1 Chronicles 8:14

8:1-40 Genealogies. - Here is a larger list of Benjamin's tribe. We may suppose that many things in these genealogies, which to us seem difficult, abrupt, and perplexed, were plain and easy at that time, and fully answered the intention for which they were published. Many great and mighty nations then were in being upon earth, and many illustrious men, whose names are now wholly forgotten; while the names of multitudes of the Israel of God are here kept in everlasting remembrance. The memory of the just is blessed.

14 . And Ahio ] LXX., and his brother . This verse is probably corrupt. If however we read And Elpaal his brother for And Ahio (cp. 1 Chronicles 8:18 ), and Jeroham for Jeremoth (cp. 1 Chronicles 8:27 ), we then find in 1 Chronicles 8:13 a and 1 Chronicles 8:14 five names corresponding (with one transposition) with the five names of heads of families given below, viz., Beriah ( 1 Chronicles 8:16 ), Elpaal ( 1 Chronicles 8:18 ), Shimei ( 1 Chronicles 8:21 , R.V., = Shema ), Shashak ( 1 Chronicles 8:25 ), and Jeroham ( 1 Chronicles 8:27 ). 1 Chronicles 8:14

(14-16) Apparently nine sons of Beriah. But (1) in 1Chronicles 8:14 , the LXX. reads ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ instead of Ahio. With different vowels the Hebrew term would mean this. (2) All the other names in this list are connected by the conjunctive particle. It is therefore likely that this was once the case with Shashak. (3) 1Chronicles 8:14-27 give five groups of Benjamite clans—viz., the sons of Beriah, the sons of Elpaal, the sons of Shimhi, the sons of Shashak, and the sons of Jeroham, all dwelling in Jerusalem. Apparently, their eponymous heads are named in 1Chronicles 8:13-14 —viz., Beriah (Elpaal? omitted by accident), Shema (the same as Shimhi; there is no h in the Heb.), Shashak, and Jeremoth (probably the same as Jeroham). If this combination hold, the text of 1Chronicles 8:14 may be thus restored: “And Elpaal his brother, and Shashak and Jeroham.” Elpaal will then be brother of Beriah (1Chronicles 8:13), and perhaps son of Elpaal (1Chronicles 8:12). Shashak and Jeremoth-Jeroham, and the six following names, are sons of Beriah.

8. Shaharaim begat children in the country of Moab—He had probably been driven to take refuge in that foreign land on the same calamitous occasion that forced Elimelech to emigrate thither (Ru 1:1). But, destitute of natural affection, he forsook or divorced his two wives, and in the land of his sojourn married a third, by whom he had several sons. But there is another explanation given of the conduct of this Benjamite polygamist. His children by Hushim are mentioned (1Ch 8:11), while his other wife is unnoticed. Hence it has been thought probable that it is Baara who is mentioned under the name of Hodesh, so called because her husband, after long desertion, returned and cohabited with her as before.

Heads of fathers'-houses of the tribe of Benjamin, who dwelt partly in Aijalon ( 1 Chronicles 8:13 ) and partly in Jerusalem. - Their connection with the heads of fathers'-houses already mentioned is not clear. The names ושׁמע בּריעה might be taken fore a fuller enumeration of the sons of Elpaal ( 1 Chronicles 8:12 ), were it not that the names enumerated from 1 Chronicles 8:14 or 15 onwards, are at the end of 1 Chronicles 8:16 said to be those of sons of Beriah; whence we must conclude that with וּבריעה, 1 Chronicles 8:13 , a new list of heads of Benjamite fathers'-houses begins. This view is supported by the fact that the names from 1 Chronicles 8:14 or 1 Chronicles 8:15 to 1 Chronicles 8:27 are divided into five groups of families: the sons of Beriah ( 1 Chronicles 8:16 ), of Elpaal ( 1 Chronicles 8:18 ), of Shimhi ( 1 Chronicles 8:21 ), of Shashak ( 1 Chronicles 8:25 ), and of Jeroham ( 1 Chronicles 8:27 ).

But as two of these, Beriah and Shashak, occur in 1 Chronicles 8:13 , 1 Chronicles 8:14 , and שׁמעי is probably another form of שׁמע, Bertheau conjectures that the last two names, Shashak and Jeroham, are represented by אחיו and ירמות dna א ( 1 Chronicles 8:14 ). ירחם and ירמות may be explained by the supposition of a transcriber's error, or by one person having two names; but the word אחיו is rendered by the lxx by ὁ ἀδελφὸς αὐτοῦ ( equals אהיו); and the view that אחיו is a nom. prop. is opposed, as in 1 Chronicles 8:31 , by the fact that the ו cop. is not found before the following שׁשׁק, for here, throughout, the names are all connected with each other by the w cop. Bertheau therefore conjectures that the text originally ran thus, ושׁשׁק אהיו ואלפּעל, and that the name Elpaal was dropped out; and that in consequence of that, אחיו had been punctuated as a nom. prop. These conjectures seem satisfactory, especially as it may be adduced in their favour that אהיו has been added to the name Elpaal to connect the names in 1 Chronicles 8:15 with the enumeration ( 1 Chronicles 8:13 ) interrupted by the parenthetical remarks. No certainty, however, can be attained in a matter so obscure. If a new series of groups of families begins with 1 Chronicles 8:13 , we should expect an introductory formula, as in 1 Chronicles 8:6 .

A.M. 2961. — B.C. 1043. David is confirmed in his kingdom, 1 Chronicles 14:1, 1 Chronicles 14:2. His wives and children, 1 Chronicles 14:3-7. His victories over the Philistines, 1 Chronicles 14:8-17. NOTES ON CHAPTER 14. 1 Chronicles 14:2 . David perceived that the Lord had confirmed him king over Israel — By the remembrance of God’s promise, and his providence conspiring with it. For his kingdom was lifted up on high, because of his people Israel — But of this and the following verses of this chapter, see notes on 2 Samuel 5:12-25 , where the same history is related.