Sallu son of Meshullam:
Sallu is a name that appears several times in the genealogies of the Bible, indicating a common name among the Israelites. Meshullam, meaning "friend" or "ally," is also a frequently mentioned name, suggesting a family of some prominence. The mention of these names in the genealogical records underscores the importance of lineage and heritage in Israelite society, where family connections often determined one's role and status within the community.

The son of Hodaviah:
Hodaviah, meaning "praise of Yahweh," reflects the theocentric nature of Israelite culture, where names often bore witness to the faith and religious devotion of the people. This name is less common, suggesting a unique family line within the tribe of Benjamin. The emphasis on genealogy in this context serves to establish the continuity and faithfulness of God's people through generations.

The son of Hassenuah:
Hassenuah is a name that appears only in genealogical records, indicating a specific family line within the tribe of Benjamin. The inclusion of such names in the biblical text highlights the importance of preserving family heritage and the fulfillment of God's promises to the descendants of Abraham. This genealogical record serves as a testament to the enduring legacy of the tribes of Israel and their role in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.

The verse opens by anchoring us in the tribe of Benjamin. God wanted every family line preserved, so He inspired the chronicler to record the Benjamites who resettled Jerusalem after the exile. • In 1 Chronicles 9:3–4 we read that “the descendants of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, and Manasseh lived in Jerusalem”, showing Benjamin’s place among the restored community. • Ezra 1:5 highlights the same tribe rising “to go up and build the house of the Lord,” a reminder that God keeps His promises to every tribe (Genesis 49:27; Jeremiah 33:26). • Nehemiah 11:4-7 repeats the list, underscoring the importance of Benjamin in rebuilding the city’s spiritual and social life. The phrase “From the Benjamites” assures us that God’s eye is on individual believers as well as entire tribes.

Next comes one name: “Sallu.” Genealogies may feel like long rolls of unfamiliar names, yet each person mattered to God, and each helped repopulate Jerusalem. • Nehemiah 11:7 mentions this same Sallu, calling him a “valiant man,” hinting at both character and courage. • Romans 12:4-5 reminds us that every member of the body has a role; Sallu’s inclusion affirms that no task done for the Lord is insignificant. By listing him, Scripture testifies that God remembers faithful service down to a single individual (Malachi 3:16).

Sallu’s father, Meshullam, gets named so that the chain of faith remains unbroken. • 1 Chronicles 9:11 references another Meshullam, a priest who “served in the house of God,” illustrating how commitment to worship runs through this family line. • Deuteronomy 6:6-7 commands fathers to teach their children the word; Meshullam apparently obeyed, passing truth to Sallu. The text encourages today’s parents and mentors to model and impart faith to the next generation (2 Timothy 1:5).

Moving one step farther, we read “the son of Hodaviah.” God does not lose track of any ancestor. • Ezra 2:40 lists Levites from the family of Hodaviah returning with Zerubbabel, showing consistent devotion across centuries. • Psalm 145:4 proclaims, “One generation will declare Your works to the next,” a pattern Hodaviah’s descendants followed. Even if we never see our spiritual legacy, God records it (Proverbs 20:7).

Finally, the chain reaches “Hassenuah,” the patriarch of this line. His name closes the backward look, but it also points forward: because of his faithfulness, an entire branch of Benjamin took its place in Jerusalem’s renewal. • 1 Chronicles 9:8 identifies “Ibneiah son of Jeroham” from Hassenuah’s clan, revealing multiple generations still active. • Isaiah 49:6 promises that God’s salvation reaches “to the ends of the earth”; Hassenuah’s line is one more proof that even in exile and return, God carried out that plan by preserving people through whom Messiah’s story would unfold.

1 Chronicles 9:7 may read like a short entry in a long ledger, yet it brims with meaning. The verse certifies that (1) God faithfully restores His people tribe by tribe, (2) He remembers individual servants such as Sallu, (3) He honors generational faithfulness from Meshullam through Hodaviah to Hassenuah, and (4) He weaves every name into His unfolding redemptive story. Because Scripture is accurate and literal, we can trust that the same God who recorded these Benjamites also knows our names and delights in placing us—just as precisely—in His work today.

The son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah.--Perhaps we should read "and Hodaviah," instead of "son of Hodaviah." (See Note on 1Chronicles 9:9-10.) The name Hodaviah, which occurred 1Chronicles 5:24, is a peculiar Aramaizing form of Hoduyah ("Thank the Lord"). Perhaps here the true reading is wihudah. "and Judah." Comp. Nehemiah 11:9, "Judah the son of Senuali" (Heb. ha-Senuah).