How does 1 Chronicles 9:43 contribute to understanding biblical lineage? Text “Moza became the father of Binea. His son was Rephaiah, his son Elasa, and his son Azel.” (1 Chronicles 9:43) Immediate Literary Context 1 Chronicles 9 summarizes the resettlement of Jerusalem after the Babylonian exile and rehearses genealogies for the southern tribes, particularly Judah, Levi, and Benjamin. Verses 35-44 reprise the Benjamite line of King Saul first listed in 8:29-40. Verse 43 sits in the middle of that pedigree, linking Moza through Binea, Rephaiah, and Elasa to Azel and his six sons (v. 44). The Chronicler’s purpose is to certify the survival of Saul’s house and the tribe of Benjamin despite exile and judgment. Placement in the Canonical Chain Chronicles—compiled ca. 450-400 BC—functions as Israel’s post-exilic “national archive,” supplying verifiable ancestry needed for land rights (Numbers 26:52-56), temple service (Ezra 2:59-63), and covenant continuity (Genesis 17:7). 1 Chronicles 9:43 therefore preserves an unbroken link in Benjamin’s tribal history, assuring returned exiles that God’s promises to all twelve tribes stand. Reaffirming the Lineage of Benjamin and Saul The names in v. 43 match 1 Chronicles 8:37-38 almost verbatim, demonstrating scribal fidelity. By repeating the list, the Chronicler underscores that Saul’s lineage—though disqualified from the throne (1 Samuel 15)—remains historically rooted and covenantally relevant. This legitimizes later Benjamite leaders such as Mordecai (Esther 2:5) and the apostle Paul (Philippians 3:5). Cross-Textual Consistency Masoretic manuscripts (MT codices L, A, P) read identically, and the Septuagint (LXX) renders Μωζά, Βανέα, Ῥαφαΐα, Ἐλασά, Ἀσελή, matching Hebrew vocalization. No significant variant exists in 4QChr (the small Dead Sea fragment), confirming transmission stability. Where some English versions transpose Binea/Bineaiah in 8:37, the MT clarifies spelling while sustaining identity. Such harmony supports the doctrine of verbal plenary inspiration (Proverbs 30:5). Theological Weight of Each Name • Moza (“Departure”) alludes to exile/return themes. • Binea (“Yah builds”) proclaims covenant rebuilding (Jeremiah 31:4). • Rephaiah (“Yah heals”) anticipates restoration (Isaiah 53:5). • Elasa (“God has made”) highlights divine sovereignty (Psalm 115:3). • Azel (“Reserved”) signals a remnant set apart (Romans 11:5). These successive meanings form a micro-sermon: the God who permits departure also rebuilds, heals, creates anew, and reserves a remnant—precisely what the post-exilic community experienced. Genealogies as Legal Documents Babylonian ration tablets (e.g., Jehoiachin’s rations, 2 Kings 25:27-30) and Egyptian census papyri show that ancient Near Eastern administrations archived family registers for taxation and inheritance. Discoveries at Tel Arad and Lachish display house seals with patronymics (“Gemaryahu son of Shaphan”), paralleling Chronicles’ style. Such extrabiblical parallels buttress the Chronicler’s historical methodology. Bridge to Messianic Expectation While Messiah descends from Judah (Genesis 49:10; Luke 3:23-38), Benjamin’s preservation fulfills Jacob’s prophecy that Benjamin would “dwell between the shoulders” of the nation (Deuteronomy 33:12)—strategically guarding Jerusalem’s northern flank. Saul’s line provides a foil that magnifies David’s dynasty, highlighting the promise that ultimate kingship rests in the Son of David, Jesus Christ (Acts 13:22-23). Thus every preserved pedigree, even of a dethroned house, safeguards messianic typology. Practical Implications for Faith and Worship Believers gain assurance that God notices individual names across centuries, confirming that personal identity has eternal significance (Revelation 20:15). The passage cultivates gratitude for divine faithfulness: the same Lord who safeguarded Moza’s descendants secures those grafted into Christ (John 10:28-29). Summary 1 Chronicles 9:43, though a single verse, contributes a vital link in a verified ancestral chain, proving that (1) the house of Benjamin endured exile, (2) the Chronicler preserved accurate civil records, (3) God’s covenant fidelity extends to every generation, and (4) the entire biblical narrative, culminating in the resurrected Christ, rests on historically reliable lineage. |
    |