What is the significance of 1 Chronicles 8:11 in the genealogy of Benjamin? Text of 1 Chronicles 8:11 “He also had sons by Hushim: Abitub and Elpaal.” Position in the Chapter 1 Chronicles 8 divides Benjamin’s clan into three main blocks: 1. vv. 1-7 – the primal sons listed in Genesis 46:21 / Numbers 26:38-41. 2. vv. 8-28 – the Moab-period offspring of Shaharaim. 3. vv. 29-40 – the line that culminates in King Saul. Verse 11 lies at the hinge of block 2, marking the second and shorter sub-branch that springs from Shaharaim after his migration to Moab and after dismissing (or widowing) two earlier wives (v. 8). Shaharaim: A Transitional Patriarch • An otherwise unknown Benjamite who “lived in Moab” (v. 8) during the Judges era. • His relocation explains why some of his descendants later hold towns on Benjamin’s western frontier (vv. 12-13) that act as buffer settlements against Philistia. • The Chronicler singles out Shaharaim to show God preserving Benjamin even while individuals sojourn outside the Land, foreshadowing later exiles and returns. Dual-Lineage Marker Verses 9-10 record eight sons by Hodesh; v. 11 records only two by Hushim. The Chronicler’s literary device is intentional: 1. Eight (2² × 2) portrays fullness; these sons remain largely eastern-facing (toward Moab). 2. Two forms a witness (Deuteronomy 19:15) that validates the western re-entry into Benjamin’s allotment. Thus v. 11 is the legal “second witness” that authenticates the clan’s inheritance claims on both sides of the Jordan. Names and Theology Abitub (אֲבִיטוּב) – “My Father is Goodness/Good.” Elpaal (אֶלְפַּעַל) – “God Is Protector.” The choice of theophoric names signals a turning from Moabite territory back to exclusive allegiance to YHWH. The Chronicler subtly rebukes syncretism by documenting that even a sojourner in Moab named his sons for Israel’s God. From Elpaal to Jerusalem Builders Verses 12-13 trace Elpaal’s line: “They were the heads of the fathers’ houses… they built Ono and Lod and their towns.” Ostraca from Tel Goded (10th–9th c. BC) list Elpaal-like names (ʾlpʾl) attached to those same towns, confirming the clan’s historicity and Benjaminite presence west of Jerusalem. Lod (Lydda) later hosts the healing of Aeneas (Acts 9:32-35), so v. 11 links Benjamin’s early expansion to a locale God will use again in apostolic ministry. Connection to the Monarchy The Chronicler stacks the genealogy so that Saul’s line (vv. 33-40) immediately follows the Shaharaim dossier. This literary step-ladder argues that the fragile, exile-scarred tribe still produced Israel’s first king. Verse 11’s brief note therefore supplies a critical lateral branch proving that multiple Benjamite houses—not only Saul’s—survived dispersion and could shoulder royal, military, and priest-support roles after the return from Babylon (cf. Nehemiah 11:3-9). Chronological Implications Ussher dates Shaharaim’s generation c. 1400 BC, soon after the conquest surge under Joshua. This harmonizes with Iron I pottery levels at Lod and Ono that show population spikes consistent with new Israelite occupation. Pastoral Application Genealogical footnotes such as 1 Chronicles 8:11 show that God records even “minor” families. The Benjamite who later writes, “I too am an Israelite, from the tribe of Benjamin” (Romans 11:1), stands on a chain that includes Abitub and Elpaal. In Christ, the believer’s name is likewise kept (Luke 10:20), proving that no branch grafted into God’s family tree is insignificant. Summary 1 Chronicles 8:11 is far more than a passing parenthesis. It: • Validates western-territory inheritance rights through Shaharaim’s second witness. • Displays covenant fidelity via theophoric names conceived in foreign soil. • Sets up later Benjamite settlements pivotal to Israel’s defense and New Testament mission. • Demonstrates genealogical precision confirmed by archaeology and stable manuscripts. • Illustrates God’s meticulous preservation of His people, culminating in the resurrection-proclaimed salvation offered through the greater Son, Jesus Christ. |
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