1 Chronicles 9:7

And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,

EXPOSITORY (ENGLISH BIBLE)

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(7) And of the sons of Benjamin.—The parallel passage (Nehemiah 11:7) starts with “Sallu the son of Me-shullam,” but continues, “the son of Joed, the son of Pedaiah,” and carries the ancestry four generations further back.

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 wîhudah. “and Judah.” Comp. Nehemiah 11:9, “Judah the son of Senuali” (Heb. ha-Senuah).

Benson Commentary

1 Chronicles 9:7. Sallu the son of Meshullam — Who is mentioned, but described by other parents, (Nehemiah 11:7,) or at least by persons under other names. Possibly these were his more immediate, and those his more remote parents: or he might be begotten by the one, and adopted by the other. For it is certain that men are sometimes, in Scripture, called the sons of those that adopted them, or whose right of inheritance fell to them.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

9:1-44 Genealogies. - This chapter expresses that one end of recording all these genealogies was, to direct the Jews, when they returned out of captivity, with whom to unite, and where to reside. Here is an account of the good state into which the affairs of religion were put, on the return from Babylon. Every one knew his charge. Work is likely to be done well when every one knows the duty of his place, and makes a business of it. God is the God of order. Thus was the temple a figure of the heavenly one, where they rest not day nor night from praising God, Re 4:8. Blessed be His name, believers there shall, not in turn, but all together, without interruption, praise him night and day: may the Lord make each of us fit for the inheritance of the saints in light.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

The correspondence and the diversity between the account here and in Nehemiah Neh. 11:4-19 are explained by the probability that both writers drew from a common and fuller document. They selected, in some instances, different names, or names which are now different through corruption; and they frequently expressed the genealogies of the same persons differently, both going on the principle of compression by means of omissions, but omitting from their lists different links of the chain.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

2. the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions—This chapter relates wholly to the first returned exiles. Almost all the names recur in Nehemiah (Ne 11:1-36), although there are differences which will be explained there. The same division of the people into four classes was continued after, as before the captivity; namely, the priests, Levites, natives, who now were called by the common name of Israelites, and the Nethinims (Jos 9:27; Ezr 2:43; 8:20). When the historian speaks of "the first inhabitants that dwelt in their possessions," he implies that there were others who afterwards returned and settled in possessions not occupied by the first. Accordingly, we read of a great number returning successively under Ezra, Nehemiah, and at a later period. And some of those who returned to the ancient inheritance of their fathers, had lived before the time of the captivity (Ezr 3:12; Hag 2:4, 10).

Matthew Poole's Commentary

Salu the son of Meshullam, who is mentioned, but described by other parents, Nehemiah 11:7, or at least by persons under other names. Possibly these were his more immediate, and those his more remote parents; or he might be born of one, and adopted by another. For this is certain, men are sometimes in Scripture called the sons of those who adopted them, or whose right of inheritance fell to them.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And of the sons of Benjamin,.... Who were of the tribe of Benjamin, and went with Judah into captivity, and returned with them, and such of them as dwelt in Jerusalem before that:

Sallu the son of Meshullam; whose pedigree is differently given, Nehemiah 11:7,

the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hassenaah; perhaps these men had two names, there called Joel and Pedaiah.

Geneva Study Bible

And of the sons of Benjamin; Sallu the son of Meshullam, the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah,

EXEGETICAL (ORIGINAL LANGUAGES)

Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

7–9 (cp. Nehemiah 11:7-9). The Sons of Benjamin

7. Sallu] His genealogy m differently stated in Nehemiah 11:7, but see next note.

the son of Hodaviah, the son of Hasenuah] Some critics would read “and Hodaviah the son of Hasenuah” and would identify this person with the “Judah the son of Has-senuah” of Nehemiah 11:9.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 7-9. - The corresponding passage (Nehemiah 11:7, 8) varies much in the names given, and adds up the number of Benjamite chief men to nine hundred and twenty-eight, instead of nine hundred and fifty-six. 1 Chronicles 9:7

Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament

Of the sons of Benjamin, i.e., of the Benjamites, four heads are named, Sallu, Ibneiah, Elah, and Meshullam; and of the first and fourth of these, three generations of ancestors are mentioned, of the second only the father, of the third the father and grandfather. "And their brethren according to their generations, 956;" cf. on 1 Chronicles 9:6. "All these men" are not the brethren whose number is given, but the heads who have been mentioned by name. Now, if we compare this with Nehemiah 11, we meet in 1 Chronicles 9:7-9 with only one of the four heads of Benjamin, Sallu, and that too, as in the Chronicle, as a son of Meshullam, while the ancestors of both are different. Instead of the three others in 1 Chronicles 9:8, we have סלּי גּבּי, 928; and in 1 Chronicles 9:9, as overseer (prefect), and Jehudah as ruler over the city.