1 Chronicles 8:7

And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and begat Uzza, and Ahihud.

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them.—The three clans here mentioned are commonly regarded as the authors of the expatriation of the people of Geba. Of Gera it is specially said “he removed them,” because Gera was the leading clan of the three. According to this interpretation the two verses (6-7) may be rendered: “And these are the sons of Ehud. (These are heads of clans belonging to the inhabitants of Geba, and men carried them away to Manahath—both Naaman, and Ahijah, and Gera, he it was who carried them away.) He begat Uzza and Ahihud.” That is to say, Uzza and Ahihud, two chiefs of clans settled at Geba (1Chronicles 6:45), were forcibly removed by three other Benjamite clans to Manahath (see 1Chronicles 2:52; 1Chronicles 2:54). ‘Al manahath might perhaps be rendered “for the sake of peace,” referring to feuds between the clans of Geba.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

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.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

And they removed them to Manahath - "They" has no antecedent; and it is difficult to supply one. Almost all commentators suppose that there has been some corruption here, from which, however, we may gather that the "sons of Ehud" (or, perhaps, of Ahoah, 1 Chronicles 8:4) were originally settled at Geba (Joshua 18:24 note), but afterward removed to a place called Manahath, probably a town in the vicinity. Gera 1 Chronicles 8:7 directed the movement.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

6. these are the sons of Ehud—most probably the judge of Israel (Jud 3:15). His descendants, who had at first been established in Geba in Benjamin, emigrated in a body under the direction of Gera (1Ch 8:7) to Manahath, where their increased numbers would find more ample accommodation. Manahath was within the territory of Judah.

Matthew Poole's Commentary

He removed them; either,

1. Their father; or,

2. Gera last mentioned, who, it seems, was the chief counsellor or promoter of this work.

Begat Uzza and Ahihud, when he was seated in Manahath.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera,.... Or, to wit, Naaman, &c. so the words are to be connected with

these are the sons or Ehud, in the preceding verse:

he removed them; to the above place, that is, either Gera, or rather Ehud, he advised them, directed and enjoined them to go thither, as being most convenient for them:

and he begat Uzza and Ahihud; after he had removed his other sons.

Geneva Study Bible

And Naaman, and Ahiah, and Gera, he removed them, and {c} begat Uzza, and Ahihud.

(c) That is, Ehud.

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7. he removed them] R.V. he carried them captive. He seems to refer back to Ehud, but the words yield no satisfactory sense.

1 Chronicles 8:7

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Sons of Ehud. - The descent of Ehud from the sons, grandsons, and descendants of Benjamin, enumerated in 1 Chronicles 8:1-5, is not given. The names of Ehud's sons follow only at the end of the 1 Chronicles 8:7, "And he begat Uzza and Ahihud," while the intermediate clauses contain historical remarks. These sons were "heads of fathers'-houses of the inhabitants of Geba," i.e., Geba of Benjamin (1 Samuel 13:16), the Levite city, 1 Chronicles 6:45, which still remains as the half-ruinous village Jeba, about three leagues to the north of Jerusalem; see on Joshua 18:24. "And they led them captive to Manahath, viz., Naaman and Ahiah and Gera, this man led them captive." The subject to ויּגלוּם are the men mentioned in the following verse, while the הוּא which follows shows that, of the three above mentioned, the last, Gera, was the author of their captivity. The place Manahath is not known, but is conjectured to be connected with Hazi-Hammanahti and Hazi-Hammenuhoth, 1 Chronicles 2:54 and 1 Chronicles 2:52; but we cannot ascertain with certainty whether the name denotes a city or a district, and the situation of it has not yet been discovered. Of the hostile collision of these Benjamite families also, no more detailed accounts have come down to us.