the book of the kings of Israel. Judah was carried away captive to Babylon for their disobedience.
2Now the first inhabitants who lived in their possessions in their cities were Israel, the priests, the Levites, and the temple servants.
3In Jerusalem, there lived of the children of Judah, of the children of Benjamin, and of the children of Ephraim and Manasseh:
4Uthai the son of Ammihud, the son of Omri, the son of Imri, the son of Bani, of the children of Perez the son of Judah.
5Of the Shilonites: Asaiah the firstborn and his sons.
6Of the sons of Zerah: Jeuel and their brothers, six hundred ninety.
7Of the sons of Benjamin: Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenuah;
8and Ibneiah the son of Jeroham, and Elah the son of Uzzi, the son of Michri; and Meshullam the son of Shephatiah, the son of Reuel, the son of Ibnijah;
9and their brothers, according to their generations, nine hundred fifty-six. All these men were heads of fathers’ households by their fathers’ houses.
10Of the priests: Jedaiah, Jehoiarib, Jachin,
11and Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of God’s house;
12and Adaiah the son of Jeroham, the son of Pashhur, the son of Malchijah; and Maasai the son of Adiel, the son of Jahzerah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Meshillemith, the son of Immer;
13and their brothers, heads of their fathers’ houses, one thousand seven hundred sixty; they were very able men for the work of the service of God’s house.
14Of the Levites: Shemaiah the son of Hasshub, the son of Azrikam, the son of Hashabiah, of the sons of Merari;
15and Bakbakkar, Heresh, Galal, and Mattaniah the son of Mica, the son of Zichri, the son of Asaph,
16and Obadiah the son of Shemaiah, the son of Galal, the son of Jeduthun; and Berechiah the son of Asa, the son of Elkanah, who lived in the villages of the Netophathites.
17The gatekeepers: Shallum, Akkub, Talmon, Ahiman, and their brothers (Shallum was the chief),
18who previously served in the king’s gate eastward. They were the gatekeepers for the camp of the children of Levi.
19Shallum was the son of Kore, the son of Ebiasaph, the son of Korah, and his brothers, of his father’s house, the Korahites, were over the work of the service, keepers of the thresholds of the tent. Their fathers had been over Yahweh’s camp, keepers of the entry.
20Phinehas the son of Eleazar was ruler over them in time past, and Yahweh was with him.
21Zechariah the son of Meshelemiah was gatekeeper of the door of the Tent of Meeting.
22All these who were chosen to be gatekeepers in the thresholds were two hundred twelve. These were listed by genealogy in their villages, whom David and Samuel the seer ordained in their office of trust.
23So they and their children had the oversight of the gates of Yahweh’s house, even the house of the tent, as guards.
24On the four sides were the gatekeepers, toward the east, west, north, and south.
25Their brothers, in their villages, were to come in every seven days from time to time to be with them,
26for the four chief gatekeepers, who were Levites, were in an office of trust, and were over the rooms and over the treasuries in God’s house.
27They stayed around God’s house, because that was their duty; and it was their duty to open it morning by morning.
28Certain of them were in charge of the vessels of service, for these were brought in by count, and these were taken out by count.
29Some of them also were appointed over the furniture, and over all the vessels of the sanctuary, over the fine flour, the wine, the oil, the frankincense, and the spices.
30Some of the sons of the priests prepared the mixing of the spices.
31Mattithiah, one of the Levites, who was the firstborn of Shallum the Korahite, had the office of trust over the things that were baked in pans.
32Some of their brothers, of the sons of the Kohathites, were over the show bread, to prepare it every Sabbath.
33These are the singers, heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, who lived in the rooms and were free from other service, for they were employed in their work day and night.
34These were heads of fathers’ households of the Levites, throughout their generations, chief men. They lived at Jerusalem.
35Jeiel the father of Gibeon, whose wife’s name was Maacah, lived in Gibeon.
36His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab,
37Gedor, Ahio, Zechariah, and Mikloth.
38Mikloth became the father of Shimeam. They also lived with their relatives in Jerusalem, near their relatives.
39Ner became the father of Kish. Kish became the father of Saul. Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal.
40The son of Jonathan was Merib-baal. Merib-baal became the father of Micah.
41The sons of Micah: Pithon, Melech, Tahrea, and Ahaz.
42Ahaz became the father of Jarah. Jarah became the father of Alemeth, Azmaveth, and Zimri. Zimri became the father of Moza.
43Moza became the father of Binea, Rephaiah his son, Eleasah his son, and Azel his son.
44Azel had six sons, whose names are Azrikam, Bocheru, Ishmael, Sheariah, Obadiah, and Hanan. These were the sons of Azel.