What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 8:8? Shaharaim – Verse 8 drops us into a long Benjamite genealogy (1 Chronicles 8:1–7). Shaharaim is one of those clan leaders, descended from Benjamin, “a beloved son of the right hand” (Genesis 46:21; 1 Samuel 9:1). – His name appears again when the Chronicler lists his children (1 Chronicles 8:9-11), underscoring that God tracks every family line. – Genealogies in Scripture are literal history, reminding us that the Lord’s covenant promises flow through real people (Matthew 1:1-17; Romans 9:4-5). had sons – The statement highlights fruitfulness: “Sons are an inheritance from the LORD, children a reward” (Psalm 127:3). – For Israel a man’s legacy and land rights passed through sons (Numbers 27:8-11). – The Chronicler has already shown other Benjamites blessed with many sons (1 Chronicles 8:3-4), echoing God’s pledge to multiply Abraham’s offspring (Genesis 22:17). – 1 Chronicles 8:9-10 names seven sons by Hodesh, underscoring that even after personal upheaval, the Lord still granted increase. in the country of Moab – Moab lay east of the Dead Sea, a land Israel had skirted during the Exodus (Numbers 22:1; Deuteronomy 2:9). – Earlier Israelites had sojourned there: Elimelech’s family in the days of the judges (Ruth 1:1-2); David sent his parents there for safety (1 Samuel 22:3-4). – Shaharaim evidently migrated, perhaps for trade, famine relief, or political pressure. God’s people have often lived outside their homeland yet remained under His providence (Jeremiah 29:4-7; Acts 18:2-3). – The Chronicler quietly shows that the line of Benjamin stretched even into Moab, fulfilling the mandate to “be fruitful and multiply” wherever they were scattered (Genesis 1:28; Jeremiah 30:10-11). after he had divorced – Divorce is mentioned matter-of-factly here, reflecting Mosaic regulation: “When a man takes a wife… and she does not please him… he shall write her a certificate of divorce” (Deuteronomy 24:1-4). – Scripture later clarifies God’s heart: “I hate divorce” (Malachi 2:16), and Jesus explained that Moses allowed it “because of the hardness of your hearts” (Matthew 19:8). – The Chronicler is not endorsing divorce but recording it. Even broken covenants cannot thwart God’s larger covenant purposes (Romans 11:29; 2 Timothy 2:13). – Shaharaim’s later fruitfulness shows the Lord’s ability to bring new beginnings after sin, conflict, or loss (Isaiah 43:18-19; 1 Corinthians 7:15-16). his wives Hushim and Baara – Polygamy had become common among the patriarchs (Genesis 4:19; 1 Samuel 1:2), though it often bred strife (Genesis 30:1-8). – Hushim and Baara are named, yet their stories are otherwise silent—a reminder that many faithful women serve in relative obscurity while still known by God (Proverbs 15:3; Luke 1:5-7). – Their dismissal likely severed them from inheritance rights, echoing the cost of broken marriage vows (Deuteronomy 24:2; Malachi 2:14). – The Chronicler immediately turns to Hodesh, the wife through whom the promised line continues (1 Chronicles 8:9-11), illustrating how God graciously preserves a lineage despite human failure (Ruth 4:13-22). summary 1 Chronicles 8:8 records a real Benjamite, Shaharaim, who uprooted to Moab, divorced two wives, and still received sons. The verse affirms: • Scripture’s genealogies are literal history showcasing God’s meticulous care. • The Lord grants fruitfulness even in foreign places and imperfect circumstances. • Human failures, including divorce, cannot cancel God’s covenant plans. The Chronicler gently reminds every reader that God’s redemptive thread weaves through ordinary families, geographical moves, and even messy personal choices, proving His faithfulness from generation to generation. |
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