What is the meaning of 1 Chronicles 8:9? His sons - The chronicler is listing the direct male descendants of Shaharaim, anchoring them inside Israel’s covenant history (Genesis 17:7; Matthew 1:2). - Genealogies remind readers that God tracks every generation—real people, real families, real promises (Genesis 5:1-2; 1 Chronicles 9:1). - These sons will later serve as living links in the tribe of Benjamin’s continuity after exile (Ezra 2:1; Nehemiah 7:7). by his wife Hodesh - Shaharaim had sent away earlier wives (1 Chronicles 8:8). Hodesh—“new” in everyday speech—signals a fresh chapter for him. - Scripture often notes which wife bore which children to show God’s sovereign hand over family lines (Genesis 29:31-35; 1 Chronicles 2:18-19). - Though human choices complicate family stories, the Lord faithfully weaves them into His redemptive plan (Romans 8:28). Jobab - This common Benjamite name also appears among Edomite kings (Genesis 36:33) and later genealogies (1 Chronicles 4:23). - Jobab’s mention affirms that every individual, whether famous or obscure, has a place in God’s record (Psalm 139:16). - His life, like others in the list, helped repopulate the land after exile (1 Chronicles 9:3). Zibia - A similar name, Zibiah, was the godly mother of King Joash (2 Chronicles 24:1). - The placement here highlights the breadth of the Benjamite clan and shows how names and legacies echo across generations (Psalm 78:4-6). Mesha - Another Mesha ruled Moab (2 Kings 3:4), but this Benjamite Mesha stands as a contrast—belonging to the covenant people, not Israel’s foes. - God marks the difference between those inside and outside His promises (Exodus 19:5; Ephesians 2:12-13). Malcam - Elsewhere Malcam (or Milcom) is an Ammonite idol (2 Kings 23:13; Jeremiah 49:1). Here, though, the same-sounding name belongs to a true Israelite, underlining that identity is defined by allegiance to the LORD, not by a label. - Even a name once tied to idolatry is redeemed when attached to God’s people (Isaiah 44:3-5). summary 1 Chronicles 8:9 records four sons born to Shaharaim through Hodesh, underscoring that God keeps meticulous account of every family line within His covenant. Each name—Jobab, Zibia, Mesha, and Malcam—testifies that individuals matter, backgrounds vary, and yet the LORD faithfully folds every life into His unfolding story. |
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